Special Conditions of Companionship between the Sheikh and his disciple

1. He who seeks Permission into the Tidjaniyah tariqa should be free of any other tariqa or Wird. He should resolve to stay with this tariqa for life, without mixing it up with any other tariqa or Wird; totally relinquishing all others. Otherwise, he should be left with his Wird or tariqa, because the tariqas of other sheikhs are all on the straight path guiding to Allah the Exalted.

Sidi Ahmed Tidjani said that, “Whomever I authorized and instructed to dictate the Wird and confer our tariqa (to people) should not give Permission to anybody except with this condition; and if he violates it and acts otherwise I immediately revoke his Authorization, so it (the tariqa) will not benefit him, personally, nor benefit whomever he gives it to. Therefore, this condition must be strictly observed and acted upon accordingly”.

2. A visit to another Sheikh, alive or dead, is not allowed (with the intention of benefiting from him in any way); but love, respect and venerate them all, without believing that their visit is illegal or prohibited.

This condition in stated by all masters of education in every tariqa. It is a consensus. Thus, it should be carefully observed.

However, Sidi Ahmed Tidjani has given a general permission to his disciples for visiting the Companions of the Prophet and his own companions & brothers in his tariqa. And certainly, visiting all the Prophets of Allah (peace be upon them all) is undoubtedly permissible.

3. The Wirds must be performed for life, without interruption. The obligatory Wirds in the tariqa must only be given to the person who vowed to observe them for life. The vow makes them obligatory, similar to all vowed acts of worship. If a person intends to refuse the tariqa, the link between him and the Sheikh disconnects; and becomes sinful for non-fulfillment of his vow.

4. Do not insult, hate, or be hostile to the Sheikh, or disregardful to him. Indifference to his instructions is a sign of disregard.

5. Continuously love the Sheikh for life. He who no longer loves his Sheikh dissociates, even if he does not intends any harm or feels any hatred towards him.

6. Refrain from criticizing the Sheikh. What is not understood or comprehended of his sayings or deeds could have a face to the truth that one might have missed: The Sheikh is more knowledgeable of the Shari’a and more adherent to, and compliant with, it. One should endeavor to know what he could not understand through legitimate means.

7. Believe in the truthfulness of the Sheikh (R.A.A) and in his words, as they comply with Qur’an and Sunnah. The person who is in doubt but does not criticize or believe has simply saved himself from disbelieving the men of truth, but cannot be a murid (disciple, follower). This is because, the spiritual link is contingent on discarding doubtfulness and accepting the word of the truthful one in what is possible.

Whoever violates or acts against one of these conditions dissociates from his Sheikh, and the permission given to him is immediately revoked. In this case, the link with the Sheikh will not reestablish until he repents, renews the Permission, and sincerely commits to observe it.