Asalaamu alaikum

Alhamdulillah, and below is a brief article on the life of Serigne Bamba (rameemahullah- may Allah have mercy on him) forwarded from Point newspaper. Amadou Kabirr, here is a good example of liberation theology. May Allah benefit us with the knowledge and legacy of the Sheick. Ameen.

      To mark the occasion of the Magal Touba this paper highlights, for the benefit of our readers, the history of Serign Touba, and why the Magal.
      Serign Mohamadou Mbacke commonly known as Hadimou Rasol, son of Sheikh Momar Anta Sally Mbacke and Mam Jarra Bousso, was born in Mbacke Baol in 1852.  He died in 1927.
      According to a Senegalese historian, Serign Abdou Ndoye, he studied the Qur'an and Sharia from an early age under his father Sheikh Momar Anta Sally Mbacke, and his uncle Serign Mbacke Bousso. Serign Touba lived with his father for thirty years. He was very committed to reading the Holy Qur'an and farming, and worked hard for his father.
      It was, following the death of his father, that became a respected, charismatic and revered Senegalese Muslim leader. He became famous for the miracles he performed.
      The friends of his father including the elders wanted to introduce him to the kings of his day, but he refused saying that only Allah is the king, not any human being.
     
      
      
      
     
      During his life he had differences with white colonial authorities in Senegal, because he was promoting islam and they were against Islam.
      On 1st August 1895, the governor of Saint Louis in Senegal  summoned 84 marabouts and religious leaders to Saint Louis. Serign Touba refused to go, but sent his younger brother, Mam Cherno Mbacke, to deliver a letter to the governor. In the letter Serign Touba stated that whenever he has permission from the Almighty Allah he will come to the governor. The governor sent 30 people to arrest him.
      The governor sent 30 men to arrest him, because the governor was told that Serign Touba had armed people who were always ready to fight anyone who tried to attack him.
       When his brother returned from Saint Louis, before they had discussions, Serign Touba told him  he knew what transpired in his discussions with the governor. "I was not afraid to go. I was waiting for permission from Allah to go to the governor. 
      Serign Touba met with the 30-man delegation at Diewal, Senegal, and they continued to Saint Louis where Serign Touba joined his 83 colleagues already in Saint Louis in response to the governor's invitation.
      He was told by the French governor that  his colleagues have been detained for about one month now, their feeding reduced, and could  not pray out of fear. They were made to signed papers stating that "God does not exist and that the Qur'an is a journal."
      Serign Touba, upon entering the office of the governor in the morning, prayed two rakats . He wrote that "God is unique" and recited the Quran "Hulwa lahou."
      After being kept for some days in Saint Louis, he was brought to Dakar and stayed another night in detention. He left Dakar on 5th Septemebr 1895 for Gabon, where he was in exile for seven years and seven months.
       Travelling by ship to Gabon, he was not allowed to pray onboard. So whenever, it was time to pray, he threw his mat overboard onto the sea, and was seen standing on the mat performing his obligatory prayers.
      Whilst in Gabon, he encountered a lot of ordeals with the whites. For instance, they placed him in a small room with a fierce bull to attack him, but the animal stayed calm. A lion brought to the room to eat him did no harm to him either. Serign Touba was placed in the oven-room of a bakery in Gabon, which became very cold when he entered.
      He came  back to Senegal in 1903, and told his disciples that as from then on he will celebrate the date when he was sent into exile in Gabon. He called this annual celebration the Magal. " The white men believed I will not come back, that I will be killed."
      His elder son Serign Mohamadou Moustapha Mbacke continued  the Magal from 1927 to 1945. Serign Falou Mbacke, his son, took over the Magal from 1945 to 1968. Then the other sons, Serign AbdouLahat Mbacke - 1968 to 1989, Serign Abdou Hadare Mbacke was the Khalifa in1989 for nine months only. Serign Saliou Mbacke from1989 to date is the present Khalifa.
      In The Gambia, Mouridism was actively promoted by Serign Mourid Bao, Serign Sheikh Jobe, Serign Diadie Nyass. Presently, Serign Pap Demba Jobe, is the representative of the Khalifa General in The Gambia. He took over from his father, Serign Sheikh Jobe, who passed away last year.
      Serign Pap Demba Jobe appeals to all Mourides to follow the recommendations of the Qur'an, particularly to observe the five pillars of Islam. They must be diligent, help their Muslim brothers, foster friendship and unity among all peopleS and respect the laws of The Gambia and Senegal.
     

 
Allahumma salli wasallim alaa Nabiyyina Muhammad. Wasalaam.
Modou Mbye