Mame Khalifa Niass or the Concealed Treasure

In the Name of Allah the Most Gracious the Ever Merciful.

Glory to Allah (swt) who has concealed the mystery of Divine Election (khuṣūṣiyya) under the exterior of the human nature (bashariyya) and who manifested his lordly magnificence (rubūbiyya) by showing the State of Servitude (’ubūdiyya). May Allah’s blessings be upon our Master Muhammad the opening of what had been closed, the seal of what had gone before, the helper of the truth by the Truth, and the guide to The Straight Path, and upon his family. May this prayer be equal to his immense position and grandeur.

Born Muhammad named after the Beloved Prophet (salla Allah ’alayhi wa ala Alihi wa Sallam), later on called Mouhamad Aminata adding his mother’s surname and for rest of his life called Khalifa El Hadji Muhammad or Baye Khalifa or Mame Khalifa Niass his most popular name. Our personage came to this world during the 2nd day of Ramadan 1298H in the village of Selik near Nioro du Rip in the Region of Saloum, Senegal. His father Shaykh El Hadji Abdoulaye Niass raised and taught him all the knowledge available at the time in the Senegambian region. After that the young Muhammad would become a bibliophile constantly reading and increasing his knowledge. He has been acknowledged as one of the best Poets of all times in the Arabic language, directly compared to Bussairi or Kaab although he was black and never lived in any Arabic speaking country.

Amongst the most patent of the character traits of this holy personality is simplicity, modesty and a very sober nature ; he was an ascetic who was utterly devoid of love for things worldly and ephemeral. Mame Khalifa Niass lived his life as a Sufi and worshipper of His Beloved Lord ; during the night, he uses to sleep very little and would stand longer than four to five hours performing prayers and meditations on the Divine presence. 
Small in size, black and very thin, he was gentle, calm and serene. Apart from his teaching he spoke very little and never raised his voice ; ever so silent and beautifully at ease without loudness. Both his behavior and his generosity were exceptional.

During his whole life, he was as modest as possible, avoiding any behavior that contravenes the Divine commandments. El Hadj Muhammad was very close and fond of children : he used to give them delicacies and sweets as often as he could ; very close also to his family, disciples and the needy. He would never eat alone even though he hardly ate. At meal times, several pots were distributed to people who came just for that. 
Many of these visitors were visibly poor and shabbily dressed, but he welcomed shared his meal and installed them as if they were illustrious guests. He usually served them himself water and cola nut after eating. His house was never empty.
His guests were always warmly received, either Sharif (descendants of the Holy Prophet salla Allah ’alayhi wa ala Alihi wa Sallam) or personalities coming from abroad. He often gave them gifts with his singular selflessness. Stripping himself of what he has and as expensive as it might be, just for the benefit of others.
He slipped the gifts, modestly, in their hands or their pockets so as not to embarrass them. In a nutshell, when he gave, it was as if he received the gift, because afterwards he was radiant and pleased with the satisfaction of others.

His main activity was teaching from morning till night, El Hadj Mouhamad was a polymath and dealt with many subjects with ease and in depth understanding of them, whiles providing knowledge to people who came for that, but also the neighbors and passers-by were in turn swamped with this inexhaustible source of knowledge. Only meals and the mid-day prayer or the zenith interrupted these moments of the elucidation of knowledge.

Rich by Allah, never asking anything from anyone, he was content with what Allah gave him. He has never accepted donations from wealthy people who were satisfied with the prayers he did for them. Even when automobiles were very rare he was offered them. Each time, Mame Khalifa declined the offer. He worked as a farmer during the rainy season and would sell horses and cola nut during dry season, it was him who, most of the time helped his disciples and students providing for their needs and this is a tradition followed until nowadays by his sons.

An illustrative example of his sociability and compassion toward his fellow men is the story of his second pilgrimage to Mecca : many years after having accomplished his first pilgrimage in 1910, Mame Khalifa wanted to undertake another journey to the Hijaz, for the sake of performing a second pilgrimage to the Holy places of Islam but especially for the profound desire to be again in front of the tomb of his beloved Abu’l Qasim Sayyidina Muhammad (salla Allah ’alayhi wa ala Alihi wa Sallam). For that he gathered money earned through hard work and set off eastwards for the pilgrimage. He had barely stepped out of Kaolack that his attention was attracted to the many people looking for something to eat in the garbage dump ; being reduced to that is a sign of extreme poverty ; Mame Khalifa then took the money for his pilgrimage and distributed it all amongst these people and went back home. And charity in this context, for the benefit of the needy is much better than enumerating many roads to Makkah while knowing that your vicinity is inhabited by people who may be in need of this money. This is an occasion for us to invite people we see counting on the tips of their fingers the number of times they have done the pilgrimage which is only mandatory one time in one’s life, to take inspiration from the example of Mame Khalifa Niass ; for charity from the standpoint of solidarity cleanses and purifies souls.

According to his contemporaries and the accounts we have at our disposal on many recordings, all of them tally, and Mame Khalifa is always portrayed as someone with the morality of the Prophet Muhammad (salla Allah ’alayhi wa ala Alihi wa Sallam) his namesake : as we know Allah (swt) said about Him in the Quran the following ayat :

 ( و إنك لعلى خلق عظيم ) 

" Verily you (Muhammad) are upon an exalted character "

Then Khalifa inherited these qualities from Him (salla Allah ’alayhi wa ala Alihi wa Sallam). Maintaining good relationships with his family, brothers and sisters, sons and neighbors and his fellow contemporaries within the religious circles in Senegal attested by many correspondences between them.

His constant attitude of Servitude (‘ubūdiyya) toward Allah (swt) reminds us of this phrase Mame Khalifa Niass used to say :

“The real dimension of a man of God (Awliya) cannot be known in this world, this world is just like an exam classroom. One has to devote his efforts to pass the exam without being sure of anything, even if one is sure of his good work. Then after he goes out and waits for the result.
So, my children keep in mind that proclaiming oneself winner before the end of the exam, while the examiner is still there does not deserve any consideration ! “. 

After a life entirely devoted to Allah and his Messenger, Muhammad ibn Abdallah Niass passed away in Kaolack 21 Sha’baan 1378H and is buried in the Zawiya of Leona Niassene near the Qutb, his father El Hadji Abdoulaye Niass. May Allah reward them and be well pleased with them all bi-Jaahi Sayyidul Wujud salla Allah ’alayhi wa ala Alihi wa Sallam. Amin.

Here is what we tried to write to lift a coin off the veil about the personality of our master Shaykh Khalifa El Hadji Mouhamad Niass to remember his coming to this world 138 years now. A Giant of the Tariqa Tidjani and of Islam yet unknown by the multitudes of people. But whosoever read any of his books will automatically want to know more about him.

Dakar, 2 Ramadan 1436H
Al Faqir Filah, Khadimu Khalifa Haj Muhamad
Idrissa DIOUM
Co-Funder of NayloulMaram.com and 
Circle of Studies on the Life and Teachings of Mame Khalifa Niass (CEVOK)