His Childhood and Education:
Cheikh Al-Hassane Deme was born in the village of Sinthiou-Dangthé, in the present-day department of Podor, in 1920 (1340 AH). He was the son of Mouhamed Samba Moussa and Fatoumata Kelly, daughter of Ilymâne Bôyil. He grew up in Sinthiou-Dangthé until the age of seven. At that age, he went to his grandfather Ilymâne Bôyil’s home, where he began his Quranic studies with his paternal uncle, El Hadj Abdoul Kelly. He later went to Kanel, where he met a great scholar named Thierno Saïd Chu’arâ. He stayed with him for fourteen years, during which he studied Islamic sciences: Islamic law, Arabic literature, syntax, morphology, the foundations of jurisprudence, etymology, logic, rhetoric, etc. He dedicated himself entirely to his service.
The sheikh loved him deeply, often looking at him fondly and saying: “I hope you will attain the great opening (al-Fath) and reach the sealed sanctuary of the Lord (al-wusûl).” He kept repeating this, having noticed his devotion to knowledge and diligence in divine worship. Eventually, he received from this sheikh the knowledge of the Tijaniyya path and its secrets.
The Circumstances of His Meeting with Cheikh Ibrahima Niass and His Companionship with Him:
One day, Thierno Saïd Chu’arâ left for the pilgrimage to Mecca and entrusted his affairs to Cheikh Al-Hassane Deme, who took care of them for several years. On his return from the pilgrimage, he passed away in a village called Umudurman. This news deeply saddened Cheikh Al-Hassane. That night, he reflected deeply, wondering where he could find a master equally accomplished. In a dream, he saw Chérif Mohamed Al-Makhtar, a virtuous saint, who gave him three handfuls of millet. He ate each one, finding it sweet. On the third, he asked: “O Chérif, pray for me.” The saint replied, “What do you want?” — “Knowledge and the recognition of God (ma’rifa billah).” The saint prayed silently, then spat into his hands until they turned white. Cheikh Al-Hassane ate the millet.
Then appeared Thierno Saïd Chu’arâ, youthful and dressed in green. He said, “The one you seek is in the West. Go to Kaolack to find Cheikh El Hadj Ibrahima Niass; no one on earth knows God more than he does.”
Upon awakening, he wrote a letter to Ibrahima Niass, with only “Kaolack” as the address. He had never heard of him before. Cheikh Niass responded, sending him litanies (zikr) to recite even before meeting. He also foretold many things in that letter, which later came to pass.
He left Fouta for Kaolack to meet Cheikh Al-Islam Ibrahima Niass. He stayed by his side for twenty-eight years, receiving knowledge, spiritual secrets, and lights that fulfilled every seeker. He served him completely, especially through spiritual retreats (khalwa). He first performed an eight-day retreat (“khâsatul-‘ulyâ”), followed by a seventy-two-day retreat (“khalwat al-samdhâniyya al-kubrâ”), and then forty-day retreats regularly for seven years. He said: “I was like a free camel roaming the khalwas as a camel roams the meadows.” From these retreats, he attained the great opening (al-Fath) and a deep understanding of the Quran, the traditions of the Prophet (PBUH), and the mystical sayings of the Sufis. He said: “Our master Cheikh Ibrahima gave me the Ijâza mutlaq châmila (supreme authorization), encompassing all types of authorization in the Tijaniyya path.”
His Relationships with the Moukhaddams of His Time:
Thierno had excellent relationships with the Moukhaddams of Cheikh Ibrahima Niass, notably:
- Cheikh Alioune Cissé: He had a close relationship with Cheikh Alioune Cissé. They visited each other often, and during these meetings, they would spend hours in private conversation. Members of Thierno’s family were named after members of the Cissé family (e.g., Seyda Oumou Dème, Zahra Dème, Alioune Cissé Dème).
- Cheikh Omar Touré (Ndoffane): One of the most prominent Moukhaddams. When he learned that Thierno had returned to his home, he advised Baye Niass to bring him back. During a stay in Dakar, Baye conveyed this wish to Thierno, who then settled permanently in Médina Baye.
- Cheikh Ibra Fall (RTA): He once visited Thierno while the latter was discussing the Tarîqa with disciples. It was an opportunity for Cheikh Ibra Fall to renew his own initiation into the Tarîqa.
His Travels and Public Lectures:
He traveled outside Senegal to several countries, including Mali, Upper Volta, Ghana, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, the Hijâz, and Nigeria. He gave 201 lectures on Islamic law (Sharî‘a), the spiritual path (Tarîqa), and the inner truth (Haqîqa). He visited the tombs of 28 saints in the Maghreb and 16 in Egypt and the Hijâz. He also visited the zâwiya of Cheikh Al-‘Arabî As-Sâ’ih in Rabat. In Casablanca, Cairo, Kano, and other towns, he spoke to large crowds. Many people embraced the Tijaniyya path through his influence. In Cairo, he met Muhammad Al-Hâfiz, son of Abdul-Latîf, and granted him a complete and total authorization (Ijâza ‘âmma mutlaqa) encompassing all his twenty authorizations.