Shaykh Bulala's Obsession with Rosaries

Rosaries, tesuba in Yoruba, or Tasbihāt in Arabic as the meaning connotes is an instrument for the remembrance of Allah. The object has been in use since time immemorial. It is not peculiar to the Muslims alone as other religions adherents like the Buddhists, the Christians, the Hindus amongst others also use it for their various ritual acts. Its origin in Islam has been controversial though, it's usage is more associated with the Sūfīyyūn(Sufis)
Suffice it to say that not all Sūfī adherents place more priority or significance to the usage of Rosaries. Nevertheless, its usage has proven to be more significant than detrimental in the sense that apart from ensuring that the counting of the adhkār is being done accurately, it also facilitates the concentration of the mind of the dhakir(the person who is remembering Allah) during the cause of remembrance.
However, the object (rosary) has more often than none been abused by some Muslims especially the young Sūfīyyūn. This is evident in their attachment of spirituality to the object or by it usage for other acts other than adhkār. Nay! Some even go to the extent of festooning their necks or adorning their wrists with different kinds of Rosaries. This they justify to be emulating or aspiring to be a saint of Allah. Among the saints whom  these gullible people claim to emulating is Shaykh Jami'u Bulala.
Suffice it to say that Shaykh Jami'u Bulala spent the most important part of his life doing adhkār. He spent years in seclusion engaging in this. Anybody that lives this kind of life may behave in an absurd way. Infact he was renowned as one of the most renowned cleric who used to festoon his neck with different kinds of Rosaries. This may not be a departure from the Hadith of RasuluLlah wherein the Prophet said:  أكثروا أذكر الله حتى يقولوا مجنون i.e "Increase your remembrance of Allah till people will say you have gone insane."
No doubt, the way of life of Shaykh has been a controversial one, especially to the non-Sūfī adherent, owing to the lifestyle he adopted, for instance, his mode of dressing. On various occasions, Shaykh used to wear shirts with his neck festooned with tens or sometimes hundred of Rosaries in various sizes dangling over his chest, each competing for space on his neck as could be gleaned from the attached picture. No doubt, this has left many to wonder about his enigmatic way of life. 
However, the questions worthy of possing to some of these gullible individuals who claim to be emulating him are:
1. How many of them did Shaykh initiate into Sufism? Obviously none, as he has no Muridi (spiritual aspirant).
2. Did he enjoin any of his lover/loyalist to follow suit in the act of putting on rosasies? Definitely No, because he used to frown at anyone he perceived to be immitating him ignorantly on any act be it religious or otherwise.
3. How many of those who immitate him ignorantly spend the most important part of their life in Hermitage? Am not aware of any at least in my locality.

Be that as it may, it's high time we advise those charlatans who are bent on destroying Sufism by ignorantly immitating Shaykh Jami'u Bulala. Baba can not be emulated because he fell under the category of Saints that are spiritually enraptured. Thus, care must be taken.
To we students, it's better to place tasbih as an object of counting during adhkār rather than attaching spirituality to it. Sufism deals with the heart not an object.
I come in peace!
(Watch out for more expatiation of this in the second edition of the book, Who is Shaykh Bulala, however, the first edition is still available)
#shittola

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