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Mauritania
Index
Ahmed al Tijani, an Algerian Berber, founded the Tijaniya
brotherhood in 1781. Its rituals tend to be simpler than those of
the Qadiriya, and its members are not expected to pursue Islamic
learning to the same extent. Essentially a missionary order, the
Tijaniya brotherhood has spread in many areas of West Africa at
the expense of the Qadiriya. One explanation for its expansion
may be that the simpler and more flexible Tijaniya teachings are
better suited for modern life.
Tijaniya precepts include injunctions against lying,
stealing, cheating, and killing. These precepts insist that
promises and obligations be honored, neighbors be loved, and
superiors be obeyed. Members are to deprive no one of his freedom
without cause and are to reflect continually on God in prayer.
Although the Tijaniya recognizes that everyone sins, it suggests
that loyal members of the brotherhood will be rewarded in an
afterlife.
The Tijaniya has two branches in Mauritania, the Hadefiste
(or Hafediste) and the Omariya. Little is known about the
Hadefiste. The Omariya branch was founded by a Toucouleur, El
Hadj Omar, in the latter part of the nineteenth century. The
membership of the Omariya is largely Toucouleur, but many
Soninké, Fulbe, and Wolof also belong to this order. A
subdivision of the Omariya, the Hamallya, was founded in the
early twentieth century by Sherif Hamallah. The Hamallya
emphasizes mystical Islamic beliefs more than most of the other
brotherhoods and stresses the equality of all mankind. Drawn from
the Fulbe and from mixed Maure groups, Hamallya membership
initially included ex-slaves, young people, and women. This group
has tended to be extremist, and the main Tijaniya brotherhood
claims it is not a true Tijaniya group.
Data as of June 1988
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