Abd Al-Rahman bin Abdallah al Shashi | |
|---|---|
 The mosque of Sheikh Sufi (p. 1930) | |
| Title | Sheikh Suufi |
| Personal life | |
| Born | 1829 |
| Died | 1904 (aged 74–75) |
| Era | 19th century |
| Main interest(s) | Astrology,Poetry,Islamic philosophy,Islamic literature |
| Occupation | Muslim scholar |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Islam |
| Jurisprudence | Shafi'i |
| Creed | Sunni |
| Muslim leader | |
Influenced by | |
Influenced | |
Abd Al-Rahman bin Abdullah al Shashi (Arabic:عبد الرحمن بن عبد الله الشاشي) (b. 1829 - 1904), popularly known asSheikh Sufi, was a 19th-centuryBenadirischolar,poet,reformist andastrologist.[1]
Sheikh Sufi was born inMogadishu, where he founded theQadiriyyah congregation, anIslamic school of thought ortariqah whose disciples included colleagues of his such asUways al-Barawi. He studiedastrology and wrote extensively on the future of Mogadishu and religious sciences, and authored popular books such asShadjarat al Yakim ("The Tree of Certitude").[2]
Besides his scholarly career, Sheikh Sufi was known as a great mediator between merchants and shop keepers in the coastal cities. As a reformist, he is credited with having put an end to what he considered to be the urbanites' immoral dancing rituals. In private, he also wrote many poems, which would eventually be taken up by fellow scholars such asAbdallah al-Qutbi in their books.
After his death in 1904, Shaykh Sufi's mausoleum became a site of annualpilgrimage for the faithful from acrossSomalia andEast Africa. A cemetery was eventually constructed around hismausoleum, where prominent Somaliministers,entertainers andPresidents would also be buried.