Tijaniyya

The Tijaniyya, or Tijaniyyah, is a Sufi tariqa (order) within Sunni Islam. It was founded in the late 18th century by Sidi Ahmad al-Tijani (often dated to 1737–1815) in the Maghreb region, and soon spread along trans-Saharan routes to West Africa and beyond. The movement emphasizes adherence to the Qur’an and the Sunnah, personal spiritual purification, and devotion to the Prophet Muhammad.

A distinctive feature of the Tijaniyya is its prescribed litany and dhikr (remembrance) known as the Wird al-Tijani, performed daily by adherents. The order teaches that spiritual realization comes through a living chain of transmission (silsila) of teachers, and through a pledged relationship (bay‘ah) to a qualified guide. The Tijaniyya also stresses the importance of community, study, and service as part of the path.

Spread and influence: The Tijaniyya expanded rapidly across the Sahel and West Africa, where it became a major religious and social force, shaping mosques, Qur’anic schools, and charitable activities. It developed numerous regional branches and lineages, with a global network of scholars, sheikhs, and followers linked by the same spiritual lineage.

Contemporary presence: Today Tijaniyya communities are found in North and West Africa, parts of the Horn of Africa, and among Muslim communities in the diaspora. It remains a significant factor in local religious life in many regions, coexisting with other Sufi orders and with reformist currents that critique some aspects of traditional Sufism.