Atlas
About this atlas
The atlas holds the chains of transmission from the Prophet as the standard references and the classical sources record them: the Sufi orders, the chains of Qurʾān recitation, the teachers of the schools of law and ḥadīth, and the lines of the Prophet's family, with the places they spread and the living houses and teachers who carry them today. Every link shows its sources; where they differ, both readings are shown, and we do not rule on any community's claims. Ibn ʿArabī's own life, teachers and readers are on their own page.
Seydina Limamou Laye
Died 1909 · born 1844 · Yoff
Founder; born Limamou Thiaw (another source: Libasse Thiaw). In the community's own account, as reported by Wikipedia, he declared himself the Mahdi and the return of the Prophet Muhammad; no scholarly assessment was read
Sources for this person
The chain up to the Prophet
Dates are given where the sources give them. Years are CE; the Hijri year is in each name's detail.
Route 1 of 1, the best-sourced: Layène. Tap a rule to read its basis, sources and checks.
- The Prophet Muhammadمحمد632
one sourcein Layènespiritual link, without meetingsources differ
spiritual link, without a meeting (uwaysī) · The Prophet Muhammad to Seydina Limamou Laye · One source
The community's own account, as Wikipedia reports it: Limamou Laye was the Mahdi and the return of the Prophet Muhammad. The Layène have no initiatory silsila in the sources read.
Wikipedia, Layene (tertiary; cites Glover 2013, Thomas 2012, Laborde 1994, Bop 2005, Halverson 2020)Checked against
- Wikipedia, Layene, founder section · agreesStates the claim as community belief; no scholarly assessment given.
- Thomas 2012 (record only), title · silentTitle frames the subject as Sufism and Mahdism; text not read.
Where the sources differ, side by side. We do not rule between them.
- Wikipedia: the founder is said to have claimed to be the Mahdi, and the community holds him to be the return of the Prophet; it adds that the Layène are open to all Muslims.Wikipedia, Layene (tertiary; cites Glover 2013, Thomas 2012, Laborde 1994, Bop 2005, Halverson 2020)
- Founding date: Wikipedia 1884; an allAfrica report counts January 2026 as the 146th anniversary of the community's 'Appel', i.e. 1880. Not reconciled.allAfrica, 146e anniversaire de l'Appel de Seydina Limamou LahiWikipedia, Layene (tertiary; cites Glover 2013, Thomas 2012, Laborde 1994, Bop 2005, Halverson 2020)
Seydina Limamou Laye1909
How to read the marks
- Two sources: a solid rule. Two independent references give the same link.
- One source: a lighter rule, so labelled.
- The community's own account: a dotted rule. The order tells it; we have not yet read it against a reference source.
- A gap in the rule: the sources omit names between the two. The label says which.
- The sources differ: tap the ≠ to read each reading with its source.
- A ring: a spiritual link, without a meeting (uwaysī).
Who received from Seydina Limamou Laye
1 recorded, each with the chain set it belongs to.
one sourcein Layène
successor of · Seydina Limamou Laye to Seydina Issa Rouhou Laye · One source
Wikipedia's khalif list gives seydina issa rouhou laye next in office.
Wikipedia, Layene (tertiary; cites Glover 2013, Thomas 2012, Laborde 1994, Bop 2005, Halverson 2020)Checked against
- Wikipedia, Layene, list of khalifs · agreesLists seydina issa rouhou laye after seydina limamou laye.
How to cite
Mashraba Reader, Atlas of transmission, “Seydina Limamou Laye”, https://www.mashraba.org/atlas/figure/seydina-limamou-laye (data of 31 October 2026).