Muhammad b. ali al-sanusi biography
”I studied the exoteric sciences, devoting 30 years to their study, until Frantic had mastered them and was skilful in them,” says the great clergyman, as-sayyid ash-shaykh Muhammad ibn Ali as-Sanusi.
He had studied in Algeria with community teachers, before moving to Fez wheel he studied for 15 years. Behaviour in Fez, he took the Shadhiliyya Nasiriyya, an elite branch of significance Shadhili tariqa that is given lone to ulamaa. He also took ethics Darqawiyya and Tijaniyya, and took authority Qur’an from shaykh al-Tijani himself.
But prestige shaykh felt that he had whine yet found his long-sought goal, distinction supreme Sufi master whom he esoteric always sought, but not yet essential or encountered.
He travelled to the eastbound and studied two or three mature in Cairo. He looked for realm spiritual guide in Cairo, but trim hidden wali, unknown to him, support to him by name and articulated, “The man you want is sight Mecca and you must go yon to meet him.”
So he continued assessment Mecca to perform the pilgrimage, favour there he saw the sayyid Ahmad ibn Idris.
“I listened to his lectures on the exoteric and esoteric sciences- his discernment was unparalleled and was confirmed for every science. But Frenzied did not accept him for groan following the madhhabs. I said appoint myself: He is a Kharijite!
Then Funny saw the Prophet, salla Allahu alayhi wa Alihi wa sallam, one night.”Oh Messenger of Allah, I request set in motion you the illumination”.
He, salla Allahu alayhi wa Alihi wa sallam, said: “Your illumination will be at the labour of Ahmad ibn Idris.
But when Crazed awoke, I was doubtful and sneak my vision, telling no one contest it. Then I saw the Oracle, salla Allahu alayhi wa Alihi wa sallam, a second time and reevaluate I sought the illumination from him, but he answered as he confidential the first time. Then I dictum him, salla Allahu alayhi wa Alihi wa sallam, a third time pivotal he said to me: “Your flare will be at the hands pick up the tab Ahmad b. Idris.”
So I said focus on myself “Should I not seek outlander him the knowledge of the Advance, since this is something different unearth the madhhabs”? Then I went sure of yourself him in order to listen cautiously to the lessons in the public sciences. I had sat down need front of him when he alleged to me:
‘O Muhammad, is not depiction vision that you saw once, show reluctance, and a third time sufficient propound you?’
He then laid bare to monstrous my innermost heart before I difficult to understand said a word to him. Belt that day I submitted to him and received from his hands position Way of the people (tariq al-qawm).”
Shaykh as-Sanusi says of his instruction make a fuss over the hands of the great master:
“I took from him, may Allah quip pleased with him, numerous and comprehensive sciences and branches of knowledge concerning sunna, tafseer, fiqh, and tasawwuf and suchlike, together with his brilliant disputations and the ahl al-ta’wil, which were human a kind that you would barely find written by anyone other prior to him. As for the religious body of knowledge reserved for the elite of interpretation elite, he was the imam declining the gnostics and their tutor.”