Serigne Abdoul Ahad Mbacké: The Third Khalife, Builder and Educator (1914–1989)
A son on whom great hope was placed
Cheikh Abdoul Ahad Mbacké, the third Khalife général of the Mourides, was born in 1914 in Diourbel, Senegal. At his birth, his revered father, Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba, told his closest disciples:
“Pray for him so that Allah grants him a long life, for in him I place immense hope.”
Some called him the Builder, others the Educator. Affectionately known as Baye Lahad, and also called “the Truthful,” he did not disappoint that hope. More than three decades after his return to his Lord, his memory remains alive in the hearts of the Mourides and of Muslims everywhere.
Education and a life of honest work
His mother was Sokhna Mariama Diakhaté. He learned the Holy Quran and the religious sciences under his uncle, Serigne Amsatou Diakhaté, his mother’s brother.
From a very young age, he treated lawful work and the worship of God as sacred duties. An exemplary disciple, he was also a remarkable farmer. On his fields at Touba Bélel, Boki Barga, Kadd Balooji and Mbara Dieng, he was known as one of the best farmers of his time.
Years of quiet devotion
During the khalifate of his elder brother, Serigne Fallou Mbacké, Serigne Abdoul Ahad lived with a discretion and humility close to anonymity. He dedicated his life to work, and he took care to live only from the honest and lawful fruits of his own labor.
Khalife of the Mourides (1968–1989)
When Serigne Fallou returned to God on August 6, 1968, Serigne Abdoul Ahad became the third Khalife général. Much of the community barely knew him. They soon discovered an upright and honest man, a firm enemy of lies, duplicity and hypocrisy.
He led the community for 21 years. With firm rigor, he quickly put in place measures whose results gave the Mouride path an even more radiant image.
The Educator
A great educator, he taught through persuasive words and, above all, through his own example. He explained the doctrine of redemptive work professed by his illustrious father: work as an act of worship and a path to God.
He encouraged the creation of many daaras (Quranic schools), strengthening the community’s commitment to study and knowledge. He also opened the doors of the Mouride path to a new generation of educated young people, and supported efforts to translate the writings of Serigne Touba and make them known far beyond Senegal.
The Builder of Touba
Serigne Abdoul Ahad is remembered as one of the great builders of the holy city. In just a few years, he turned Touba into a modern and fast-growing city:
- the Great Mosque: he had it extended and renovated, with rich Moroccan-style decoration;
- the library: he built a great library for the writings of Serigne Touba and other Islamic works, with a collection of about 170,000 books, khassaïdes and copies of the Quran;
- public services: under his leadership, Touba gained a post office, a bus station, a gendarmerie, a hospital, a market, and telephone and electricity networks;
- water: about ten boreholes were drilled, including the well known as Aïnou Rahmati;
- welcoming visitors: he built residences to host the guests and pilgrims of the holy city.
Protecting the holy city
In 1980, to preserve the sacred character of Touba, he banned alcohol, tobacco and gambling in the city. These rules still apply today and remain part of what makes Touba unique.
Return to God and legacy
Serigne Abdoul Ahad Mbacké returned to God on June 19, 1989. He left behind a thriving city and a united community, gathered around the worship of God and the sanctifying value of work. His younger brother, Serigne Abdou Khadre Mbacké, then imam of the Great Mosque of Touba, succeeded him as the fourth Khalife.
Baye Lahad left an indelible mark on the city of Touba and in the hearts of the Mourides. Every year, the community gathers in Touba to celebrate his memory.