Skiredj Library of Tijani Studies
Among the important works written in defense of the Tijani tradition is the book Qāfiyat al-Laʾālī fī al-Radd ʿalā al-Madʿū Taqi al-Din al-Hilali (The Pearl Rhyme: A Response to the So-Called Taqi al-Din al-Hilali).
This work occupies a particular place in the intellectual history of the Tijani path. It is not merely a polemical text. It is also a historical document that sheds light on an often overlooked fact: the long relationship that once existed between Taqi al-Din al-Hilali and the Tijani order before his later departure from it.
The book clarifies this episode and places it within its proper context, relying on documents, letters, and testimonies preserved by scholars of the path.
The Little-Known Tijani Period of Taqi al-Din al-Hilali
One fact that many people do not know is that Taqi al-Din al-Hilali himself adhered to the Tijani path in the year 1332 AH (1913 CE).
During that period he practiced the litanies of the Tijani order and remained committed to its spiritual practices for twelve years. His adherence continued until around 1344 AH (1925 CE), when he eventually withdrew from the path.
Today, numerous documents related to that period remain preserved. These include his personal letters, notes, and records connected to the Tijani order and his participation in it. These materials provide clear historical evidence of his earlier involvement.
Poems in Praise of Sīdī Aḥmad al-Tijānī
Perhaps even more surprising is the fact that Taqi al-Din al-Hilali composed many poems praising Sīdī Aḥmad al-Tijānī, the founder of the Tijani path.
These poems were written during the time when he was still affiliated with the order. In total, nearly twenty poems praising Sīdī Aḥmad al-Tijānī are attributed to him from that period.
These verses demonstrate the deep admiration he once expressed toward the Shaykh and the spiritual path he followed at the time.
Later events would lead him to abandon that affiliation. But the poems remain historical testimony to his earlier position.
A Poetic Example from 1920
Among these poems is a notable composition written at the end of Rabiʿ al-Thani 1339 AH (1920 CE).
In this poem, al-Hilali praises Sīdī Aḥmad al-Tijānī with strong and eloquent language.
The poem begins with these lines:
Brother, may my soul be your ransom — will you listento the virtues of a scholar that ears long to hear?
The virtues of a master whose ocean has enriched the land,and toward whom every form of beauty returns.
The virtues of a master whose gifts cannot be counted,and who has no rival in generosity.
He continues by describing the spiritual influence of the Shaykh:
The virtues of a master whose goodness filled the Eastand likewise the West — gathering every noble quality.
The virtues of a master through whose suns the signsof the religion of God shone brightly.
The virtues of one whose reality is like a life-giving rain,while all creatures upon the earth draw their nourishment from it.
He then names the Shaykh directly:
That is Abu al-Abbas Ahmad, whose light spread everywhere,a guiding sun of clarity and illumination.
A leader whose rank rose above the heavens,placing his feet above the shoulders of all.
The poem concludes with lines of humility and devotion addressed to the Shaykh:
O Seal of all sainthood, have mercy —your servant stands at your door knocking.
To your noble gate I raise my complaint,my face pale with humility and need.
Morning and evening I remain in the courtyard of your house,hoping for a single glance from you that will suffice for me.
You are a mighty support of God —whenever the distressed call upon you, you respond.
With you is a remedy for every harm,through which the suffering seeker finds healing.
And never does a fearful one seek your protectionexcept that he finds safety and honor.
Then he concludes with blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his companions.
A Historical Lesson Drawn from These Verses
The author of Qāfiyat al-Laʾālī cites these verses not merely as literary evidence but also as a historical reflection.
They illustrate how a person who once praised the Shaykh and the Tijani path in such strong terms later abandoned that position. The episode serves as a reminder of the fragility of human states and the need for spiritual constancy.
For this reason the author recalls a familiar reflection: how many candles have been extinguished by the wind.
The lesson is meant to encourage reflection among readers so that they may remain firm in what they have received.
Qāfiyat al-Laʾālī as a Scholarly Defense of the Tijani Tradition
The book Qāfiyat al-Laʾālī therefore performs two important functions.
First, it responds to criticisms directed against the Tijani path by presenting historical evidence and textual clarification.
Second, it preserves important documentation related to the intellectual history of the Tijani tradition in the twentieth century.
By presenting letters, poems, and historical records, the work contributes to a clearer understanding of the debates that surrounded the path and the personalities involved in them.
Why This Book Matters for Researchers of the Tijani Path
For students of Islamic intellectual history, Qāfiyat al-Laʾālī is valuable not only as a response text but also as a documentary record.
It shows that debates about Sufism and spiritual orders were not merely abstract theological disputes. They were also shaped by personal journeys, affiliations, and transformations.
The case of Taqi al-Din al-Hilali is a striking example of how a figure may move from admiration and praise to opposition, leaving behind texts that reveal the different stages of that trajectory.
A Work of Documentation and Reflection
Ultimately, the significance of Qāfiyat al-Laʾālī lies in the combination of scholarship and historical memory it preserves.
It records an episode that many readers are unaware of. It presents evidence through documents and poetry. And it invites reflection on the importance of fidelity, humility, and consistency in the spiritual path.
For anyone interested in the history of the Tijani order and its intellectual debates, this book remains an important reference.
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