The Tijani tariqah
Question

                We have many people in our country who follow the Tijani tariqah. My family have the wird of Shaykh Ahmad at-Tijani, which is Salaat al-Faatih. They say that Salaat al-Faatih is sending blessings upon the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him). Is this Salaat al-Faatih really sending blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) or not? Because they say that the one who recites Salaat al-Faatih then stops doing so is regarded as a disbeliever (kaafir), and they say that if you did not used to do this and you do not do it, there is no blame on you, but if you start to do it and then stop, then you are regarded as a disbeliever. We hope that you can offer some advice.
Praise be to Allah.
      The Tijani tariqah is undoubtedly an innovated path, and it is not 
      permissible for the people of Islam to follow these innovated tariqahs, 
      whether that is the Tijani tariqah or any other. Rather what is required 
      is to follow and adhere to that which was brought by the Messenger 
      (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), because Allah says 
      (interpretation of the meaning):

    “Say (O 
    Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) to mankind): ‘If you 
    (really) love Allah then follow me (i.e. accept Islamic Monotheism, follow 
    the Quran and the Sunnah), Allah will love you and forgive you of your sins’”

    [Aal ‘Imraan 3:31]

    “(Say (O 
    Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him)) to these idolaters 
    (pagan Arabs) of your folk:) Follow what has been sent down unto you from 
    your Lord (the Quran and Prophet Muhammad’s Sunnah), and follow not any 
    Awliya’ (protectors and helpers, etc. who order you to associate partners in 
    worship with Allah), besides Him (Allah). Little do you remember!”

    [al-A‘raaf 7:3]

    “And 
    whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon 
    him)) gives you, take it, and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it), 
    and fear Allah. Verily, Allah is Severe in punishment”

    [al-Hashr 59:7]

    “And verily, 
    this is my Straight Path, so follow it, and follow not (other) paths, for 
    they will separate you away from His Path”

    [al-An‘aam 6:153]. 

    The (other) paths are the innovated paths that have been introduced on the 
    basis of innovation, whims and desires, specious arguments and haraam 
    desires. Allah has enjoined upon us to follow His straight path, which is 
    what is indicated by the Holy Qur’an and the saheeh, proven Sunnah of His 
    Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him). This is the path that 
    must be followed. 

    With regard to the Tijani, Shadhili, Qadiri and other tariqahs or paths that 
    people have invented, it is not permissible to follow them, except with 
    regard to that which is in accordance with what Allah has prescribed. That 
    may be followed because it is in accordance with the prescribed teachings, 
    not because it is part of any given tariqah, because of the verses quoted 
    above and because Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the 
    meaning):

    “Indeed in 
    the Messenger of Allah (Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him)) 
    you have a good example to follow for him who hopes in (the Meeting with) 
    Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah much”
    

    [al-Ahzaab 33:21]

    “And the first to embrace Islam of the Muhajiroon (those who 
    migrated from Makkah to Al-Madinah) and the Ansaar (the citizens of Al-Madinah 
    who helped and gave aid to the Muhajiroon) and also those who followed them 
    exactly (in Faith). Allah is well-pleased with them as they are well-pleased 
    with Him. He has prepared for them Gardens under which rivers flow 
    (Paradise), to dwell therein forever. That is the supreme success” 
    

    [at-Tawbah 9:100],
    

    and the Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever 
    introduces anything into this matter of ours that is not in accordance with 
    it will have it rejected.” (Saheeh – agreed upon; narrated from the hadith 
    of ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her))

    And he (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever does a deed 
    that is not in accordance with this matter of ours will have it rejected.” 
    Narrated by Muslim in his Saheeh.

    And he (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “To proceed: the 
    best speech is the Book of Allah, and the best guidance is the guidance of 
    Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him). The worst matters are 
    those which are newly invented, and every innovation is a going astray.” 
    Narrated by Muslim in his Saheeh from the hadith of Jaabir ibn 
    ‘Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him). And there are many similar 
    hadiths. 

    Salaat al-Faatih is a kind of sending blessings (salawaat) upon the Prophet 
    (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) as they said, but its wording was 
    not narrated from the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), as 
    they say: “O Allah, send blessings and peace upon our master Muhammad, the 
    one who opens that which was closed, the seal of all that went before, the 
    one who supports the truth with the truth.” This wording was not the answer 
    that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) gave to describe 
    how blessings should be sent upon him when the Sahaabah asked him about 
    that. What is prescribed for the Muslim ummah is to send blessings upon him 
    (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) in the wording that he prescribed 
    for them and taught them, without introducing anything new. An example of 
    that is what is proven in as-Saheehayn from Ka‘b ibn ‘Ajrah (may 
    Allah be pleased with him), that the Sahaabah (may Allah be pleased with 
    them) said: O Messenger of Allah, Allah has commanded us to send blessings 
    upon you; how should we send blessings upon you? He (blessings and peace of 
    Allah be upon him) said: “Say: 
    Allaahumma salli ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala 
    aali Muhammad kama sallayta ‘ala Ibraaheem wa aali Ibraaheem, innaka 
    hameedun majeed. Allaahumma baarika ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala aali Muhammad kama 
    baarakta ‘ala Ibraaheem wa aali Ibraaheem, innaka hameedun majeed 
    (O Allah, send prayers upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You 
    sent prayers upon Ibraaheem and the family of Ibraaheem, You are indeed 
    Worthy of Praise, Full of Glory. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of 
    Muhammad as You blessed Ibraaheem and the family of Ibraaheem, You are 
    indeed Worthy of Praise, Full of Glory).” 

    Another example is that which is proven in Saheeh al-Bukhaari and 
    Saheeh Muslim from the hadith of Abu Humayd as-Saa‘idi (may Allah be 
    pleased with him), from the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon 
    him), that he said: “Say: ‘Allaahumma salli ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala 
    azwaajihi wa dhurriyyatihi kama sallayta ‘ala Ibraaheem, wa baarik ‘ala 
    Muhammad wa ‘ala azwaajihi wa dhurriyyatihi kama baarakta ‘ala Ibraaheema wa 
    aali Ibraaheem, innaka hameedun majeed (O Allah, send prayers upon 
    Muhammad and upon his wives and offspring as You sent prayers upon Ibraaheem; 
    O Allah, bless Muhammad and his wives and offspring as You blessed Ibraaheem 
    and the family of Ibraaheem; You are indeed Worthy of Praise, Full of 
    Glory).” 

    According to a third hadith that was narrated by Muslim in his Saheeh 
    from Abu Mas‘ood al-Ansaari (may Allah be pleased with him), the Prophet 
    (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Say: 
    Allaahumma 
    salli ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala aali Muhammad kama sallayta ‘ala Ibraaheem, wa 
    baarik ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala aali Muhammad kama baarakta ‘ala aali Ibraaheem 
    fil ‘aalameena, innaka hameedun majeed 
    (O Allah, send prayers upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You 
    sent prayers upon the family of Ibraaheem, and bless Muhammad and the family 
    of Muhammad as You blessed the family of Ibraaheem among the worlds; You are 
    indeed Worthy of Praise, Full of Glory).” 

    These hadiths and similar reports explain the way to send blessings upon him 
    that he approved for his ummah and enjoined upon them. As for Salaat al-Faatih, 
    even though its meanings are sound in general, it should not be adopted at 
    the expense of that which has been narrated in saheeh reports from the 
    Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) explaining the sending of 
    blessings upon him that is enjoined. Moreover, the phrase “the one who opens 
    that which was closed” is too ambiguous, and some of those who follow whims 
    and desires may give it a meaning that is not correct. And Allah is the 
    source of strength. End quote. 

    Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz (may Allah have mercy on him).