Muslims beyond the Arab World

Abstract

The book deals with the vibrant tradition of writing African languages with the Arabic script called ʿAjamī and the rise of the Murīdiyya Ṣūfī order of Senegal, West Africa founded by Shaykh Ahmadu Bamba Mbakke (1853–1927). The book demonstrates that the development of the ʿAjamī literary tradition and the flourishing of the Murīdiyya as one of sub-Saharan Africa’s most powerful and dynamic Ṣūfī organizations are entwined. It offers a close reading of the rich hagiographic and didactic written, recited, and chanted ʿAjamī texts of the Murīdiyya, works largely unknown to scholars. The texts describe the life and Ṣūfī odyssey of the order’s founder, his conflicts with local rulers and Muslim clerics and the French colonial administration, and the traditions and teachings he championed that permanently shaped the identity and behaviors of his followers. By analyzing Murīd ʿAjamī texts, the book evaluates the prevailing representations of the movement and offers alternative perspectives. It demonstrates how the Murīds used their written, recited, and chanted ʿAjamī materials as an effective mass communication tool to convey to the masses the poignant odyssey of Shaykh Ahamadu Bamba, his doctrine, and the virtues he stood for and cultivated among his followers (self-esteem, self-reliance, strong faith, work ethic, pursuit of excellence, determination, and nonviolence and optimism in the face of adversity), without the knowledge of the French colonial administration and many academics. The book argues that the source of the resilience, appeal, and expansion of the Murīdiyya, which has fascinated observers since its inception in 1883, lies therein.

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