Appendix 1
IHERI-ABT 2494
A letter from Mawlāy ‘Abd al-Qādir to Aḥmad Lobbo, which includes at the bottom the response of the caliph of Ḥamdallāhi.
In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful. May God’s blessings and abundant peace be upon our master, Muḥammad, his household, and his companions. Praise be to God, who considers the most noble of the beloved ones the one who contradict you [when pursuing] worldly aspirations to preserve your salvation in the hereafter. May blessings and peace be upon the one who is above all the prophets and kings.
This is addressed to the Commander of the believers and the imām of the Muslims, our leader, elder, and support, the bounty of God that He put in authority over us, and ship of our salvation, imām Aḥmad b. Muḥammad b. Abī Bakr al-Māsinī [Aḥmad Lobbo]. May the choicest and most abundant of salutations, the noblest and purest of greetings, and most complete and all-encompassing mercy be on you and your beloved and companions.
This said, I bring to your attention that your response to the question I addressed to you reached me. As for the response you sent me, nothing has escaped my comprehension except that I remind you that man is given to error and oblivion. He [unspecified] gave it to me before as a gift; then he said that he gave the gift intending it as a bribe to expose me and blemish my credibility. This is the behavior of the elite from among them. God is a witness and knows that in truth I did not accept the gift from him nor specifically as a gift, but rather through negligence. Nevertheless, I accept your advice and admonishment, may God reward you on behalf of us with the best of the rewards that he bestows upon those who offer sincere guidance.
As from now onward, we will never accept their gifts nor any thing they give, God willing. I have repented to God for past [wrongs] from me in that regard. May multiple, countless and infinite peace return to you as it began. Dated, 21 of the good month of Ṣafar 1245 (21 August 1829).
From the unworthy servant of his Lord, hostage of his sins, ‘Abd al-Qādir b. Muḥammad al-Sanūsī b. Aḥmad b. Zanghu al-Ḥasanī. May God soothe his troubles, conceal the sins that expose him, forgive his stumbling, and that of his parents and his teachers. Amīn. Amīn. Amīn.
The response then of Al-Shaykh, Commander of the Believers, Aḥmad b. Muḥammad to Mawlāy ‘Abd al-Qādir al-Sanūsī, in which he says to the latter: I indeed saw your response and know with certainty your genuine taking heed and acceptance of my advice and my admonishment. May God accept from us and you [our efforts] and let us suffice with what he made permissible from that which he made impermissible and with what He rendered explicitly wholesome from doubtful matters that lead to disgrace. Salutations.
Appendix 2
IHERI-ABT, ms n° 3649
A letter from Mawlāy ‘Abd al-Qādir to Aḥmad Lobbo
In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful. May God’s blessings and abundant peace be upon our master, Muḥammad, his household, and his companions. All praise is due to God only. May His blessing and salutations be upon the most noble of His creation and the trustworthy bearer of His revelation.
This is addressed to the Commander of the believers and the imam of the Muslims, our elder, master, support, the bounty of God that He put in authority over us, the imām Aḥmad b. Muḥammad b. Abī Bakr al-Māsinī [Aḥmad Lobbo]. May abundant peace, the choicest greetings and honor, as well as the mercy of God and his blessings be upon you.
This said, the reason that necessitated this correspondence to you informing you that the biḍān [i.e. the Arabs] went to Sīdī al-Mukhtār’s [al-Ṣaghīr’s] house to talk and protest to him about the six thousand mithqāl [of gold] that they are obligated to pay. Sīdī al-Mukhtār [al-Ṣaghīr] requested us to put on hold [the due payment] and wait until he writes to you about their matter. However, we imposed [this payment] on them in accordance with our considered opinion in order to show what is obligatory on and the duty of everyone. Likewise, we have requested from Ahmad b. Hata one third, but Sīdī al-Mukhtār [al-Ṣaghīr] requested us to put on hold this payment until he writes to you about this matter.
May peace return to you as it began. Dated, Saturday, 9 Dhū al-ḥijja 1249 (18 April 1834).
From the unworthy servant of his Lord, captive of his sins, ‘Abd al-Qādir b. Muḥammad al-Sanūsī b. Aḥmad b. Zanghu al-Ḥasanī. May God soothe his troubles, conceal the sins that expose him, forgive his stumbling, and that of his parents, his teachers, and all the Muslims. Amīn. Amīn. Amīn.
Appendix 3
IHERI-ABT 8960
A letter from Mawlāy ‘Abd al-Qādir to Aḥmad Lobbo
In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful. May God’s blessings and abundant peace be upon our master, Muḥammad, his household, and his companions. All praise is due to God only. May His blessing and salutations be upon the most noble of His creation and the trustworthy bearer of His revelation.
This is addressed to the Commander of the believers and the imam of the Muslims, our elder, master, support, the bounty of God that He put in authority over us, the imām Aḥmad b. Muḥammad b. Abī Bakr al-Māsinī [Aḥmad Lobbo]. May peace, the mercy of God and his blessings be upon you.
This said, the reason that necessitated this correspondence to you is to inform you that the daughters of Sīdī Muḥammad al-Sammār have complained to and petitioned us concerning the estate of their father [i.e. their inheritance] that the inhabitants of Arawān plundered and robbed simply because they carried it without any witnesses, without proper listing, and without the knowledge of anyone according to what came to our knowledge from trustworthy people. He left weak daughters and a son who are now orphaned, and they do not have food for even a day. They are in a most terrible condition. They brought their plight to us, which we in turn place in front of God and your door, for you are their guardian and the guardian of all the oppressed and their protecting fort. May God preserve your life for the benefit of Muslims, support you, and grant you victory. Amīn.
[I hereby request] that you write a response to the inhabitants of Arawān, and in particular to al-Ḥabīb b. Sīdī Muḥammad, to treat them [i.e. the three orphans] in accordance with what the sharī‘a obligates or that they all come to you to judge between them according to what God guides you to.
May multiple, countless and infinite peace return to you.
From the unworthy servant of his Lord, captive of his sins, ‘Abd al-Qādir b. Muḥammad al-Sanūsī b. Aḥmad b. Zanghu al-Ḥasanī. May God soothe his troubles, conceal the sins that expose him, forgive his stumbling, and that of his parents and his teachers. Amīn. Amīn. Amīn.