SUFI SUPPLICATIONS: ODES ON “AHAM-SAQAKU” BY SHEU BULALA

ODES ON “AHAM-SAQAKU”

(Reflecting on the Love, Passion & Respect for the Prophet and his Household)

By: Shaykh Jamiu Bulala (Offa)

Translation & Commentary by: Ustadh Shittu Olanipekun

“The piece is part of the original manuscript of Shaykh (Jamiu Bulala), written in his handwriting....

As admitted in the previous poem on Basmallah ab initio that the Shaykh did not give a title for it, this poem too follows suit.

Nevertheless, its chronological composition of the odes suggests its affinity to Allah's great name, (Ahamu Saqaku Hala'u Yas).

Audio: Recited by Shaykh Jamiu Bulala

أنا الجامع اليوربا خليفة التجاني ** مسمى بشمس الدين من غير بهتان

1. Anā l Jāmi’u l yūrubā khalifatu t-Tijānī ** musamā bi-shamsu d-deeni min gayri buh’tāni

1. I am (Muhammad) Jami’u, a Yoruba by tribe, the successor of Shaykh (Ahmad) Tijani who is nicknamed Shamsudīn (Sun of Religion) without nonsense.

هيامي لأهل البيت ما زال ياربي ** مدي الدهر والأعصار و ذاك أبكاني

2. Hiyāmī li-ah’li l-bayti mā zāla Ya Rabbī ** madā d-dah’ri wal a’asāri wa dhāka abkānī

2. My passion for the Prophet’s household is everlasting and sizeless, and that made me to be eternal.

محبتي لأهل بيت محمد ** أبي القاسم راقي على عرش الرحمان

3. Muhabatīya li-ahli bayti Muhammadi ** Abī l Qāsim rāqī ‘alā ‘arshi r-Rahmāni

3. My love for the household of the Prophet, the father of al-Qasim is ascending to the throne of the Merciful (Allah)

سلامي لأهل المصطفى متجدد ** كتجديد دين الله في واحد القرن

4. Salāmī li-ahli l mustafā mutajadida ** ka-tajdīdi dīni-llahi fī wāhidi l qarni

4. My greeting for the family of the chosen one (Muhammad) is renewed as religion of Allah is renewed every century.

قيامي بأمر أهل بيت محمد ** فرض من الأعيان وذاك انجاني

5. Qiyāmī bi-amri ahli bayti Muhammadi ** fardu mina l a’ayāni wa dhāka anjānī

5. To assist the Prophet’s family is my personal obligation and that saves me from all dangers.

كفاني بحب المصطفى ثم أهله ** وذالك حصني من شرور زماني

6. Kafānī bi-hubbi l mustafā thumma ahlihi ** wa dhālika hisnī min shurūri zamānī

6. The love of the Prophet and his family is sufficient for me and that is my stronghold from the evils of my time.

حبي وشوقي في نهاري وليلتي ** لجدي رسول الله في الأصل رباني

7. Hubbī wa shawqī fī nahārī wa laylatī ** li-jadī rasūlu-llahi fī l asli rabānī

7. My passion and love for my grandfather i.e. messenger of Allah, morning and night nourished me from the beginning.

لازلت أرقى في اشتياق محمد ** وفقت بحب المصطفى الإنس والجن

8. Lā ziltu arqā fī-shtiyāqi Muhammadi ** wa fuqtu bi-hubbi l mustafā l-insa wa-l jina

8. I developed rapidly in the love of the Prophet and outdo both the human being and jinn by the love of the chosen one.

علوت بحب أهل بيت محمد ** وحب رسول الله أبناه عدنان

9. ‘Alawtu bi-hubbi ahli bayti Muhammadi ** wa hubbi rasūli-llahi abnaahi ‘adnāni

9. I became great by the love of household of the Prophet and that of the messenger of Allah, the children of Adnan.

يا حي يا قيوم أهيا شراهيا ** فأجلب لي الأرزاق من كل مكان

10. Yā Hayyu Yā Qayyūmu ahyā sharāhiyā ** fa-ajlib lī-l arzāqi min kulli makāni

10. O the Ever-living, the Self-subsisting (With great name [ahyā sharāhiyā]), bring to me provision from all places.

يا حي يا قيوم أهيا شراهيا ** فأجلب لي النيرات من كل بلدان

11. Yā Hayyu Yā Qayyūmu ahyā sharāhiyā ** fa-ajlib lī-n nayrāt min kulli buldāni.

11. O the Ever-living, the Self-subsisting (With great name), bring to me, Naira (currency) from all cities.

يا حي يا قيوم أهيا شراهيا ** فأجلب لي الريال في أرض نعمان

12. Yā Hayyu Yā Qayyūmu ahyā sharāhiyā ** fa-ajlib lī-r riyāli fī ardi nu’umān

12. O the Ever-living, the Self-subsisting (With great name), bring to me, Riyal from the land of Nu'man.

صل على المختار من أهل هاشم ** وسلم على جدّ الحسين كذا الحسن

13. Sali ‘alā l mukhtāri min ahli hāshimi ** wa salim ‘alā jaddi l husayni kadhā l hassani

13. O Allah! Bless the chosen one among the people of Hashim and bestow peace upon the father of Hassan and Husayn.

COMMENTARY;

To admit that Shaykh was a great poet who was intuitively endowed with spiritual eulogy is to state the obvious. As admitted in the previous poem on Basmallah ab initio that the Shaykh did not give a title for it, this poem too follows suit, nevertheless, its chronological composition of the odes suggests its affinity to Allah's great name (Ahmu sakaku hala'u Yas).

Though various argument may arise on the authenticity of this claim especially from the realm of the Orthodoxy, nevertheless, it is acknowledged by some men of Allah especially the Sufiyyun.

It may also suffice to say that the actual date of its composition is unknown to the writer, though some Shaykh's loyalists suggest it was composed around the mid 70's probably after the demise of Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse(d.1975), this can be gleaned from the first ode where he claimed successorhip to Shaykh Ahmad Tijani, the founder of Tijaniyyah Order.

Shaykh Jami'u Bulala was regarded as the custodian of this phrase(Aham saqaku hala'u Yas) as it was reported that no one has ever chanted it like him. History has it that Shaykh spent years in Khalwah(spiritual retreat) chanting mostly this phrase.

The phrase logically consists of eleven(11) letters. But the poem consist of thirteen(13) odes. Adequate perusal revealed that the Shaykh laid much emphasis on the letter (yau) than the rest of the letters.

In the beginning, the ascription of tribe, Yoruba should not be perceived as being tribalistic, but there were insinuations by some other tribes then on how a Yoruba can attain a lofty place in the Spiritual hierarchy, nay, the successor of Shaykh Tijani, thus, Shaykh debunked this that the attainment is irrespective of tribe.

More so, the Shaykh acknowledged his nickname(Shamsudeen). Having good nicknames is not anathema to the Shari'ah, the Prophet has about 201 names and sobriquets as attested by Shaykh Jazuli, the author of Dalailu Khayrat.

Most of the proceeding odes signify love, passion, respect for the Prophet and his household. Every 'awliyā'llah must acknowledge the Prophet and his household because he is the source of everything.

However, like any mortal in tandem with Qur’an 28:88 where Allah enjoins us on the need to strive for legitimate means of survival, Shaykh was not an exemption as he supplicated for provisions from Allah.

However, readers especially critics may be mindful of the phrase (Ahya sharahiya) the Shaykh supplicated with. Soliloquies like ‘is it a jinn's name?’ may arise but research has made us realize that it is an Hebrew's language which is synonymous with the names of Allah, Yah Hayyu Yah Qayyum, as being supplicated with in other places. Thus, it is used in this capacity as an adjective. On whether a Muslim can supplicate with other languages? The answer is YES, as we supplicate with the Allah's name even in our mothers' language!

Furthermore it can be deduced that Shaykh supplicated for two currencies, i.e Naira and Riyal! The former is the medium of exchange in Nigeria while the later is for Saudi Arabia. One knows that Shaykh spent most part of his life in Nigeria, although he performed Hajj(holy pilgrimage to Makkah) in the 1970’s. One may be tempted to ask why did he supplicate for Riyal along with Naira? Was he a bureau de change agent? Or was it supplicated for when he intended to perform Hajj?

Many questions and lessons abound in this poem. Attempts will be made to elucidate on some of them...watch out for more in the book, “Who is Shaykh Bulala: Alfa Offa” coming out by December In-shaa-Allah. Thanks for the anticipation!

Translation & Commentary by: Ustadh Shittu Olanipekun

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Sayidat Rabiat Adawiyat (RA) - (by Sayyid Ahmad Bello As-Suufi Harazimi)

A Practical Guide on the Wird (Litany) of the Tariqah Faydah Tijaniyyah (The Adherent's Handbook)....by Sayyidah Bilqees Bolajoko Grillo at-Tijani

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3.Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse's Annual Mawlid Nabiyy Lectures at Senegal - Arabic text & English Translation.

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5. Jawahir Rasail (A Collection of Priceless Expositions via Letters "Letters 1 to 10"): Diamond Sparkles - Arabic text, English Translation and Commentary by Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse

6. Tahniah (Congratulatory Ode) of Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse to the Prophet Muhammad (Part 1) – Selected, Transliterated & Translated by Alhaji Abdul-Quadri Okeneye

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1. Dala'ilu l khairat of Shaikh Sulaiman Jazuli (Arabic text, Translation, Transliteration by Imam Marooph Raji)

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1. Vessel of Spiritual Flood, Translation of Goran Faydah by Shaykh Balarabe Haroon Jega - (Translated by Khalifah Awwal Baba Taofiq)

2. Rihlat Konakriyah (A trip to Conakry), Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse - (Translated by Khalifah Awwal Baba Taofiq)

3. Shariah and Haqeeqah: In the Light of the Qur'an and the Prophetic Traditions (Compiled by Khalifah Awwal Baba Taofiq)

4. The Icon of Mystics: Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse Al-Kawlakhy (Compiled by Khalifah Awwal Baba Taofiq)

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7. A Brief Biography of the Shaykh al-Islam Ibrahim Niasse (Compiled by Sayyidah Bilqis Grillo)

8. Risalat at-Tawbah (Epistle of Repentance) of Shaykh Ibrahim Niyass al-Kawlakhi" – (Translation & Commentary by Dr. Razzaq Solagberu)

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