Imam Cheikh Tidiane Cisse is a scholar, a consummate Gnostic, a spiritual trainer endowed with startling insight into the aspirant’s condition, a committed humanitarian and a Sufi ascetic whose heart never leaves the presence of the Real, but whose existence in the world follows the movement of time. He is the reviver of the Muhammadan Sunnah, the khalifa of Shaykh Ahmad Tijani al-Hasani, the bearer of the Tijani Flood in this generation and the paradigmatic servant of Allah (“Abd-Allah) of the time.
After memorizing Qur’an in Medina-Baye, Imam Cheikh Tidiane himself became a Qur’an teacher in Medina-Baye while continuing his Islamic studies. In his late teens, he devotedhimself full-time to personal instruction (majalis al-ilm), first under his father, Shaykh Seyyid ‘Ali (1971-1972), and then under his grandfather, Shaykh Ibrahim (1973). He was the last student to be personally instructed by Shaykh Ibrahim Niass (RA) in the classical texts, fosusing mainly on Arabic literature and poetry. He would later receive the highest of licenses from his father, Shaykh Seyyid ‘Ali Cisse (RA), who told him, “Whatever Shaykh Ibrahim gave me, I am giving you.”
After having completed his early education in Senegal, Imam Cheikh Tidiane Cisse traveled to Egypt where he lived with Shaykh Hassan Cisse (RA) during his elder brother’s last year of study in Cairo. Like his brother, Imam Cheikh Tidiane Cisse excelled in his formal studies there., which he attributes to the rigor of the informal instruction he received in Senegal. He graduated first in his class in the Azhar Preparatory School, receiving his diploma in Arabic Language in 1974. He received his Baccalaureate in 1977 in Arabic Language, graduating fourth in his class. By 1981, he had distinguished himself at the University of Azhar with a degree in faculty of Usual al-Din (theology), department of Hadith (Prophetic Traditions).
Upon completion of his studies in Egypt, Imam Cheikh Tidiane Cisse traveled extensively throughout Africa, the Middle East and America, attending conferences, participating in religious debates and calling people to Islam. He devoted himself to editing and publishing several important works, including Shaykh Ibrahim Niass’ (RA) Kashf al-Ilbas and a collection of Shaykh Ibrahim’s writings, which e named Sa’adat al-Anam. He also aided the publication of a Shaykh Ibrahim’s (RA) supplications, kanz al-Mansun. One Ashar scholar reportedly told Imam Cheikh Tidiane Cisse that his work identifying hadith citations in the 2001 publication of Kashif al-Ilbas would have been enough to complete a doctorate at Azhar University. In the introduction to Imam Cheikh Tidiane Cisse’s reprinting of the Kashif, Shaykh Hassan Cisse(RA) wrote, “I thank my dear brother, the master, the Shaykh, Cheikh Tidiane ‘Ali Cisse, who spent of his efforts for the success of this pious work and appreciated endeavor…..”
The high scholarship of Imam Cheikh Tidiane Cisse was recognized by the government of the Republic of Senegal in 2001, when it appointed him Senegal’s General Commissioner for the Hajj. In 2006, he was again recognized by Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade and appointed Special Missions Ambassador, a position he continues to hold. In this capacity, Imam Cheikh Tidiane Cisse is responsible for diverse missions to the United States, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria and other sub-Saharan African nations. Imam Cheikh Tidiane Cisse is fluent in Arabic, French, English, Hausa and Wolof. In 1993, Imam Cheikh Tidiane Cisse received the Republic of Senegal’s distinguished award, the Orde de Merite. The high esteem in which he is held by his country was revealed in 2008 by the personal visit of President Abdoulaye Wade to the Imam’s home in Medina-Baye.
Imam Cheikh Tidiane Cisse was the closest confidant and traveling companion of his brother, Shaykh Hassan Cisse.(RA) Many of the illustrious representatives at his inauguration as Imam recalled how whomever was speaking with Shaykh Hassan Cisse , even if a government official, would have to leave when Imam Cheikh Tidiane Cisse entered the room and had a matter to discuss. Many of the miraculous occurrences during Shaykh Hassan Cisse’s (RA) were shared by Imam Cheikh Tidiane Cisse. For example, when a great scholar in Medina (Saudi Arabia) gave Shaykh Hassan (RA) an ijaza to teach select hadith by command of the Prophet (SAW) in a visionary encounter, Imam Cheikh Tidiane Cisse received the same ijaza from him. The extent of his intimacy with Shaykh Hassan (RA) is confirmed by Shaykh Hassan’s calling his younger brother to his bedside to be the last person with him before he returned to Allah.
