Ibrahim Niass

Ibrahim ibn Abd Allah Niass al-Kawlakhi (1318–1395 AH / 1900–1975 CE) was a Senegalese Islamic scholar and one of the most influential figures in 20th-century West African Islam. He was a leader of the Tijaniyya Sufi order and is said to have had tens of millions of followers across West Africa, particularly in Senegal, Nigeria, and Ghana. He served as vice president of the World Muslim League (Rabitat al-Alam al-Islami) and was the first African Muslim leader to meet with the Saudi royal family in a context of mutual respect. He wrote extensively on Islam, Sufism, and theology. Note: He was a leader of the Tijaniyya Sufi order; his scholarship is recognized while tariqah practices are noted.