This letter is addressed to the brother and friend, the jurist, the scholar, and the eminent Mouhamadou Moustapha Ibn Thierno Thiam. (May peace, Allah’s mercy, and His blessings be upon you). Following this, I inform you that your emissary has arrived and I have received your letter with pride. I entrust you to Allah, in whose hands no deposit is lost. I advise you to keep your heart firmly attached to Allah in all your actions and moments of respite. Be with Allah, for “whoever is for Allah, Allah will be for him.” Exclude all creatures in the practice of your duties towards the Divine Being, and know that you yourself are among the created beings. (Say: Allah! Then leave them to play in their vain discussions) (Surah VI, verse 91). You know perfectly well that Allah has rendered vain and treacherous the act of seeking help from other than Him. Therefore, have two guides for yourself: take the holy book and the Sunnah as your guide externally (zâhir) and internally (bâtin), let your guide be our master Ahmad At-Tijâni (May Allah be pleased with him) and he is always with you. The “wassîla” are only means to an end. What I mean by this is what I have told you. Therefore, keep your secret and conceal what Allah has conferred upon you among His lordly secrets until He makes you manifest. Indeed, whoever attributes to themselves the function of spiritual master before receiving divine authorization has entirely destroyed their religion and their worldly life, and has brought disgrace upon themselves among their peers. If Allah makes you appear, no one can prevent His gift from reaching you. However, wanting to appear before the right time ends fame because of the share of impulse or desire it contains. If Allah hides you, it is better for you. If He reveals you and makes you manifest, it is also better for you. Do not want anything except what Allah wants. Whoever desires prestige is a servant of prestige, and whoever desires concealment is a slave of that desire. As for the one who desires only what Allah desires, he is the true servant of Allah. The “ârif” (gnostic) is indeed the one who abandons his own will to conform to the will of Allah. And, tell Hâdî that I authorize him to transmit to you the “sirru ziârra” (literally: the secret of the pious visit), which is the third of the secrets. It contains the specific name (ismul khâç) related to the station of the master (Ahmad Tijân), (may Allah be pleased with him). Convey my greetings to the caliph Habîbul-Lâhi Seck. I solicit pious prayers from him. Wa-salâm.
From Ibrahîm Ibn El Hadji ‘Abdallâhi At-Tijânî. 1348H Al Faydah in Kossi