that Abdulahi had nothing left to learn. All his teacher were baffled by the boy’s unique intellectual capacities.
During his military service in the French colonial army in the 1940’s he was acquainted with a certain Abdulahi Wade one of his room-mates who was to become president of Senegal in 2000 while he became caliph of the Layene community in 2001.
As a young  boy he already had a strong personality and was respected by all his age group.
He grew up with admirable qualities which enabled him to make his mission a success.
An exceptional guide in many aspects
Among his admirable qualities is his wide learning. His  detractors and the sceptic were always
disarmed by his unfailing memory, his perfect knowledge of the Holy Quran, the Sunnah and a great number of  books on Islamic sciences and traditions.
The well-known predicator Al Hadj Ibrahima Sakho was seduced by his attitude at the death of Tafsir Ibrahima Mbengue in Rufisque. After the burial in the cemetery there were some divergences among the scholars who were present as to the choice of prayers to say for the benefit of the departed. Sherif Abdullahi Thiaw found  the right solution by quoting a verse from the Holy Quran. All accepted  his suggestion  with admiration for his resourcefulness.
His sociability  and  generosity.
Sherif Abdulahi Thiaw  has always  contributed to a considerable extent to  the process of development of his society by his actions.. He always gave material or moral assistance to his disciples and other people in need .He took pleasure in assisting  people who came to him for help, even when this would leave him or his family in want as did his grandfather who used to give out all that he possessed. He could have amassed a large fortune but he has none because of his generosity .
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His humility
Sherif Abdulahi Thiaw always accepted to exchange ideas with anyone regardless of his social status or rank. He travelled on long  distances to preside over social ceremonies such as weddings, funeral or birth ceremonies.
His punctuality
Sherif Abdulahi was always punctual to appointments and even anticipated the appointed time, which is a good example to follow for today’s young people.
His open mind .
He always admitted any sort of criticism or suggestion meant to improve a task or find a solution to a problem.
He maintained good relations with all the religious families in the country even with the leaders of the
Christian community. When Pope Jean Paul II visited Senegal in 1992 he was the only Muslim leader who was at the airport to welcome him.
Every year when the Adjibo ( the Call of Sayidina Limamu Lahi (P.B.O.H.) is celebrated in Diamalaye Yoff  , at the official closing ceremony in presence of the representatives of the different religious families Sherif Abdullahi Thiaw asked the assistance to sing the hymn or favourite song of every family.
His endurance
Sherif Abdulahi used to eat little and rest little. He personally presided over Zikr assemblies every Saturday night during six hours at least and the next day he often supervised the meetings of the Central Managing Committee of dahiras.
During the month of Ramadan he went to every Layene community to lead the nafila prayers alternately.
Perhaps he owed his exceptional endurance which lasted for half a century to his former military training.
His courage
He kept on that high rhythm of activity with no regard for his health or  bad weathers or hard conditions of transport. He travelled on the sandy tracks of Mbenguene (15 km from Gueoul), Walo, Malika (Nguediaga) , on the bumpy roads of Ngakham (9 km from Tiwawone) of Kagnabon (20 km from Bignona). He travelled on foot and on every sort of means horse, donkey, car, train and plane.
His conciliatory mind
He always called people to unity . It is reported that he once restored peace between two rival groups among the youth of Camberene who belonged to different opposing football teams. He reconciled them by bringing them together and offering them sets of sports equipment and balls. Their reconciliation finally opened the way for the creation of ASC .
One of his great concerns was to maintain good relationship with the Lebu community of Yoff  because of the blood relation that they have with his grandfather Sayidina Limamu Lahi (P.B.O.H.) and for the unity of the village. That is why a special stand is always reserved for the Lebu dignitaries during the Adjibo ceremonies in Diamalaye.
On that occasion he always commanded the assistance to say prayers for all religious authorities and official representatives. He did the same at every great  gathering of the Layene community.
His devotedness
Following the recommendation that his venerated father made to him shortly before his death in 1949 he devoted himself altogether to the service of Sayidina Mandione Lahi during all his 22 –year caliphate; He also did the same for the two following caliphs Sayidina Issa Lahi (Baye Saydi Thiaw) for 17 years and Sayidina Mame Al Hassan Lahi for 14 years successively. Sayiduna Ababacar Lahi paid homage to him when he said he would accept to renounce any favour or right in the family if Abdullahi were to be taken from Abdullahi.
His sense of organisation
In order to have good control on the activities of the dahiras, he managed to set up a well-structured organisation. He put a central managing body on top of this structure then came the body of representatives, then the federation and finally the local sections. His sense of organisation was innate  and appeared even in the way he dressed and his behaviour.
The great communicator
Thanks to his exceptional ability to communicate he could reach several targets at the same time. Professionals of social communication would say that he was qualified in all the different skills of communication: institutional, interpersonal and mass communication.
He proved this ability in October 1987 at the death of Sayidina Issa Lahi ( Baye Saydi Thiaw) the third caliph,when many authorities and representatives came  to present condolences during a whole week. As spokesman of the family Sherif Abdulahi replied to every speech finding spontaneously the right words as if he had prepared a written text for it.
A clever strategist
In order to carry out his mission with success Sherif Abdulahi set up various strategies which were based on three factors:
1-  his exceptional physical and intellectual qualities as mentioned before.
2-  his spiritual preparation
3-  and his former military training.
His communicative strategy
Bearing in mind that he was preaching in a hostile environment his strategy of approach was based on conciliation, caution and diplomacy. He knew well the history of every religious family, its founder, its traditions and the teachings of its founder. He would then begin by glorifying the family’s leading personalities in order to draw the interest and sympathy of his audience then he could easily pass his message on Sayidina  Limamu without shocking anybody. This conciliating mind won him the nickname of  « Mediator of Islam »
The defence of Sufism and other sects
Sayiduna Al Hadj Abdulahi Thiaw Lahi was the first religious leader in his time who dared defend other sects against those who claimed the superiority of other doctrines over Sufism. This made easier for him to reinforce  good  relations between the different religious families in the country and the unity of Muslims.
The strategy of education
Al Hadj Abdulahi Thiaw Lahi brought a great innovation with the creation  in 1968 of dahiras  as schools for mass education and also as  entities where men and women can  perform activities in equality of sexes in conformity with the teachings of Sayidina Limamu (P.B.O.H) and with the Holy Quran in chapter 33 verse 35. This has given to the Muslim woman her right place in the practice of her religion.
His detractors were up against him but he ordered his disciples to accept their criticism with tolerance and peace.
His humoristic talents have always served him as a pedagogic strategy to put his audience at ease in order to  get his message through in a relaxed atmosphere.
In 1989 during the events which opposed Mauritania to Senegal he was the first to use the television to call people to peace. On May 19th , 1990 in Ziguinchor ( Gao place) when he escaped from an attempt at his life made by Casamance separatists he showed great qualities of self- control and forgiveness. Otherwise the consequences could have been immense; but Sayiduna Al Hadj Abdulahi Thiaw was a peaceful man .
The sources of his teachings.
In his task of spreading the message of his grandfather Sayidina Limamu (P.B.OH.)  Al Hadj Abdulahi Thiaw drew his arguments from the Holy Quran, authentic hadiths and antique books.
The Mahdi in the Holy Quran
Although there is no clear mention of the term Mahdi in the Holy Book there are several allusions in different verses. Sayiduna Abdulahi Thiaw often referred to the following ones among others:
In surah Al Jum’a, verses 2 and 3 The Almighty says:
« It is He who has sent among the unlettered a messenger from among themselves to rehearse to them His signs to purify them and to teach them the Book and wisdom , although they had been before in manifest error. (1)
And to others who have not joined them yet. And He is the most exalted in might and wisdom. »(2)
In the commentary of the last verse Abu Bakr Hamza said: When the Prophet (P.B.O.H.) was asked who were those ‘others who have not joined them yet’  he put his hand on Salman Al Farsi’s head and said: « Men like him .»
Another verse in surah Al Qayas says:
« He is one of the signs of the Hour , there is no doubt about it. »
Commentators say that this verse refers to the Mahdi.