Sheikh Salihou Mbacke (1990-2007)

Serigne Salihou Mbacke,(1915-2007), FIFTH CALIPH OF MURIDIYYA

“Yaa ayuhal Lazina aamanoo wa hamilu saalihaati”,”O you true believers, constant in virtue, take great care when picking a name for your children.” which can be of great importance in their destiny. According to Imam Al Ghazali, naming one’s child after a saint man who received God’s graces is a way making the aura of the namesake reflect on him and at the same time make him gain some of his distinguishable qualities in the sight of Allah. Shaykh Ahmadou Bamba, thus, did not depart from the rule by naming his son, born in 1915 in Diourbel and who will become the fifth Caliph of the Muridiya community, SALIOU. A predestined name, SALIOU which means VIRTUE fits greatly to our hero.

As soon as he ascended to the Caliphate in 1990, after the short ministry of SERIGNE ABDOUL KHADRE, he immediately set the tone, by clearly putting forward guidelines that would imprint his course of actions as the new leader of the Muridiya community. In his memorable inaugural speech, he stated right away, that beside Islam and subsequently perpetuating the legacy of Serigne Touba Shaykh Ahmadou Bamba, anything else would be of his concern, and the least incite his comments or orders whatsoever. Things were clearly set and everyone knew what kind of leader they were dealing with. Faithful to his pledge, he remained constant in his position, with one only concern, promoting Islam and developing the legacy of his illustrious father.

In this colossal enterprise, Serigne Saliou is endowed, fortunately, with a profound knowledge of the Qur’an and related Islamic Sciences, an immeasurable generosity, and humility. Very brilliant and cultivated, he is very aware of the challenges entailing his mission of caliph, and over all, he pays quite enough attention to the international situations’ drawbacks on the future of Islam, of which he is one of the most ardent defenders.

A revealing fact of his global vision and his determination to follow the footsteps of Shaykh Ahmadou Bamba, in the defense and illustration of the legacy of The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), without prejudices, is the acquisition at great expense of a high rise building in the town of Taverny, France.

And guess what for someone who will never set foot in France, he simply gave it away , as a gift, to all the Muslims who want to practice there their faith, as he puts it in, in peace, love ,respect of others, and in perfect accordance with the laws of the French Republic . The example is relevant. Isn’t this the true face of a universal Islam? It is a humane Islam, founded on the values of peace, solidarity, love of one’s fellow man, the nobleness of one’s feelings; of forgiveness .It is an Islam which is not equated to Panarabism, but rather a humanist one, that welcomes all components of society without discrimination.

It’s an Islam expunged from all seeds of violence, discrimination and violence, that is law-abiding, which, in any way, can’t be a menace to society. In fact, it is the true legacy of Shaykh Ahmadou bamba that Serigne Saliou is perpetuating.