Serigne Massamba was very close to his older brother Sheikh Ahmadou Bamba and stayed with him from his graduation till the passing away of the Sheikh, on July 19, 1927. As such, he dealt entirely with the construction of houses for inhabitants and accommodations for the Sheikh both in Thiéyène and in Diourbel as well. He had been doing this kind of long standing posture job ingeniously for at least six years uninterruptedly. Some devoted followers offered their help for the achievement of these tasks. After this time period, another purely intellectual task was assigned to him. It consisted of making the poems of the Sheikh more readable and understandable. By the way, in Diourbel, then in Touba followers would bring him bags filled with writings of Sheikh Ahmadou Bamba.   Read More...

In the night of the 9th through the 10th day of Muharram/Tamkharit (being this Friday night, Jan. 18 through Saturday, (throughout the day) January 19, 2008), it is strongly recommended for all Muslims especially Mourides, who can, to perform ablutions, pray 2 Rakas, and sit on their knees facing Qibla (The Kaaba) and formulate the following verses in the form of prayers: Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim 'Allahu laaa 'ilaaha 'illaa Huu. 'Al-Hayyul-Qayyuum. Laa ta'-khuzuhuu sinatunw-wa laa nawm. Lahuu maa fissamaawaati wa ma fil-'arz. Man-zallazii yashfa-'u'indahuuu 'illaa bi-'iznih? Ya'-lamu maa bayna 'aydiihim wa maa khalfahum. Wa laa yuhiituuna bi-shay-'im-min 'ilmihiii 'illaa bimaa shaaa'. Wasi-'a Kursiyyu-hus-Samaawaati wal-'arz; wa laa ya-'uuduhuu hifzu-humaa wa Huwal-'Aliyyul-'Aziim. (360 times)

Qul bifadli lahi bi wa birahmatihi fa bizalika fal yafrahu huwa khairun mima yaj mahuna (48 times)   Read More...

One of the first showdowns between the Shaykh and colonizers occured in Senegal, at the dunes of Jewol, when the Shaykh refused to leave with the military squadron deployed to arrest him and bring him to Saint Louis. When Leclerc gave order to round up the disciples and the Shaykh, the latter turned to God, and formulated a supplication. It was followed by a thunder striking the area. This mystical phenomenon prompted Leclerc to return in haste with some soldiers, leaving others in disarray in Jewol. Not knowing what to make out of this incident, Leclerc wrote in this report formulated five days later, saying:"...We went back to Jewol." Now since Leclerc , who was asked to bring back the Shaykh, was so impatient that he gave an ultimatum to the Shaykh's brother, why did he leave and have to go back to Jewol, while his mission was to bring the so-called prisoner back?   Read More...

Around the death of king Lat Dior, Ahmad Bamba was commuting back and forth between Mbacke Bary, Mbacke Baol, and Touba, which was his newly found village and favorite place of retreat he built in 1886. People began joining his order in great numbers after the death of his father. They came from the Cayor and Baol regions, on foot, on horses and donkeys, which dramatically increased the population of his community in great proportions. The calm and tranquility that the French colonialists enjoyed resulting from the death of king Lat Dior, was being disturbed as complaints were reported to the French authority on an everyday basis by religious leaders and traditional chiefs alike. Disciples of these chiefs and religious leaders were deserting them to join Ahmad Bamba. Even King Samba Laobe's soldiers started to join the Shaykh's new social order.   Read More...

Serigne Massamba began his Koranic studies from his older brother, Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba. The Sheikh taught him the Koran and then handed him to Serigne Ndame Abdourahmane Lo, then to Mame Thierno Birahim, and later to Serigne Mbacke Bousso to complete his religious and other areas of studies. In the eyes of his masters mentioned above, he was a gifted disciple and an extremely intelligent student who was very knowledgeable and quick to master everything that he was taught. He was just a few years older than the first two sons of the Sheikh (Serigne Modou Moustapha and Serigne Fallou Mbacke).   Read More...