Encyclopedia of Islam

Further reading: Mojan Momen, The Bahai Faith: A 

Short Introduction (Oxford, U.K.: Oneworld Publica-

tions, 1999); Peter Smith, The Babi and Bahai Religions: 

Bahai Faith

  

85  J

---

From Messianic Shiism to a World Religion (Cambridge: 

Cambridge University Press, 1987).

Bahrain

  See g

ulf

 

states

.

Bamba, Ahmadu

 

(Ahmad Bamba)

 

(1850–

1927)  Senegalese mystic and founder of the 

Muridiyya Sufi order

Ahmadu Bamba (also known as Ahmad Bamba) 

was born to a family of scholars in Kayor, Sen-

egal, in W

est

  a

Frica

. He became a devotee of 

the  q

adiri

  s

UFi

  o

rder

, which he taught among 

his native Wolof people. French colonial officials 

grew alarmed over increasing support for Bamba’s 

teaching and sent him into exile in Gabon in 1895. 

Although they allowed him to return to Senegal in 

1902, Bamba was exiled again later that year, this 

time to Mauritania. French authorities hoped that 

removing Bamba would limit his popularity, which 

they perceived as a threat to their colonial interests 

despite the nonpolitical nature of his teaching. 

Instead, Bamba’s support only continued to grow, 

and he was able to establish his own distinctive 

prayer

 ritual (wird) and Sufi order while in Mauri-

tania. Upon returning to Senegal in 1912, Bamba 

made his home in Diourbel. During World War I, 

he reluctantly supported the French with troops 

and money. However, after his death in 1927, his 

tomb was moved to Touba, a city he founded in 

1887 and that remains the main pilgrimage site 

and hub of the Muridiyya Sufi Order.

Bamba established the Muridiyya as an eco-

nomic and religious community during the 1880s, 

developed a new Islamic pedagogy that empha-

sized action, work, and loyalty, and attracted 

followers from many different backgrounds. The 

Muridiyya work ethic has made the order an 

important contributor to the Senegalese economy 

during the past century.

See also 

colonialism

.

Stephen Cory