Al-Buzidi al-Bujrafi

Al-Yazid al-Buzidi Bujrafi (1925-) is a prominent Moroccan Sufi poet and shaykh of the Alawi-Darqawi order, a branch of the Shadhili order. He lives at his Zawiya in Zaghanghan, Nador.

Biography

He was born as al-Yazid Bujrafi in Bani Shikar, in the Rif region of North-East Morocco, in 1925. He memorised the Quran under the tutelage of his father, who in 1934 took the 19-year old al-Yazid to Sidi Muhammadi Bil-Hajj, Sheikh of the Alawi order, to take the litanies of the order from him.

Sheikh Muhammadi instructed al-Yazid to continue his spiritual instruction under Sheikh Moulay Suleiman ibn al-Mahdi, also of Bani Shikar, whom al-Yazid maintained a close relationship with until his death in 1970, marrying his daughter and serving as Imam in his Zawiya. It was Moulay Suleiman who changed al-Yazid's name to al-Buzidi, in reference to two great masters of the Darqawi brotherhood, Muhammad al-Buzidi al-Ghimari, disciple of Moulay al-Arabi al-Darqawi; and Muhammad ibn al-Habib Hamu al-Buzidi, Sheikh of Ahmad al-Alawi, founder of the Alawi order.

Following Moulay Suleiman's death in 1970, Sheikh al-Buzidi assumed leadership of the brotherhood in Morocco, and shortly afterwards established a new Zawiya in Zaghanghan, Nador, which remains the head Zawiya of the brotherhood in Morocco to his day.

Teachings

Al-Buzidi's spiritual teaching is generally imparted by means of stories about the great men and women who have trodden the spiritual path in the past. The main emphasis of his teaching is the importance of the remembrance of Allah, and keeping the company of the other disciples. He constantly encourages his disciples to remain close together. He has often said that keeping the company of the brethren is the highest of spiritual exercises, and gives benefit to the disciple that no litany can, even the Supreme Name, if it is performed without keeping their company. This, the Sheikh says, is because maintaining the company of the brethren results in consistency in one’s state; whereas being separated from them may cause even those of high states to regress.

The Sheikh is deeply concerned with preserving the correct tone of the Zawiya. When people gather together for an event, they may fall into idle chat. The Sheikh stresses that the Zawiya is a place intended solely for the remembrance of Allah, and that if the brethren wish to talk about the affairs of this worldly life, it is better that they go out to talk, and return to the Zawiya when they are finished. The Sheikh himself sits in silence for long periods, speaking only to impart spiritual teachings, or to make remembrance of Allah.

Poetry

The Sheikh is renowned for his poetry, and his works are sung by his disciples at the gatherings of the brotherhood, along with the poems of Moulay Suleiman and Ahmad al-Alawi, as well as other masters of the brotherhood. Some of Sidi al-Buzidi’s poems make mention of the unique characteristics of Muhammad, and make his praise. Others concern the spiritual teachings of the order, and the love of the righteous. In others, he praises his Sheikh, Moulay Suleiman, and describes his states.

Published Works

The Sheikh has published two books:

* "Ittihaf Dhawi al-Nuhi wa al-Basa’ir", a collection of the biographies of Shaykh Aḥmad al-‘Allāwī and several other Shaykhs from the order, including his own Shaykh Moulay Sulaymān.

* "Muhajjat al-Dhakirin fi al-Radd ‘ala al-Munkirin", a presentation of the evidences from the Quran and Sunnah to support the validity of many Sufi practices.

See also

*Ahmad al-Alawi

*Darqawa

*Shadhili

External links

* [http://www.muridslog.blogspot.com Murid's Log, a weblog run by British disciples of Sheikh al-Buzidi]

References

*Bujrafi, al-Buzidi, "Ittihaf Dhawi al-Nuhi wa al-Basa’ir"
*Bujrafi, al-Buzidi, "Muhajjat al-Dhakirin fi al-Radd ‘ala al-Munkirin"