Sidi Muhammad ibn Fqirah, may ALLAH be pleased with him

Abu Abdallah Sidi Muhammad ibn Fqirah (may ALLAH be pleased with him) was the pure-hearted witness, of awakened wisdom. He was loved by Seyyidina Ahmed Tidjani (may ALLAH sanctify his precious secret) because his love was sincere and his intention was pure. He was an enlightened jurist and he used to talk about the elevated aspiration and spiritual unveiling of Seyyidina Ahmed Tidjani (may ALLAH sanctify his precious secret).

On this subject, he recounted the following: “In the year 1218 of the Hegira, accompanied by a dignitary, I went to visit Seyyidina Ahmed Tidjani (may ALLAH sanctify his precious secret). When we met him, I offered him one dirham and my companion offered him forty riyals. Seyyidina Ahmed Tidjani (may ALLAH sanctify his precious secret) took the dirham from his hand and turned the coin over and over again, looking at it closely. Then he closed his fist and took the dirham with him back to his apartments. However, he left the forty riyals and said to the person who had offered them: “Take back your money.” The person replied: “But Master I offered them to you for the visit.” But Seyyidina Ahmed Tidjani (may ALLAH sanctify his precious secret) said to him through spiritual unveiling: “Take it back because I do not sell children.” In fact, this person was secretly hoping that, through the blessings of this visit, ALLAH would grant him children. Seyyidina Ahmed Tidjani (may ALLAH sanctify his precious secret) did not accept one single penny of his money. This was the way he always behaved with those who came to visit him with the aim of obtaining worldly advantages. In these cases, he never accepted their gifts.”

Sidi Tayeb Sefiani (may ALLAH be pleased with him) related that, one day, Seyyidina Ahmed Tidjani (may ALLAH sanctify his precious secret) had spoken on the subject of donation and acceptance saying that these should only be by ALLAH and for ALLAH. He also explained that giving for any other than ALLAH, or accepting the donation for any other but Him would only result in affliction. He concluded: “Whoever gives us something will receive misfortune.”

It has been said that when he was invited to a feast, he did not refuse. One day, one of his close companions said to him (or words to that effect): “People say: “If ALLAH grants me such and such, I will offer you a feast or if ALLAH facilitates such and such we will do this or that, and so on…” So Seyyidina Ahmed Tidjani (may ALLAH sanctify his precious secret) said: “I do not go for these kinds of reasons.” Since then, he only accepted invitations from those whose pure intention for ALLAH was sure and if this was not the case, he refused.”