Tears Through Long Reflection (Al Abra bi Tuli Al Ibra)

Tears Through Long Reflection is a short contemplative work by the Moroccan scholar Aḥmad SKIREDJ, one of the major figures of the Tijani tradition in the modern period. This text takes the form of a spiritual self-examination, reflecting on the different stages of the human soul from its primordial origin to its earthly life and moral responsibility.

The author adopts a direct mode of address to the soul, speaking to it, reproaching it, and reminding it of its moments of heedlessness and failure. In doing so, he draws on the classical Sufi tradition of self-accountability, presenting an inward dialogue that explores the states of the soul and its fluctuations.

The work follows the soul through several major phases: its first state in the unseen realm, its passage through lineage and the womb, its experience of childhood and youth, and finally the stage of religious and moral responsibility. At each level, the author highlights the ethical and spiritual meaning of human life, calling the reader to awaken from negligence before it is too late.

This concise treatise is a fine example of Moroccan Sufi writing on self-reckoning and inner reform. It also reflects Aḥmad SKIREDJ’s broader contribution to Tijani spiritual literature, combining moral seriousness, psychological insight, and devotional depth.

The book will be of particular interest to readers of Islamic spirituality, scholars of Sufism, students of the Tijāniyya, and anyone interested in classical works on the soul, ethical awareness, and spiritual discipline.