Sheikh Abdul Ahad Mbacke, Third Caliph of the Muridiyya (1968-1989)

SHAYKH ABDUL AHAD MBACKE, THIRD CALIPH OF MURIDIYA (1968-1989)

At his birth in 1914, in Diourbel, Shaykh Abdul Ahad, who would become the third Caliph of Muridiya, Shaykh Ahmadu MBAMBA in the presence of his closest disciples stated: “Pray for him so that Allah (SWT) may grant him long life, for, I have good hope in him”. So it is not surprising that Baye Lahat, as he was respectfully called by the Murid community, left in the heart of the Murid disciples, ten years after his disappearance, renown, popularity and a charisma that nothing has changed, in regard of his illustrious father and master’s hopes.

A widespread opinion is that, if the Qur’an were to reincarnate itself in a human form, it would take, for sure, Serigne Abdu Lahat’s traits. So much the Qur’an is the supreme TRUTH; so much did Baye Lahat consider practicing the truth as a vocation. Popular imaginary kept in memory of him the image of a simple man in gestures and dress style, very jovial in his courteousness and helpfulness towards his fellowman, but unrelentingly leaned against the Truth. It was well known that, nobody, whether he or she was the highest authority one could think of, or his closest relative, could get his forgiveness or protective cover up, if he or she was wrong.

Besides, didn’t he set he tone, in a memorable speech, by stating that a Muslim should remain steadfast with the Truth and, when being challenged, consider without any difference, living in a heated but pleasant secured environment in which his convictions are acknowledged, from another wherein he faces the bitter hostility of his critics. What’s important is that constancy in righteousness will bring him/her forth the best.

If in the constant service of Allah (SWT), a believer comes to obtain His grace, no human being, no coalition, would they be in possession of the most sophisticated means, could harm him. On the other hand nothing could protect anyone from divine punishment if the latter has acted contrary to His Law. Not even the most unanimous approval of his peers let alone their most praising testimonies.

This man, of the rare stuff righteous men of Allah (SWT) are made of, assimilated at an early age the Qur’an and related religious sciences, under the supervision of his uncle Serigne Amsatou DIAKHATE, his saint mother’s brother, the virtuous Soxna Mariama DIAKHATE, who is also the mother of Serigne Souhaibou MBACKE, the other valiant knight of Islam. He has such a deep knowledge of his father’s work, so much great respect that his life was the perfect illustration of the teachings it conveys.

It’s a fact that Shaykh Ahmadou BAMBA teaches to his disciples to exclusively worship Allah (SWT) the ONE and practice their faith in conformity with the Sunnah. The deep knowledge of the sacred scriptures (Qur’an, Hadiths, religious sciences, etc…) is obviously an essential prerequisite according to the Shaykh, who in the same way considered making an honest living through work as a sanctifying dogma. It’s now easier to understand why, during his long caliphate, Serigne Fallou his predecessor (1945-1968), Serigne Abdul Ahad has, with discretion, setting back to the background, which was close to anonymity, dedicating his life to working, striving to honestly live with the licit fruit of his labor. Besides his status of the son of the Shaykh gives him the authority, if he wanted it, to live an opulent life thanks to the disciples’ gifts (adiya). Instead, he preferred, as a disciple (talibe) among the disciples, to do any kind of activity to earn a living. In addition, didn’t he vow, like his siblings, to trade his status of the Shaykh’s son into that of a talibe.

In exemplary disciple (talibe) and highly skilled farmer, people witnessed the fact that he would work in his farms using each and every farming tool skillfully. His exceeded his production goals to such an extent he was number one farmer thanks to his achievements in his farms of Touba Belel, Bokk Barga, Kadd Balooji, and Mbara Dieng.

He was a trader; nevertheless, he never overcharged his customers. He even worked in the field of public transportation. Such eagerness to have hands on, indicates, obviously his willingness to have licit sources of income, according to Islamic tenets.

This period of hardship made it possible for Baye Lahad to capitalize an extraordinary amount of experience, a thorough knowledge of humane nature, all things drawn by the unsoundable Wolof wisdom, which will be so useful under his leadership of the Murid community when he ascended the caliphate.

Serigne Abdul Ahad set the tone as soon as he inherited his position. He declared to his contemporaries, he would be their witness, in this life and in the hereafter, provided they remain steadfastly rooted to the truth and the service of Shaykh Ahmadou BAMBA; consequently, he has no business to deal with wrong-doers, using false pretences, whoever they can be.

Thus, one could see Baye Lahat putting in a pragmatic way an end to the ill treatments of these “public lecturers” called “diwaan kat”. These merchants of illusion founded their subsistance on the exploitation of popular credulity. With their pernicious speech, they forced the generosity of the common disciple (talibe) gleaming him easy access to Paradise (even by briskly trespassing Islam’s principles), only provided that one makes act of allegiance to Serigne Touba. Obviously Serigne Abdul Ahad could not allow the spreading of such trickery, moreover very prejudicial to the image of Muridiya and the Community itself.
Sheikh Abdul Ahad left us with a legacy of a builder. Under his Caliphate, Touba has grown from a rural village to a modern city. He initiated many projects such as:
1. the building of highways and roads
2. The renovation of the great mosque of Touba
3. The increase in water supply
4. The construction of new cemeteries
5. The construction of the first Islamic university
6. The construction of the first library for researchers
7. The increase in power supply to satisfy the increasing demand
As we can see, Sheikh Abdul Ahad was a multi dimensional man with an array of experiences gained multiple experiences before and during his caliphate.