Sidi Hajj Ali Harazim Berada (May ALLAH be satisfied with him)

The Wali beyond reproach, he who has access to Knowledge (ma'rifa), the great Khalif who is endowed with high station (Maqam), the gatherer of sciences and secrets, the holder of the topmost rank at the summum of the higher levels, the sun of the joy that illuminated the horizon of the higher levels, he who was never paralleled by anyone.

He was among those who had access to knowledge and perfect sainthood, and he had a high rank in the eyes of Seidina Ahmed Tidjani (May Allah sanctify his precious secret), who held him in high esteem and mentioned his rank to his companions to such an extent that he was envied by those who were close as well as those who were far away.

About him Seidina Ahmed Tidjani (May Allah be pleased with him) used to say: "the Prophet (Grace and peace be upon him) said to me: 'He is to you what Abu Bakr was to me.' " Among the words that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said to Sidi Ahmed Tidjani (May Allah sanctify his precious secret), one can find the following: "Oh you Ahmed! seek for advice with your servant and most valued and beloved Ali Harazim, because to you he is what Harun represented for Musa. Allah is the Most High, the Most Illustrious, the Most Immense and I shall not tell you anything else about him than this. May peace be with you."

What caused Sidi 'Ali Harazim (May Allah be pleased with him) to join Seidina Ahmed Tidjani (May Allah sanctify his precious secret) is what follows. When Seidina Ahmed Tidjani (May Allah sanctify his precious secret) left Tlemcen in 1191 for Fez where he had to pay a holy visit to Moulay Idriss (May Allah be pleased with him), in Oujda he met with Sidi 'Ali Harazim (May Allah be pleased with him). The two had not met before.

Seidina Ahmed Tidjani (May Allah sanctify his precious secret) revealed to him by way of disclosure (Moukachafa) the very vision that Sidi 'Ali Harazim (May Allah be pleased with him) had of him a few years back, which he was no longer remembering. He finally remembered and came to the conclusion that Seidina Ahmed Tidjani (May Allah sanctify his precious secret) was telling the truth. He therefore understood, with certainty, that indeed Allah had him perceive the truth through this vision.

Seidina Ahmed Tidjani (May Allah sanctify his precious secret) said to him: "do no worry about the fact that I had to find, which got me worn out. I wanted but this encounter, and may Allah be praised for that." He thus said the following: "I did praise and thank Allah. I knew that Allah enormously gratified me and that Seidina Ahmed Tidjani (May Allah sanctify his precious secret) would be my protection, he to whom I take my affairs after he let me know about it."

Together, they left for Fez. When they arrived at Fez, they visited the tomb of Sidi Moulay Idriss (May Allah be pleased with him). Seidina Ahmed Tidjani (May Allah sanctify his precious secret) passed on to him the Khalwatiyya way and taught him what the Most Praised and Most Exalted Allah revealed to him through the science and secret of the Sunna.

When Seidina Ahmed Tidjani (May Allah sanctify his precious secret) set out to return to Tlemcen, Sidi 'Ali Harazim (May Allah be pleased with him) voiced his intention to be part of the trip. However, Seidina Ahmed Tidjani (May Allah sanctify his precious secret) advised him to go to a region that the Most Praised and Most Exalted Allah had chosen for him. After that, and after he bid him farewell, Seidina Ahmed Tidjani (May Allah be pleased him) said to him: "hold steadfastly onto the covenant and to the love (Mahaba) till you achieve spiritual opening (Fath)."

During the lifetime of Sidi Ahmed Tidjani (May Allah sanctify his precious secret), Sidi 'Ali Harazim (May Allah be pleased with him) was his khalife. The conversation they had during their first encounter demonstrates how peculiar this companion was and shows how much care the Most Praised and Most Exalted Allah had for him.

He had a lot of values, among which was the fact that Seidina Ahmed Tidjani (May Allah sanctify his precious secret) informed him that the Prophet (Grace and Peace be upon him) had a kind of love that surpassed the love a father could have for his children. Also, Seidina Ahmed Tidjani (May Allah sanctify his precious secret) said this about him: "What the khalife affirmed, I said it."

One of the fine virtues that Seidina Ahmed Tidjani (May Allah sanctify his precious secret) revealed about him is the following: "he will be close to me only by the intermediary of Sidi Hajj 'Ali Harazim." Some people endowed with Clairevoyance (Basira), as well as all the people and companions who tasted the secret of the Tariqa believe this statement is as valid for his lifetime as it is after his death.

One can reasonably believe that the unwavering assistance of Seidina Ahmed Tidjani (May Allah sanctify his precious secret) is only received, whether in general or in particular, through the mediation of Sidi 'Ali Harazim (May Allah be pleased with him), and that the latter represents Seidina (May Allah sanctify his precious secret) in the visible and sensible world after the latter's death.

However, it is possible that there be someone to fill in his position. And to Allah (the Most Praised and Most Exalted) belongs ultimate knowledge. Therefore, one should fully have faith in both of them and also be aware that it is beneficial to consider the former as the invisible intermediary and the latter or any other person that will fill in his position after being appointed in advance by Seidina Ahmed Tidjani (May Allah sanctify his precious secret). The grace of Allah (the Most Praised and Most Exalted) is unfathomable and only He knows best. One of the things that show how particular he is stems from his encounter with the companion of the Prophet (Grace and peace be upon him), the judge (Qadi) Abu Mohamed Chamharouche (May Allah be pleased with him) who was a king of the Djinns. The latter passed down to him, with the permission of Seidina Ahmed Tidjani (May Allah sanctify his precious secret), Hizbou Saifi in a clear voice as was the case among the elite of the companions.

One of the things that show his high status is his contribution to the famous and noble book called Jawarihiru-l-Ma'ani about which the Prophet (Grace and peace be upon him) said: "my book is this one, and I wrote it." In fact, once he settled down in Fez, the city protected by the Most Praised and the Most Exalted Allah, Seidina Ahmed Tidjani (May Allah sanctify his precious secret) ordered his closest pupil Sidi Ali Harazim (May Allah be pleased with him) to put together and compile the Jawahiru-l-Ma'ani, to organize it in chapters, to purify its topics and set its bases. However, before then, he ordered him to shred everything illustrious and Sunni that he compiled because of its majestic states (Hal) that he was going through at that time, and which were the results of his highest aspirations and his sincerity towards the Most Praised and Most Exalted, Allah.

At that time, Sidi 'Ali Harazim (May Allah be pleased with him) complied with the commandments of Seidina Ahmed Tidjani (May Allah sanctify his precious secret) despite the amazement and insistence of the elite among the companions as well as those who followed the latter so that they reconsider the issue. He left behind him nothing but a few notes that could be found with some companions. When he was allowed to write book again, he used those notes to writes quite a lot chapters of the book.

Sidi 'Ali Harazim (May Allah be pleased with him) started writing the book; i.e., assembling, organizing and fleshing out topics and chapters in Fez at the beginning of the month of Cha'ban. A year later, the book was completed in the middle of the holy month of Dhul Qa'da while Seidina Ahmed Tidjani (May Allah sanctify his precious secret, and may He lavish him with the clouds of agreement) was still alive. Once he completed the book, he brought it over to him. He approved the content of the book and by his blessed hand he certified the book from cover to cover in the Diwan mosque. By the grace of the Most Gracious and Most Exalted Allah, the book was highly acclaimed and welcomed with happiness and joy, fame and repute in all the counties of the country and in other countries. To the attention of the companions whom he urged to read the book he said: "You beloved brothers, it is obligated upon you to always read this book, because, by the grace of the All-giving King of kings, when read on a regular basis, and with the sincerest love, it guarantees the attainment of the Ma'arifa (Knowledge) of the Lord of lords. It also ensures the attainment of the most beautiful truths and the rarest of subtleties and finesses, and the reaching of the Divine Presence through all the doors. Whoever loses the book, even after making a lot of efforts reading it, will have lost it his whole head with it. As for those who do not read it appropriately, they will only have themselves to blame."

To dispel any shade of doubt away from the grandness of this magnificent book, it only suffices to know that its writing was inspired by the Prophet (Grace and peace be upon him). In addition, it was ennobled, made even more improved, illustrated, saddled with merits by the immensity of the status of Seidina Ahmed Tidjani (May Allah sanctify his precious secret). Whoever intends to gauge the magnificency of the situation and the grandeur of the book will have to reach the apogee of all efforts.

Whoever reads this book will have scrutinized its content with accuracy, and will have realized with certainty that Seidina Ahmed Tidjani (May Allah sanctify his precious secret) has no equals in sublime and complete qualities. No one can disprove this truth in his absence, except for those who were forbidden access to his baraka and his kindness, those people whose intent is but reluctance and doubt.

Sidi 'Ali Harazim (May Allah be pleased with him), by the Master of creation, attested to the status of Seidina Ahmed Tidjani (May Allah sanctify his precious secret), which is evidence of his particular love and his exceptional sincerity. The writing of Jawahirou-l-Ma'ani is a miracle that attests to his peculiarity because the person who organized it is that he succeeded in mixing without any distinction, different arts of planning although he had no previous mastery of literary writing skills. One of the baraka of this wonderful book is the number of people it drew to the Tariqa of the Prophet (Grace and peace be upon him) through reading it or by way of just leafing through it.

I often heard one of the companions of Seidina Ahmed Tidjani (May Allah sanctify his precious secret), an honourable learned man, an illustrious and noble holder of secrets, say: "it is said that this book guarantees scores of benefits, joy and an improvement of demeanor, in the place that hosts it. This truth can only be denied or underestimated by an imbecil or a rebel." One other dazzling effects of the book is that the Guide of the living (Grace and peace be upon him) advised Seidina Ahmed Tidjani (May Allah sanctify his precious secret), after he ordered that the book be written, to preserve it so that it could benefit the Walis that would come after him.

Sidi Hajj Ali Harazim (May Allah be pleased with him) also authored an epistle entitled "Risalat el Fadl wal Imtinan..." An excerpt of the book dealing with benefit and blessing goes as follows:
"Be aware that the Opening and access to Allah and to the degree of Knowledge will be granted by Allah only through the people who had the special authorization (Idhu Khass) like the necessary permission for prophecy and if it is devoid of special authorization it will have no Opening nor access from part of Allah, and the person will only reap tiredness.

As for the person who only seeks closeness to Allah through reading the Sufi books and who seek to be one with Allah through the Sufis by way of being informed by them, or by way of being close to them, will reap from this path nothing but wasted energy, and the person will get nothing from Allah.

What is meant by access is the fact of reaching the Presence of Knowledge and particularities. Rewards are obtained according to the degree of sincerity. The beginning of rectitude in obedience and constance therein, as well as worship, can only be correct and be a source of success through Knowledge. Whoever is devoid of Knowledge lacks goodness and benefits. Besides, it is upon you to know that worship is valid only through seven things:
-Intention
-Science
- Knowledge
-Law
-Truth
-Prophetic traditions (Sunna) and
-The Sheikh."

Sidi Hajj Ali Harazim (May Allah be pleased with him) also wrote the following: "My brother, I warn you against thinking that access is slow even when you endured a lot of pain treading the Way, because such a feeling forecloses the attainment of the Hoped for. In fact, if you were walking a thousand times the duration of the life on Earth and you obtained from Allah but the quantity of an atom, you ought to know that what you obtained then was far bigger than the way you went to reach it. Also know that endurance in worship is for you an immense grace. I ask Allah to grant you the keys to wisdom and act onto us with His Grace and Kindness."

When the Great Opening (Fath) was granted to Sidi 'Ali Harazim (May Allah be pleased with him), Seidina Ahmed Tidjani (May Allah sanctify his precious secret) ordered him to travel out of the country wherein he was residing as was the case with any person that was attaining this spiritual station (Maqam). It was reported that Seidina Ahmed Tidjani (May Allah sanctify his precious secret) one day said: "When Allah grants the Opening (Fath) to one of my companions and if it happens that some live in the country where I reside, it is better that they leave that country for fear that evil should befall them." That said, some companions asked him: "Is this pronouncement from you?" And he answered: "It is from Allah, without any choice of mine." Then he added: "The fear is aimed at those whom I ordered to leave so as to spread the words. The rest of the people do not have to fear anything from me."

Thus is the reason why Sidi Ali Harazim (May Allah be pleased with him) left for Hijaz where he died. Seidina Ahmed Tidjani (May Allah sanctify his precious secret) ordered him, when he arrived at Egypt, to instruct some of his companions living in that country.

Besides, Seidina Ahmed Tidjani (May Allah sanctify his precious secret) informed Sidi 'Ali Harazim (May Allah be pleased with him) that he would reach a high degree and a status of the greatest significance on the condition that he went to pay a visit to the tomb of the Prophet (Grace and peace be upon him), and he was so attracted to Sidi 'Ali Harazim's (May Allah be pleased with him) good fortune that he nearly lost his mind.

Before he reached the tomb of the Prophet (Grace and peace be upon him) he recited few of the distinguished names that Seidina Ahmed Tidjani (May Allah sanctify his precious secret) had taught him to only be recited in front of the tomb of the Prophet (Grace and peace be upon him).

Thus, he saw what he saw and fainted, and his companions who thought that he had died buried him alive at Badr in 1218 H. Seidina Ahmed Tidjani (May Allah sanctify his precious secret) said, after these events, that: "If they had not buried him, they would have heard some sciences, some knowledge and secrets that they could not have conceived of and that they could not have found in any book."

Sidi Hajj Abdelwahab ibn El Ahmar (May Allah be pleased with him) who was among those who accompanied him in this trip said: When Sidi Harazim (May Allah be pleased with him) recited the Supreme Names that Seidina Ahmed Tidjani (May Allah sanctify his precious secret) taught him to be recited only in front of the tomb of the Prophet (Grace and peace be upon him), all is energy was drained and he collapsed. Therefore, I gave him some milk to drink. He started sweating just as he drank it." Among those whom Sidi 'Ali Harazim (May Allah be pleased with him) met during his trip there was Sidi Ibrahim Riyahi (May Allah be pleased with him), the famous learned Sheikh El Islam of Tunisia. He taught him the Tariqa, and as the Sheikh was impressed, he wrote a poem in recognition of his multiple high qualities.

When the poem was read to him, he was in such a state that he could not utter a word. He wept considerably and after the reading ended he asked for a piece of paper and a pen. In front of the people sitting by him he wrote the following:

"Our lord, the Prophet (Grace and peace be upon him) says: 'May Allah reward you on my behalf. From Allah and from Myself you have utter love, you are on the right path, you have the utmost consent and I thereby bring you knowledge, secrets and joy. May peace be upon you."

And when Sidi 'Ali Harazim (May Allah be pleased with him) returned to Tunisia, he wedded a Sheriffa as ordered by the Prophet (Grace and peace be upon him) before he left Fez. Later on, he parted with her as the circumstances forced him to do so.

About the preceding, it is reported that before leaving the noble Sidi 'Ali Harazim (May Allah be pleased with him) told one of his close companions every thing the Prophet (Grace and peace be upon him) revealed to him about the Sheriffa in question with menu details, like her name and that of her father. When he arrived in Tunisia, he saw everything that the Prophet (Grace and peace be upon him) told him. Later on, when that one close companion heard about the divorce, he was as amazed as he was unsettled as the order came straight from the Prophet (Grace and peace be upon him), and during his free time he was entertained by satanic manipulations about what occurred.

One day, as he was sitting with Seidina Ahmed Tidjani (May Allah sanctify his precious secret) they chatted a long while until his heart smoothed out and his members humbled down, and he could not feel anything. Then, the thought crossed his mind and his purity was shaken. Seidina Ahmed Tidjani (May Allah sanctify his precious secret) stared at him and then looked down, without adding anything else, told him: "She usually did not perform her prayers." I thus knew that the Prophet approved of what he did. Such is an overview of the life of the noble Khalife Sidi Hajj 'Ali Harazim Berada (May Allah be pleased with him).