Southern and Northern Sudan ties Sufi perspective Magadam Deng and the Drum

Friday, was and from ancient time, the day of gathering, for the evening zikr, or the weakly feast, as some murids, prefer calling it. For many murids and visitors, it is a special day, and they try not to miss. Thus, and before sunset, they hurry to the yard, of the massed, to commemorate, these moments, with zikr. On one of the Fridays, and with finishing the litanies , the men made a circle, round Magadam Deng, for the man, would tell, his story with Islam, and hence his initiation, in Sufi path, at the hand of the revered Sheikh Nurain the great. 'How have you, come to be a Muslim?' thus ran, Mukhtar's question. ' My story with Islam, and the Sufi path, is very, very long story' responded the man. 'I was born, to pagan parents, in the remote part, of Southern Sudan ( stopped moving the prayer beads) , my family, and I were, lived, in a big village, that joint many people, with different believes , tribes and colours. When I reached the age of manhood, I migrated from there, and came to settled in Gezira. It was a Sunday night,(went on ) and at that time, I was breaks- maker, working with the famous merchant Mamoun. Every Sunday, I used to listen, to the drum sound, coming from the direction, of Sheikh Al.Gubara massed, I used to stop working, and the whole senses, and attention, of me, used to went, with the instruments sounds .My mates used to notice, what used to, happened to me, at those moments, ( looked to the faces) brothers, the drums sound invited me, to be there . Such experience ,used to be with me, every Sunday, and Thursday nights, in facts, these two days nights, became a source, of annoyance, to my fellows. The Sunday nights of the 15th of Shaban , of the year 1964, was a night, that differs from the other, Sundays nights,

for the magic sound, of the drums, this time had shaken my strength , and robbed that thinking, and thought of mine . So, I decided immediately, to go, to the famous Sheikhs massed. The drums sound, was the messenger, which called upon me, to be there. Thus, with strong intention , I went directly, to the Sheikh, and with brother Rizq, we initiated, in the Sufi path, at the hand of his, praise be to God' , that was ,my story, with Islam. The man, thought deeply for a moment, while some of the men, began to disperse, so cheerfully, called , brothers, brothers, 'I do remember that, our father Sheikh Al.Gubara, may Allah sanctify his secret, ordered that remarkable day, big feast' reacted Deng. All the presence, admired the man's fascinating story, they were in rapt attention, suddenly, faces turned towards, Fadal.Bari, who drew near to the man. Fadal.Bari, began 'Cousin Magadam Deng, for a long time, I have a question, which took over my thinking, and said to myself, it is better be said, in the presence of the brothers here' demanded he . 'My son , may Almighty God , helping me, answer your question, for I fear of such difficult questions, of yours' responded Deng. Rizq the dervish, faced him, said 'Brother Deng and I , aren't of your age, we never understand your language, you have to know that, 'A bull should battle, with the peer', begged Rizq. 'We have been told speaking to each, according to the degree, of his understanding' reacted Mawlana. Mended his seating , let the prayer beads, moved quickly at his hand 'God guides you, to His right path, say your question' demanded he . Fadal.Bari cleared his throat, in his usual uncommon way said' Cousin Deng, God forbid (Paused) if (Confused) if (paused) '

Magadam Deng, watched the boy cunning, and in a lowered tone,' If what my son! Infuriated with, the way, of Fadal.Bari talk' Comes to the point' shouted Mawlana. 'If the one- whole body, comes out, to be divided, into two parts, and you have, given your own. Are you going ,to stay here, or going there?' cried he. Murmured, totally became upset, confused, he was never seen, in such mood, the prayer bead, fell down of his hand 'The boy said what?' enquired he. ' God forbids! If the southern brothers , voted for their, own State, are you going to be here , in the North?' Mukhtar explained to him. Anxiously, choked, eyes waters, about to tears, 'O men' began Al.leem and paused. 'Even if our brothers, established theirs' own State, we won't permit, brother Magadam Deng, going there' cried Al.leem bitterly. 'I assure you, I will stay here' reacted Deng . ' Lets all , call for one united country.' Said Mukhtar. 'Yes, for one united country' responded Yassir. 'Blessing is in being many' affirmed Rizq. O brothers, went on Mawlan Rasheed, with the discussion, and said 'God forbids! If the secession, becomes a reality, I fear the rest of body, may come into pieces' commented he . At the end of their discussion, the two men, Magadam Deng, and Rizq the dervish, have left a will, in which they write ,the one who dies first, the second must be buried beside him, and if they die, in the very same day, they have to be buried, in one grave.

Held both hands, of Rizq the dervish, Mukhtar asked 'Why you recommend, to be buried in, one grave, or near each other?' asked he . with eyes full with tears, 'Brother Deng and I,'are two bodies, with one soul' cried Rizq. Magadam Deng, stepped forward, to the place, where Rizq, was sitting, quickly but with difficulty, the latter stood up, and waited him , up, hugged each other, cried bitterly, and audibly, sadness, dominated the scene, 'You are right; we're one soul, in two bodies' sobbed Deng. 'Long live, your true brotherhood, long live, your true brotherhood, long live, your true brotherhood' repeated Mukhtar. Rizq the dervish, spent the rest, of his life, at home, away from the massed, his most lovable place. If one paid him a visit , he would find him, laying at his oldest but , huge angareb, under the shade of that, heavy thick leafs of neam tree. The man used to be visited, by the villagers, and murids. Magadam Deng was the most, regular visitor. When the two longest- time friends, be together , you find them always, in words, full of sorrow , pain, as well with nostalgia, chatting about the golden days of the past, remembering the blessed accompany , and travels of theirs, with Sheikh Al.Gubara, , to Sufi Sheikhs, the circles of zikr, and awrad . And in most of the time, and when words, failed to express, the situation, the difficult pouring of tears, which accompanied, with sobbing, and chocking , did the job. One of the things, which always infuriated Abu.Khalf, and got him nervous, was not only, peoples blindly believe, exaggeration , but also their woven stories, and tales, about the awlyia karamat . More than one time, the man was threaten, to be beaten by farah Al.Rabati, who one day surprised him, by saying: ' Mind your words, you always used the verses,

which descended to blame, and reproach the disbelievers, and take it against , our fathers, to accused them, with polytheism and disbelief, for you (went on), Mawlana Rasheed, yassir, Mukhtar, speeches and arguments, weren't suffice. You have to know that, I'm not that type, of such educated, and patient men, I have my, own method, and that is (pointed to his, wrapped stick). My father Sheikh Al.Gubara, and his brothers of awalyia, would care you not, nor your likes, any concern ,your words didn't , and wouldn't, cease that sacred mission, of theirs. you and your likes, suite them the saying ' The camel goes on, and the dog, is barking' shouted Al.Rabati. The reason that a gaited, and forced the man, using this harsh language , this time, was Abu.Khalf, opposing and odds view, on Hokum's repentance story. The woman's story of repentance, was the speech, of the people, at that area. This story which finally, came to be accounted as karama, to the Sheikh, was narrated by Mukhtar, who was present, at the massed, at the time of its occurrence, ' One early morning, Hokum came and not as usual, in very shameful and disgusting appearance, wearing very skimpy clothes, smelling of dilka and talih, was spoiled the special but, spiritual session of the Sheikh, with his murids. The Sheikh at the time, was in the highest of his spiritualities- tagali- as the Sufis say, with the intention of reforming her, Sheikh ordered 'Get out ,you bad soul', these words affected her heart, and she went home, repeating 'Get out, bad soul', fortunately later, she abandoned prostitution, and eventually, came to be, a good woman'. Concluded Mukhtar.

Sufi novel: Yearning of the Bird By: Abdulgalil Abd Allah Salih University of Gezira 16-5-2012