Shaykh Muhammad al-Ghali Abu Thalib at-Tijani al-Hassani (q.s.)

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

The following is extracted from Shaykh Abu al-‘Abbas Ahmad ibn al-Iyyashi as-Sukayrij’s (q.s.) Kashf al-Hijab ‘Amman Talaqa ma’a ash-Shaykh at-Tijani min al-Aswḥab; and Shaykh ‘Umar ibn Sa’id al-Futi Thal’s (r.a.) Kitab ar-Rimah Hizb ar-Rahim. 

Shaykh Abu Thalib Muhammad al-Ghali at-Tijani al-Hassani (q.s.) was one of the elite companions of Shaykh Abu al-‘Abbas Ahmad ibn Muhammad at-Tijani (q.s.).  According to Shaykh as-Sukayrij (q.s.), Shaykh al-Ghali (q.s.) was one of ten companions of Shaykh at-Tijani (q.s.) whom Allah (s.w.t.) Blessed with fath al-akbar, grand illumination, at the hand of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.).  Shaykh at-Tijani (q.s.) was very fond of Shaykh al-Ghali (q.s.), and it was him whom he called to pronounce the famous words, “These two feet of mine are on the shoulders of every saint of Allah.”  Shaykh at-Tijani (q.s.) also let it be known that it would be Shaykh al-Ghali (q.s.) to perform the funeral prayer over him when he passed.  At the time of Shaykh at-Tijani’s (q.s.) passing, however, Shaykh al-Ghali (q.s.) was traveling.  Upon burial, the children of Shaykh at-Tijani (q.s.) dug up the body of their father to take it back to Algeria.  When the disciples in Fas prevailed upon the family of Shaykh at-Tijani (q.s.) to let the body be reburied in the zawiyah in Fas, Shaykh al-Ghali (q.s.) was there to perform the final funerary rites, fulfilling the prediction of Shaykh at-Tijani (q.s.). 

Shaykh al-Ghali (q.s.) was endowed with immense spiritual zeal and concentration.  He used to spend hours in his prayers and remembrances; and it is reported he used to glorify Allah (s.w.t.) twenty-seven times in a single prostration.  He once was so deep in concentration during his litany that he failed to notice his own daughter fall off the roof of his house in front of him.  Once, one of his disciples happened to visit him after he had just finished his remembrances.  The disciple noticed Shaykh al-Ghali’s (q.s.) body was strangely hot, as if he was in the midst of a steam bath.  When he touched his hand, the disciple felt his hand burned as if he were touching hot coals.  Shaykh as-Sukayrij (q.s.) explained, “Such a phenomenon is not uncommon among the people of Haq, considering what they are authorised to recite.  Some may burn their tongue uttering the Magnificent Name.” 

Among his visionary encounters was a meeting with the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.), who told him, “You are the son of the Beloved of Allah, and you take the spiritual path of the Beloved of Allah.” 

He also met Shaykh at-Tijani (q.s.) after his passing and asked him, “O Shaykh!  You went away and left us alone!” 

Shaykh at-Tijani (q.s.) replied, “I am not distant from you, and I did not leave you; I have only moved from an earthly dwelling place to an abode of light.” 

After his training with Shaykh at-Tijani (q.s.), Shaykh al-Ghali (q.s.) went to the Hijaz to propagate the thariqa’.  There, he met Shaykh ‘Umar al-Futi Thal (r.a.), trained him and granted him license to spread the Thariqa’ Tijaniyyah in West Africa.  Shaykh ‘Umar al-Futi Thal’s (r.a.) Kitab al-Rimah described Shaykh al-Ghali (q.s.) as being in frequent visionary contact with the Prophet (s.a.w.) and Shaykh at-Tijani (q.s.); and travelling often between Makkah and Madina.  Shaykh al-Ghali (q.s.) passed away in 1244 (1829) in Makkah, and was buried in the same graveyard as Sayyidatina Khadijah bint Khuwaylid (r.a.).