Minanul Baaxil Xadiim buñu Wolofal: Xaaj bu njëkk

Abstract

The materials are the first volume of the Murid internal biography of Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba translated into Wolof using Ajami. The orginal biography was written by Serigne Bassirou Mbacke (1895-1966), a disciple and a son of Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba. Recognizing that many Murid disciples are literate in Wolofal (Wolof Ajami script) but are illiterate in Arabic, Serigne Moustapha-Bassirou (1928-2007) led a team of Murid scholars to translate his father's Arabic biography of Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba into Wolof using the widely known Wolof Ajami script. Based upon the interviewer with several Murid scholars, the original source in Arabic was completed around 1927 and the Wolofal versions were made between 1966 and 1993. There are oral renderings of the materials on cassettes made by Omar Kane Balla Ayssa and a translation in French made by Khadim Mbacke of IFAN, Dakar. Throughout the biography, the classical Arabic texts of the original work is generally given followed by translations and commentaries in Wolof. The Arabic and Ajami versions of this biography are considered to be the most extensive, most detailed, most reliable, and most cited biography of Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba among Murids. The biography traces the life of Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba from his childhood, and describes his physical, moral, and spiritual characteristics, his courage, education, knowledge, and his spiritual achievements and ranks, among others.

The original source in Arabic was completed around 1927, and the Wolofal versions were made between 1966 and 1993.

Baye Cherif Ndiaye was born in 1952 in Ndialou in Diakhao-Sine in the region of Fatick in Senegal. He studied the Quran at the school of Serigne Issa Aw in Sine in the region of Fatick. He is a disciple of Serigne Moustapha Gueye Bogo in Diourbel whose father Mababou Gueye was one of the first disciples of Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba in Diourbel. Baye Cherif Ndiaye received the materials from Serigne Masylla Diagne, the caretaker of the mausoleum of Serigne Bassirou Mbacke in Touba, Senegal.

Serigne Bassirou Mbacke (1895-1966) is a son of Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba, and the author of the most extensive internal biography of his father's life, his character, and spiritual path. He was born in Kokki in the region of Louga and was the son of Sokhna Mame Diop, a granddaughter of Makhtar Ndoumbe Diop. Serigne Bassirou Mbacke studied the Qur'an in Kokki and later lived for seven years with his father Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba. Serigne Bassirou Mbacke was also known to be a prominent farmer in the village of Tip near Mbacke in the region of Diourbel.

Serigne Moustapha-Bassirou (1928-2007) was born in Darou Salam-Kael in the region of Diourbel, Senegal. He studied the Qur'an and Islamic sciences with his namesake Cheikh Mouhammadou Moustapha Mbacke, Serigne Ndame Abdourahmane Lo, Serigne Ibra Binta Sylla, his maternal uncle Serigne Maouloud Diakhate, Serigne Habibou Mbacke (a prominent Murid scholar), and his father Serigne Bassirou Mbacke. He is also credited for coining the popular Murid phrase "wàcc liggééy" (literally: completing one's work) to refer to the death of a Murid disciple. The phrase emphasizes Murids' work ethics and their belief that one comes to this world for a mission (to work) and must leave it when the work is completed. The use of "Serigne Touba" along the names of living Khalifas of the Muridiyya order is also attributed to him. After the death of his father, he led a group of scholars to translate into Wolofal his father's Arabic biography of Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba entitled "Minanul Baaxil Xadiim." The team included Serigne Malick Dieng and Serigne Bara Rokhaya Mbacke (son of Imam Serigne Habibou Mbacke) who served as translators and Serigne Abdoul Karim Diakhate, Serigne Mourtalla Diagne, and Serigne Gadiaga who served as scribes.

Digitized on 3 January 2012.

All pages are readable. Due to the quality of the photocopy some pages are dark and may be hard to read. There are a few pages missing.