Biographical note: Sheikh al-Mahdi al-Saklawi

He was born in Maghrib in 1200 H., and studied with the `ulama there. He then attached himself to the spiritual guide Sheikh `Ali ibn `Isa and took from him the Khalwati tariqa, and when he passed away, he became his khalifa.

In 1263, following the french occupation of Maghrib, he emigrated together with his family, and with him five hundred other families from Algeria. This was the first of several organized migrations, some of which were called "hijrathu al-mashayikh", because of the many great scholars who came, and this first one was certainly one of the most splendid of them. The reason of the emmigration was the French occupation of Algeria, in particular after the uprising of al-Amir `Abd al-Qadir in 1263 H. (1847 C.E.). As the occupation took place in stages, so did the emmigration of the Algerians - indeed every time an uprising was routed in Algeria, it was followed by a new wave of emmigrants.

Sheikh al-Mahdi and his party first came to Beirut and from there continued to Damascus. Shortly before arriving at Damascus, a Damascene Sheikh came towards Sheikh al-Mahdi and said: "Sayyidi, the Madrasa al-Khaydariyya has been entrusted to me by the Ashraf (the rulers of Makka from Al al-Bayt in the Othoman time), and I saw in a vision someone who ordered me to hand over its keys to you", and he handed him the keys, and they settled there.

The nobles and scholars of Damascus studied with him. He regularly performed the adhkar of the Khalwati tariqa at al-Khairariyya, and guided murids on the Path. Among those who studied with him was Ahmad `Izza Pasha, the othoman ruler of Damascus.

Among his murids where the greatest scholars of Damascus, such as

his son-in-law Sheikh Siddiq al-Yaqoubi (d. 1307), and his son Sheikh Sharif al-Yaqoubi (d. 1362)
his son-in-law Sheikh Muhammad al-Mubarak (the elder), and his son Sheikh Muhammad al-Tayyib (d. 1313)
Sheikh Abu Nasr al-Khatib al-Shami (who was older that sheikh al-Saklawi)
Sheikh Ahmad `Abidin (d. 1306), grandfather of Sheikh Abul Yusr `Abidin

His only preserved writing is a an Urjuza (didactic poem) on Adab al-Tariqa. It is preserved in a handwriting in private possession in Damascus.

Sheikh al-Mahdi al-Saklawi passed away in 1278, and the funeral prayer in the Umawi mosque was attended by thousands of people. He was buried in the graveyard of the Propeht Dhul Kifl (`aleihi al-salam) on the hillside of al-Qasiun.

-----

Sources:

- Tarikh `Ulama Dimashq (article based partly on an interview with Doktor Mazin al-Mubarak)
- Comments by Sheikh Muhammad al-Ya`qoubi

	Sheikh Muhammad al-Mahdi al-Saklawi (b. 1200 H. in Maghrib – d. 1278 H. in Damascus) Sheikh al-Mahdi al-Saklawi was an Algerian scholar, who emigrated to Damascus in 1263 H. after the defeat of the jihad led by al-Amir `Abd al-Qadir. He revived the Khalwati tariqa in Damascus. Among his murids where the greatest scholars of Damascus, such as Sheikh Siddiq al-Yaqoubi. Sheikh Muhammad al-Mubarak (the elder), Sheikh Muhammad al-Tayyib, Sheikh Abu Nasr al-Khatib al-Shami and Sheikh Ahmad `Abidin (d. 1306), grandfather of Sheikh Abul Yusr `Abidin. Bio cont'd >> His maqam >> Index of ziarat of Sham>>
^	Note the name al-Saklawi written on the bottom line Location of the maqam: Graveyard of Dhul Kifl in Muhajirin, near the grave of Imam Muhammad ibn Malik, the author of al-Alfiyya. Near him is buried Sheikh Muhammad al-Mubarak (d. 1269 H.) and his son Muhammad ibn Muhammad al-Mubarak (d. 1330). Reference: Tarikh `Ulama Dimashq, [bmk ziarat 2004, 2006]
^
	Biography of Sheikh Muhammad al-Mahdi al-Saklawi (b. 1200 H. in Maghrib – d. 1278 H. in Damascus) by bmk He was born in Maghrib in 1200 H., and studied with the `ulama there. He then attached himself to the spiritual guide Sheikh `Ali ibn `Isa and took from him the Khalwati tariqa, and when he passed away, he became his khalifa. In 1263, following the french occupation of Maghrib, he emigrated together with his family, and with him five hundred other families from Algeria. This was the first of several organized migrations, some of which were called "hijrathu al-mashayikh", because of the many great scholars who came, and this first one was certainly one of the most splendid of them. The reason of the emmigration was the French occupation of Algeria, in particular after the uprising of al-Amir `Abd al-Qadir in 1263 H. (1847 C.E.). As the occupation took place in stages, so did the emmigration of the Algerians - indeed every time an uprising was routed in Algeria, it was followed by a new wave of emmigrants. Sheikh al-Mahdi and his party first came to Beirut and from there continued to Damascus. Shortly before arriving at Damascus, a Damascene Sheikh came towards Sheikh al-Mahdi and said: "Sayyidi, the Madrasa al-Khaydariyya has been entrusted to me by the Ashraf (the rulers of Makka from Al al-Bayt in the Othoman time), and I saw in a vision someone who ordered me to hand over its keys to you", and he handed him the keys, and they settled there. The nobles and scholars of Damascus studied with him. He regularly performed the adhkar of the Khalwati tariqa at al-Khairariyya, and guided murids on the Path. Among those who studied with him was Ahmad `Izza Pasha, the othoman ruler of Damascus. Among his murids where the greatest scholars of Damascus, such as his son-in-law Sheikh Siddiq al-Yaqoubi (d. 1307), and his son Sheikh Sharif al-Yaqoubi (d. 1362) his son-in-law Sheikh Muhammad al-Mubarak (the elder), and his son Sheikh Muhammad al-Tayyib (d. 1313) Sheikh Abu Nasr al-Khatib al-Shami (who was older that sheikh al-Saklawi) Sheikh Ahmad `Abidin (d. 1306), grandfather of Sheikh Abul Yusr `Abidin His only preserved writing is a an Urjuza (didactic poem) on Adab al-Tariqa. It is preserved in a handwriting in private possession in Damascus. Sheikh al-Mahdi al-Saklawi passed away in 1278, and the funeral prayer in the Umawi mosque was attended by thousands of people. He was buried in the graveyard of the Propeht Dhul Kifl (`aleihi al-salam) on the hillside of al-Qasiun. ----- Sources: - Tarikh `Ulama Dimashq (article based partly on an interview with Doktor Mazin al-Mubarak) - Comments by Sheikh Muhammad al-Ya`qoubi
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