[Lumières de la Foi] El Hadji Malick Sarr : Le premier héritier du wird de Maodo Malick Sy
In this new installment of our "Lights of Faith" series, Seneweb delves into the origins of an exceptional companionship that shaped the Tijaniyya order in Senegal. Before the crowds and the renown of Tivaouane, there was a man, a pioneer: El Hadji Malick Sarr. The first holder of the wird of Maodo, he embodies the absolute model of the accomplished disciple. Discover the story of this Sufi whose loyalty and piety have transcended the ages.
A prominent figure in the Tijaniyya order in Senegal, El Hadji Malick Sarr was the first disciple of El Hadji Malick Sy, affectionately known as Maodo. He was also the first to receive the wird from the man who would become the great popularizer of the Tijaniyya brotherhood in Senegal.
Peaceful at heart and detached from worldly life, El Hadji Malick Sarr was a man of God who cultivated extreme discretion and sobriety. A Sufi dedicated to serving humanity for the glory of Allah, the Most High, he was initiated into Quranic studies at a very young age. El Hadji Malick Sarr was an accomplished man, possessing rare qualities coupled with a profound sense of responsibility. Having received the approval of his revered guide, Maodo, this servant of God had no other ambition than to submit to divine law under the guidance of his mentor.
Early and crucial training
El Hadji Malick Sarr was the eldest son of Tafsir Athoumane Sarr and Fatou Dieng Bator. Born in Nioro Lamdo Dioulbé (Fouta) in 1850, he was five years older than Maodo. After mastering the Holy Book under his father's tutelage, he furthered his studies at a daara (Koranic school) in the Sine region. It was there that he first met El Hadji Malick Sy, who was then a fellow student.
Their paths crossed again in Fouta, at the home of El Hadji Omar Foutiyou Tall. Maodo's uncle had also predicted that Fa Wade Wélé (Maodo's mother) would give birth to a son named Malick, the designated successor to the head of the Tidjaniya.
The mystical encounter with Maodo
During their reunion in Fouta, El Hadji Malick Sarr immediately perceived a spiritual transformation in his friend. "He noticed that Maodo had something new spiritually and asked for his share. That's how Maodo gave him a wird. El Hadji Malick Sarr is the first person to whom Maodo gave a wird," recounts Moustapha Sy Moudir.
From then on, he refused to be separated from him. Although Maodo was supposed to return to Gaya under the care of his uncle, El Hadji Malick Sarr eventually joined him in Saint-Louis after the disappearance of El Hadji Omar Foutiyou Tall in 1864. Mansour Sarr, his grandson, testifies: "Never in his life did he mix falsehood with truth. A man of peace and integrity."
A strong spiritual choice and absolute trust
Although older than Maodo, El Hadji Malick Sarr sided with him in complete submission. "He saw in Maodo all the human and religious qualities that El Hadji Omar Foutiyou Tall possessed," explains Oustaz Amadou Wélé. As a sign of profound esteem, Maodo gave him his eldest daughter, Sokhna Fatou Sy, in marriage.
Settled in Santhie Pire to serve as imam, El Hadji Malick Sarr enjoyed unquestioned trust. In 1888, when Maodo departed for Mecca, the spiritual leader entrusted him with the care of his family. He was also the first tutor of Seydi Ahmet Sy and Seydi Ababacar Sy, teaching them the fundamentals of the Quran.
A tireless reciter and farmer, he meticulously redistributed his harvests as alms (Azaka). Maodo often directed him to the faithful who were looking for an exceptional imam or interpreter of the Quran.
Before his passing in 1922, Maodo had expressed the wish that El Hadji Malick Sarr lead his funeral prayer. However, due to a trip to Louga, Sarr only arrived in Tivaouane after the burial. He then returned to Boudi Sakho to continue his teaching. Upon his death a few years later, he was buried next to his wife at the request of Seydi Ababacar Sy, thus sealing his eternal bond with Maodo's family.
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