On Monday March 6, 2023, the renowned scholar Sheikh Salek bin Siddina passed on to the next life, leaving behind his wife, three young daughters, and oldest son, Murabit.  He also leaves behind Dar Us Salaam, a traditional madrasa of approximately 150 students from ages 6 to adolescents.  

This year, we seek to continue and “pay forward” the work Sheikh Salek has done since Dar Us Salaam’s opening in the late 1990s by supporting its students for the coming year.  But in addition, we seek to also raise support for his dependents, including three young daughters. 

We hope, by the will of Allah, to raise a total of $200,000, and here’s how the money will be used:

1. Support of Dar Us Salaam, its Students and Faculty, and related Charitable Projects: 50%
2. Creation of a Trust for Sheikh Salek’s Family: 50%

ADMINISTRATION ON THE GROUND – SHEIKH FAQIH BIN SIDDINA

Sheikh Faqih bin Siddina, the brother and student of Sheikh Salek, is now caretaker of Sheikh Salek’s family as well as the lead teacher and administrator of Dar Us Salaam.  Sheikh Faqih studied the Islamic Sciences with Sheikh Murabit al Hajj, followed by extensive studies with Sheikh Salek.  Since Dar Us Salaam’s establishment, Sheikh Faqih has served as the lead administrator and teacher during Sheikh Salek’s residence in the United States.  He resides in Dar Us Salaam’s village location with his family, and he separately manages a store in nearby Kiffa—working as a merchant to support his family while also teaching and managing Dar Us Salaam at no cost.  A practitioner of Murabit Al Hajj’s advice— “Oh student, do not take this religion as a trade”—Sheikh Faqih has consistently fulfilled the Islamic tradition of avoiding worldly compensation for knowledge.

Working in conjunction with the Foundation, Sheikh Faqih will administer all funds raised to provide Sheikh Salek’s wife and children with their daily needs of food, clothing and medical treatment on a rolling basis, consistent with the modest lifestyle still observed in rural Mauritania.  He will use dedicated funds raised to establish a trust to support Sheikh Salek’s family for approximately five years in sha Allah.  Sheikh Faqih will also continue the administration of Dar Us Salaam in cooperation with its teachers.

More About Dar Us Salaam

Dar us Salaam Academy is one of the few schools left in the world preserving a traditional and holistic model of orthodox Sunni Islamic education.  It stands on the principle that much of the perversion of Islam seen today is due to the abandonment of this traditional model, in which texts were understood through the rigorous interpretations of highly qualified scholars and passed down through unbroken chains of narration (isnad).

Students at Dar us Salaam—through rote memorization supplemented by explanation from a trained and qualified teacher—study Aqeeda (Islamic Belief), Maliki Fiqh (Islamic Law), Seerah (Biography of the Prophet - peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), Quran, Tasawwuf (purification of the heart), as well as other Islamic Sciences, including Logic and Grammar.

About the Mauritania Foundation (Our Mission)

The Mauritania Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation headquartered in California. Its goal is to preserve and expand the traditional model of orthodox Sunni Islamic education for the Ummah and its future generations. In addition, the Mauritania Foundation engages in charitable initiatives in Mauritania, designed to provide food, potable water, and medical care to the poor.  More information regarding the Mauritania Foundation may be viewed at our website: 

www.mauritaniafoundation.org

يا ربنا بحق ذي الأسماء 🌿
أعزنا في الأرض و السماء 
وعل قدرنا الدني بقدرها 🌿
عندك واسقنا رحيق سرها
وعافنا بها من البلاء 🌿
وأولنا الشكر على الآلاء
والنصر عاجلا على الأعداء🌿
أنت المجيب فأجب دعائي
و هبلنا بها لدى المنية🌿
خاتمة حسنى هي الأمية
بأرض طه طيبة المرضية🌿
صلى عليه خالق البرية
والدفن في البقيع بعد نشر🌿
دين الإله ببلاد الكفر
و أن تمن ربنا العلي🌿
لنا بحال حسن مرضي
وفي الختام إنني شاد ﷺ النبي ‎🌿
بأبويه/صاحبيه/ لحصول المطلب
صلى وسلم على الهادي الأمين 🌿
و آله و صحبه المباركين