An attempt to slip away from the cultural forms and aims connected with Islam...

An attempt to slip away from the cultural forms and aims connected with Islam, and to accept aims of non-Islamic (often anti-Islamic) social organizations, would not spell regeneration but degenera­tion for Islamic culture. In order to set his movement on the right lines and to perpetuate the in­fluence of his teaching on future generations, the Shaikh made an elaborate programme of fostering education amongst the masses.

As a result of his efforts every oasis was given its own maktab , and teachers who could both teach and preach were sent to the Bedouin tribes. The disciples of the Shaikh pursued learning with great ardour. Ibn Bashr says that so many were the students attracted to his classes that if…