Our Morocco Experience
Sheikh Mash-hud Ramadan, Proprietor and Founder of Marcazu-Salam (Peace Centre) Arabic and Islamic Institute recently led a delegation of twelve members of Tijaniyyat Movement of Nigeria on a spiritual journey to the city of Faz in the kingdom of Morocco. During the tour that lasted a week, Sheikh and his team visited several holy sites, especially the mosque and burial ground of the late Sheikh Ahmad Muhamamd Tijani (R.T.A), the founder of Tijaniyyat Movement worldwide. Sheikh spoke with RASHEED ABUBAKAR about the journey and Marcazu-Salam among other issues
Salam Alaykun. Please tell us about yourself?
I am Mash-hud Ramadan, the son of King Idris, son of Jubril, son of Ahmed Salif. I was born on August 3, 1939 in Ketu, a town that originally belonged to the Yoruba of Nigeria but later fell under French colony in West Africa, currently known as the Republic of Benin. It is a town that shares border with Nigeria. Today, I give thanks to Allah because I am fulfilled. I have four wives and 22 children. I am the Mudir (proprietor) of Markaz Salam (Peace Centre) Arabic and Islamic Institute located in Ahmadiyya bus-stop in Lagos State.
Can you tell us briefly your journey into Islam?
My journey into Islam was a wonderful experience because my parents were practising Muslims. They were born into Islam and as a result, I was also born into Islam. I started learning about the religion from them. In fact, they are my first teachers. My father was an Islamic cleric, who wanted me to learn the deen (Islam) and my mother was there to support him. At the age of 13, my father took me to the Chief Tafsir of our town, Sheikh Muhammad Ghal Uthman, where I completed the recitation of Qur’an.
I furthered my Arabic knowledge under Sheikh Bisiriyu Olaniba, after which I proceeded to Markaz Islamic Centre in Agege, an institute founded by Sheikh Adam Abdullahi Al-Ilori in January, 1963. The late Shaikh took me as his son because of my enthusiasm for knowledge and service to him earned me the position of right hand man of Sheikh Adam. In recognition of this gesture, Sheikh Adam, in his will, placed me in the forefront of the trustees to be saddled with the responsibilities of running the affairs of Markaz after his death. Even before the death of the Sheikh, I was so committed to his service that I was referred to as the Acting Principal of that school. I was there for five years before I established my own school, Markaz-as-Salam in December, 1997.
From what you have said, it seems you were very close to Sheikh Adam. How is your relationship with his children?
The relationship has been very cordial. I still have a very good rapport with the children and wives of the late Sheikh Adam.
What is your area of specialisation?
I specialise in virtually all the fields. I have knowledge of Tafsir (exegesis of the Qur’an), Lugatul Arabiya (language, especially Arabic), Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence), Hadith (the sayings of the prophet (S.A.W). I studied both in Nigeria and abroad, especially Saudi Arabia.
Tell us about the running of the school.
By Allah’s mercy, the school is moving and new students come in everyday. We started the school years back and 23 students graduated in 2007 and in 2008 we graduated 59 students, 34 for primary school and 25 for secondary. By God’s grace, we are having another graduation this year.
Is the modrasat (school) affiliated with any institution abroad?
There are opportunities for our students who want to further their Arabic education abroad, especially in Saudi Arabia. Those who want to further in Western education also have the privilege to do so. We are doing this to ensure that they have both Western and Arabic education.
You are one of the forerunners of Tijaniyyat Movement in Nigeria. What is the movement all about?
Tijaniyyat Movement is one of the Islamic organisations in Nigeria. It was founded by Sheik Ahmad Muhammad Tijani in Morocco. It was As-Sheikh Hamzat Ayinla Muhammed Awwal Osinlokun that brought the movement to Nigeria, after which he became the third to embrace the movement in West Africa.
Today, the son of the late Hamzat Ayinla, As-Sheikh Muhammed Mudathir, popularly known as Sheu Lagos, is currently the leader of the Tijaniyyat Movement in Nigeria. I am presently learning ilmu batini (hidden knowledge) of knowing God under him. So, when you talk about Sufism in Nigeria today, it is Sheikh Muhammad Muthathir. Praise be to God, I am also a strong member of the movement, learning under the leader of the sect.
Can you share your Morocco experience with our readers?
Our journey to Morocco was a spiritual journey, purposely for the sake of Allah and to increase our knowledge of the deen. One day, I requested Sheikh Hamzat to take me and some members of my congregation to Faz, the home town of Sheikh Ahmad Tijani in Morocco. He accepted and fixed a date, but because he was sick following the stress, he went through during our laylatul quadric (night of majesty) and Umrah in Saudi Arabia, he didn’t go with us but he was with us spiritually.
Twelve people travelled with me. My wife, Sheikh Hamzat’s wife, one of his children and some members of my congregation. When we got to Faz, we were well received by Seikh Subair, the spiritual head of Tijaniyyat Movement worldwide.
What did you do in Morocco?
The purpose of the trip was to visit Sheikh Ahmad Tijani’s mosque and burial ground in Faz, Morocco. We also visited other holy sites, including mosques. We prayed for ourselves, Nigeria and all Islamic religious bodies.
How many days did you and your delegation spend?
We spent a week.
Was it sponsored?
It was not sponsored. Individuals paid for the trip. Both the feeding and hotel accommodation were paid by the individuals who went on the journey. The total cost of flight, feeding and accommodation was around N350,000. We give glory to God that we all returned safely.
What would you want to tell Nigerians?
First, my advice goes to parents and teachers. Parents should endeavour to teach their children the fear of God, while teachers should teach them moral and good conduct so that they can become good ambassadors for Nigeria wherever they go, because they are the future. Second, Christians and Muslims should live in peace and unite to build a great Nigeria. Enough of killings and hatred, we are all from the same father, Ibrahim (S.A.W), so, I don’t see any reason why we should continue to fight and kill for no just reason.
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