witness from Zacharia Wright (author of Path of the Prophet) regarding his stay with Shaykh Hasan before he passed away



Alhamdulillah, the First, the Last, the Manifest, the Hidden, and to
Him all things return. Peace and blessing on the Prophet Muhammad, the
opener of what was closed, the secret of creation.

Dear Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Islam, fellow servants on the way
back to Allah, to all those who have heard the blessed name of the
beloved of God, Shaykh Hassan Cisse. I am writing from Medina Baye
where Allah has honored this poor servant to witness the last week of
Shaykh Hassan Cisse's life before passing. His funeral was attended by
over two million people from all around the world. Seven people died
in the crowds, some of them from overwhelming emotion only from
hearing that they were bringing the coffin of Shaykh Hassan.

I have gathered here the gist of Shaykh Hassan's last public address
the day before he passed away. The occasion was a funeral in Kaolack.
The following summary was conveyed to us by Cheikh Jere Cisse, the
intimate traveling companion of Shaykh Hassan:

'A person in this life is like the traveler that stops under a tree to
rest for a while before continuing on. The same Allah who took back to
Himself the Prophet Muhammad (SAW), Shaykh Ahmad Tijani and Shaykh
Ibrahim Niasse will not leave anyone on the face of the earth. Allah's
power is such that He can take whole communities at once, as in
Indonesia with the Tsunami: entire towns and villages were wiped off
the map. There was no one even to perform the janaza for them. For
Allah to take only one person is a mercy. Whatever Allah takes,
belongs to Him; whatever Allah leaves on the earth for a time, belongs
to Him. I am leaving you with Allah. Shaykh Ibrahim once said to my
father, Saydi Ali, I am leaving you in the pocket of the Prophet. And
I say: I am leaving you in the pocket of Shaykh Ibrahim.'

Afterwards, we thanked Cheikh Jere for the all the years he spent in
service to our Shaykh, traveling with him everywhere he went around
the world. He said, really it was a privilege and an honor. Almost
twenty years ago, Cheikh Jere continued, he was riding in the car with
Shaykh Hassan, with Cheikh Tijan Cisse in the front seat. Shaykh
Hassan said, "You should be thankful to be helping me. My grandfather
once prayed for me, and then told me, 'Go tell your mother and father
I have just prayed for you a prayer that no one can stop the mission
that is for you to complete.' So be thankful to be helping me in this
mission, because whether you help me or not, this mission will be
completed. Your helping me is not for my benefit, it is only because
Allah has chosen to shower you with blessing and credit for good
deeds. For when Allah asks of my mission, your names will be recorded
among those who helped." He also mentioned a time when Shaykh Hassan
and he were eating out of the same dish with a noble Sharif. One of
the Shaykh's beloveds, Mahi Thiam, entered to room and Shaykh Hassan
invited him to eat. Out of respect he declined, until Shaykh Hassan
insisted, "Don't you know there are some people who have ijaza
directly from the Prophet Muhammad, that if you eat with them you will
go to Paradise?"

May Allah strengthen us all to continue the work. May He grant us the
promise of the Prophet, "A man is with (in the afterlife) whom he
loves."

Among the signs he gave of his near departure was one related by Nazir
Tal, a direct descendent of al-Hajj Umar who met Shaykh Hassan when he
returned from traveling one week before passing. Shaykh Hassan told
Nazir, "I don't mind if I never see an airplane again." Nazir said,
"But Shaykh, all your work is travelling all around the world, how can
you avoid planes?" He just replied, "The last time Shaykh Ibrahim
traveled, he was in Paris, and the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) came to him
in broad daylight. This last time, I traveled to Norway, Libya,
Morocco, Ivory Coast and France. And when I was in Paris, I was alone
in my room, and the Prophet also entered to see me in broad daylight."

May Allah receive him with great pleasure, and may He be pleased with
us on his account.

Zakariya

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