[ultramDoctoo]

"If there is a family in Sudan that does not have at least one Sufi member, it is not Sudanese."

This is the view of Dr. Hasan Al Fatih Qaribullah, a leading sheikh of the Sammaniya tariqa, or Sufi movement, in Khartoum. It is a view commonly held by Sudanese.

Sufism in Sudan is not a public issue or part of a national debate. Yet it is an enormously important force that has shaped, and continues to shape, the society as a whole.

It is widely recognized that the extended family is of vital social and economic importance in this country, where poverty is widespread but real hunger rare.

Strong family ties are traditional, but Sufism, which teaches the practice of sacrificial service for others, is an important element in the glue that holds many Sudanese families together.

It is a serious religious discipline, not the ideal seen by 1960s western religious romantics.

The word suf means wool in Arabic, and the Sufis took their name for wearing rough woolen clothes as part of their spiritual discipline.

On a recent Friday afternoon on a Khartoum street closed to traffic and covered in mats, hundreds of Sammaniya devotees stood in lines facing each other for the zikr, or remembrance of God, that is the most important Sufi ritual.

They spent all afternoon of their only day off work bowing deeply hundreds of times, chanting "la illah il Allah," there is no god but God, or other devotional lines, or simply the word "Allah", again and again. Every moment directed by their sheikh, they turned from side to side and jumped up and down. There was no small talk; there were no distractions, just the devotee, his sheikh and his God against the background of the voices of men leading the chants.

The zikr combines chants, prayers, meditation and various related body movements to induce a total absorption of the individual in the worship of God.

It requires real stamina to go the full five or six hours, especially when summer temperatures soar to well above 40 degrees Celsius.

But the reward, says Sheikh Qaribullah, is a feeling of joy. He says when he engages in the zikr his whole focus is on God and being close to God.

"I try hard to be close to God," he says simply.

His dignified bearing and spiritual face testify to the fruits of these exertions.

His father and grandfather were Sammaniya sheikhs as well, and they descended from the man who introduced the sect to Sudan, a disciple of Samman, a mystic based in Medina (many years before the current Wahabi sect took over Saudi Arabia and suppressed Sufism there altogether).

There are some 3,000 men in Qaribullah's Khartoum group, and half as many women, who worship separately. He says Sammaniya is the largest Sufi tariqa in Sudan, probably numbering in the millions. There are definitely several million Sufis in Sudan altogether, making probably the largest national Sufi community in the world.

The various groups operate independently (Sufism is not like a Christian denomination; it more closely resembles Christian mystical orders) but have good relations among themselves. On the prophet Mohammed's birthday (May 24 this year) there will be a 12-day Sufi get-together in Khartoum that will bring together all the groups in a massive celebration. This is an annual event.

Sheikh Hassan Qaribullah, leader of a major Samaniya group in Omdurman
Members vary from children to old folks, poor to rich, educated and not. When the Sammaniya meet for their zikr, they all wear the white galabiyas common in Sudan, with a special leather belt that signifies their devotion. There is some variety in dress among the groups.

Qaribullah says that increasingly young, well-educated Sudanese are drawn to Sufism because they are disappointed in the other Islamic movements, especially fundamentalism with its emphasis on law rather than spiritual experience and growth.

There are many other Sufi movements in Sudan. Some of the larger ones are the Tijaniya, Khatamiya, Ansar (the group of the Mahdi of anti-British fame) and the Birhaniya.

Many are part of international tariqas, such as the Shazliya, the Qardiriya and the Naqshabandi.

Qaribullah says the Sammaniya have branches in several countries and are the largest tariqa in Nigeria.

Each tariqa is founded by an individual who has some particular teachings and ways of conducting a zikr, but all share common principles and similar practices. For all, the sheikh is important as the person who guides each devotee, or murshid, on the path of spiritual development.

The sheikh leads the prayers and zikr but also gives personal advice to his followers on most matters, including career, marriage and family.

But while Sufism is a tough, demanding discipline, it is not a career in itself and Sufis have to hold down ordinary jobs like everyone else.

Qaribullah is a scholar who has taught in various universities and was for several years the chancellor (president) of the Omdurman Islamic University. He has also written and published over 100 books, following a pattern established by his spiritual lineage.

The Sufis are not directly involved in politics, allowing their followers to make their own choices. But politicians frequently court their favor, nonetheless.

And many political leaders in Sudan are Sufis themselves, including several ministers in the present government. Jaafer Nimeiri, Sudan's president throughout the 1970s, was a Sammaniya Sufi.

But Sufis do inevitably have a moderating effect on whatever party leads the country since the very core of their teaching and practice is tolerance of others.

Qaribullah sums up the Sufi mandate thus:

"The Sufi should do good for people and follow the way of the Prophet Mohammed. He should be tolerant with his family, neighbors and all others in the world."

These are not ideals to which lip service is given. These are the core objectives of every disciple and progress in the tariqa depends on achieving them.

[DoterrFor]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S65UAnBP8y0

A video on the Sammaniya Zikr.

[ancexiaepidge]

Does anyone know more about this Tariqa? Who are the Mashaikh there? What their silsilah is? What their A'mals are? Any Mureeds of the Sammaniya Mashaikh here?

[Nafheense]

I don't know a great deal, but what I do know is the tariqa is named after Shaykh Muhammad ibn Abdal-Karim al-Samman, who was a Shaykh in the Khalwati tariqa (but also had authorisation in the Naqshbandi, Qadiri & Shadhili tariqa's) he was widely regarded as the Qutb of his time and was also the guardian of the Prophets tomb in Medina, where he lived most of his life.. That's about it really.

[jakitula]

Bismillah

As i understand it, the leading murshid of the tariqa today in Sudan is shaykh Muhammad Qariballah. Before him it was his father, shaykh Professor Hasan Qariballah. Our shaykh is also authorized in the tariqa. Like the brother mentioned above, it's Khalwati, but also includes the Shathili, Qadiri and Naqshbandi lines.

wassalam

[ancexiaepidge]

brothers Nafs Zakiyah and Imperium. Is anyone bay't to these Mashaikh, what are their Amals? Does anyone know? Is Shaykh Bi Bakr Sudani (db) also Sammani?

[Nafheense]

Yes, Shaykh Babikir Ahmad Babikir is a Murshid in the Sammani Tariqa, Authorised by Shaykh Hasan al-Fatih Qaribullah I believe

As i understand it, the leading murshid of the tariqa today in Sudan is shaykh Muhammad Qariballah. Before him it was his father, shaykh Professor Hasan Qariballah. Our shaykh is also authorized in the tariqa. Like the brother mentioned above, it's Khalwati, but also includes the Shathili, Qadiri and Naqshbandi lines. as-Salamu Alaykum

Out of interest, who is your Shaykh?

[jakitula]

Imperium,

My murshid is Shaykh Muhammad bin Yahya al-Ninowy

[Nafheense]

Jazak'ullah. I wondered if might be him, as I'd heard he had authority in the Sammani Tariqa. How many Turuq does Shaykh Ninowy have authorization in exactly, I've heard it's something like 17 or 18

[bridsanaeds]

How many turuq are their approximately??

[jakitula]

I can't say for sure about the specific numbers, especially as they include different sub-branches etc.
But murids are initiated in Shathili, Rifa'i, Naqshbandi, Qadiri and Khalwati tariqas.

[Nafheense]

Jazak'ullah.

[Quiniacab]

Sala 3laiku brother, I am looking for contact details for a leader of this sammaniyah group. I would like to discuss some genuine matters with them.

Yes, Shaykh Babikir Ahmad Babikir is a Murshid in the Sammani Tariqa, Authorised by Shaykh Hasan al-Fatih Qaribullah I believe



as-Salamu Alaykum

Out of interest, who is your Shaykh?

[rsdefwgxvcfdts]

Assalamu Alaikum

a few years ago I talked online to someone who was connected to a Sammani Sheikh from the Sudan who is a traditional healer who spends part of the time in the Sudan and part of the time in Dubai, he was called Sheikh Madjzoubi and there used to be a website on him, but I don't think that it is still online. He seemed a very interesting Sheikh though and at the time I decided to go and see him some time when he was in Dubai, but I never got round to it due to work and other distractions. He doesn't have millions of students like Sheikh Garibala so if someone is looking for a Samni Sheikh they can actually see he could be a good one for them, though finding him could possibly be a little difficult, short of going to Sudan or badgering people from the Sudanese community in Dubai to help you find him?

[GustavM]

brother abdul1234 I could you tell me when the shaykh comes Dubai. I would like to visit him.

[rsdefwgxvcfdts]

brother abdul1234 I could you tell me when the shaykh comes Dubai. I would like to visit him.

sorry brother I cannot, it was about seven years ago and basically everything current that I know I have written. I will try and find out for you though inshaAllah, but I don't know if I will be able to.

[Kragh]

Just look at the OP - so lovely.


We have to keep repeating the common info about mysticism because there are always new people around and those who are not hooked yet they too do need a reminder.

And it gives taqwiyat to know about Islam and Muslims in those areas about which we do not get regular information.

Wassalam