The Signs of a Great Destiny
Mame Cheikh Ibrahima was born about 1855 in Ndiaby Fall. His father, Ahmadou Rokhaya Fall, was a prince of Cayor and her mother, Mame Saynabou Ndiaye, was a princess of Djolof. So he was born from a union of two descendants of the most powerful kingdoms in Sénégal at that time.
Such origins gave to Mame Cheikh Ibrahima Fall a high position his society. Despite his privileges, he was a die-hard worker. He was loved by his family and the people for he was good to everybody. His parents iniated him to the study of the Holy Quran in his early years. He memorized the Holy book and learnt the Islamic sciences of which he soon became an expert. His knowledge was flawlessly put into practice.Mame Cheikh Ibrahima joined the community of the Saints very early. However, he yearned for a highest position.
A position that no-one had reached before him and no-one would never reach again after him. He set himself into prayers imploring the Almighty God to guide him to that position. One night he finished praying and went to sleep, he had a premonitory dream. The Almighty God told him that only Ahmadou Bamba had the knowledge he desired. He told him to seek for the Man and he would reach the position he yearned for. After that vision, Mame Cheikh left the comfort of this familial palace and started the quest for Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba. He looked for him in many villages. He went in every places a man called Ahmadou Bamba lived. Mama Cheikh Ibrahima Fall would stay with him some days being his servant. During his staying, he would observe the master and evaluate whether he held the knowledge he wanted. After a short while he was always disappointed, he would leave and continue his quest. The years passed, his spiritual thirst grew stronger.
The end of a quest, the begining of a destiny
One night, when he was at a house of a man named Ahmadou Bamba, he had a vision. God informed him that he would find his true Master very soon. At midday, in the following day Mame Cheikh showed a man coming from far. It was Serigne Makhtar Touré . He felt a spiritual parfuma on him. He went to meet him and after the greetings, he adressed him : “I smell the parfuma of spiritually in you. I feel the smell of the Master I am seeking on you. Please, take me to his place. (Serigne Makhtar Touré was with Serigne Adama Gueye)
They told him that they had to go to a neighboring village in commission for their master. They asked him to await their return and he could go with them. Mame Cheikh accepted. When the two men returned he had algathered his luggage and said good bye to his then master. They took him to Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba’s place. He had ordered the disciple to prepare a guest room in the morning, before the arrival of Mame Cheikh Ibrahima Fall.
On their arrival, the latter asked “Is there some-one else with you.” Then, he ordered them to call him. They obeyed. When he was walking toward the shelter of the Master, Mame Cheikh heard the angels chanting “The first to reach the place shall be the most high.” the chant was accompanied with drum-beatings.
As he got closer to the shelter, he knelt down and ramped to Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba. He asked some mystiacal questions to him he was the first to answer righteously until he started the quest. He understood then he had found his true Master. They talked for a very long while. He told to Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba that his only desire was to be close servant of God and he was looking for a Master who could guide him . The latter told him that, the prophet Mouhamed (psl) is his guide. He then give his a condition: “You abandon yourself (body and soul) to me. You will always obey to my commands”. Mame Cheikh answered “I abandon myself to you in this life and the one After.” Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba gave him a tool and told him “Here you can earn all you desire” he answered “I shall take everything.” The first pact on which Mouridism is based was born on that day.
The light chasing the darkness
When the pact of submission was passed between the two men. Mame Cheikh Ibrahima became the number one servant of Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba Mbacké. He provided food for him and his family. He built the shelters, he made all the domestic works… Before the arrival of Mame Cheikh Ibrahima Fall, people considered Cheikh Ahmdou Bamba considered like a plain Quran teacher. They ignored the discipline required towards him. Mame Cheikh showed them the true nature of His Master trough his behavior. He made the other adopt the right behavior so that they could profit from the blessings in Cheikh Ahmdou Bamba. Serigne Moussa Ka, one of the other disciples dedicated him a poem. He wrote “Before you came we took Mame (Ahmdou Bamba) for an plain teacher, you made us understand.” He went on “Praise be given to Cheikh Ibrahima Fall the "Lampe" lit by Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba, You’ve illuminated our faith. You are a true Kamil (a man spiritually complete) . In making the pact of submission Mame Cheikh Ibrahima Fall performed a complete sacrifice. He renounced to his royal priviledges in favour of the Eternel life. This choice shows a infinite love for the Creator. His spiritual education lasted three year and his thirst for God was eased. He is recognized by everybody to be the prototype of the Perfect Mourid. Serigne Moussa Ka said that: “Mame Cheikh is the source that provides to all Saints.” Cheikh Samba Diarra Mbaye added “No Saint reaches your ankle, Fall the Noble.” The Nobility of his origins made him the perfect interlocutor for the pagan kings. He could address them without any complex for he had the same position. Many kings became muslims and made the pact of submission with him. Serigne Moussa ka narrated “You made Mbaxaane (a pegan king’s name) Khafor (The same king with a muslim name). You chased hatred from his heart." The Colonizers had a great deal of admiration for Mame Cheikh Ibrahima Fall. Despite the delicate relationship between them and the Mourids, He succeeded in treating with them and to gain their respect. For exemple, he negociated the treaty for the return of Cheikh Ahmdou Bamba from exile in 1902. After Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba passed away, Mame Cheikh organized his succession and consolidated his heir Serigne Modou Moustapha at the head of the community. He took part in the construction of the railway for the transportattion of the materiel to build the Mosque of Touba. He joined his Master in the After-life in 1930. Even then, Mame Cheikh Ibrahima Fall stayed the leading light of the community. The highest minaret of the Mosque of Touba, the most visible symbole of the Mourids is named after him. The Bay Fall are right when they chant: “Lamp Mame Cheikh Ibra Fall will never die, Lamp Mame Cheikh Ibra Fall, you' a Sincere!”
Areas We Cover
Tarbiyah:
Education spirituelle
spiritual education