Power, ego, and attacks: Serigne Cheikh Ahmed Tidiane Sy Al Amine's truths to leaders

Invited to the show "Le JDD" on iRadio, Serigne Cheikh Ahmed Tidiane Sy Al Amine delivered a profound reflection on the major challenges of Senegalese society, addressing in turn education, the transmission of values, the responsibility of leaders and self-control.

For him, the greatest battle remains the one waged against oneself. " The greatest victory is the victory over oneself, " he emphasizes, stressing the imperative need to fight against pride, the pursuit of prestige, excesses, and impulses. A silent, demanding battle, never definitively won. This philosophy, he believes, must guide both the private sphere and public governance. Political and community leaders must learn to rise above the fray, refuse to give in to provocations, and place the common good above personal considerations.

“ Do not respond to attacks and forgive.”

Returning to the teachings of the caliph and the fundamental principles of the tarbiyya , Serigne Cheikh Ahmed Tidiane Sy Al Amine placed particular emphasis on forgiveness and the rejection of vengeance.

He illustrated his point with an edifying parable: when a person climbs a tree and is pelted with stones by someone on the ground, they will never reach the top if they stop and climb back down each time to retaliate. However, if they continue climbing, the stones will eventually no longer be able to reach them. This image, according to him, encapsulates the exemplary attitude that leaders—whether political, religious, or economic—should adopt by remaining focused on their mission and not allowing themselves to be paralyzed by sterile controversies.

Power in the face of criticism

This requirement for self-improvement applies first and foremost to those in power. Being at the head of state implies accepting exposure to criticism. Public officials must therefore be able to listen to reproaches without becoming trapped in a defensive or vindictive stance.

For the religious leader, the attitude of the leader inevitably shapes that of his followers. This analysis also goes beyond mere partisan divisions: the "self-sacrifice for the homeland," often brandished in public speeches, must not remain an empty slogan, but be translated daily into concrete actions and a systematic arbitration in favor of the common good.

Two competing education systems

The other major concern raised during this interview relates to the education sector. According to Serigne Cheikh Ahmed Tidiane Sy Al Amine, Senegal suffers from the coexistence of two education systems which, instead of evolving in synergy and complementarity, find themselves in a situation of rivalry.

“ When I talk about the education system today, you know what we have: we have two competing education systems ,” he lamented, thus opening the debate on the overall coherence of children’s educational paths from the earliest age and on the urgency of bringing traditional and modern teaching models closer together.

The breakdown in the transmission of values

Serigne Cheikh Ahmed Tidiane Sy Al Amine also notes a generational divide in the learning of moral values. " Over the last 20 to 30 years, there has been a clear break in the chain of transmission of values ," he believes.

This discontinuity is now producing visible effects in the social fabric, collectively challenging adults on the nature of the spiritual, ethical and cultural heritage passed on to younger generations.

Islam should not stop at prayer times

In his analytical framework, the speaker distinguishes between simple ritual practice and the daily embodiment of faith. Tarbiyya , he explains, transcends the performance of acts of worship to constitute a true "path of excellence," where spiritual precepts harmonize with everyday behavior.

Being a Muslim should not be measured solely by observing prayer times, fasting, or pilgrimage, but also by integrity, respect for others, and rigor in personal and professional relationships. Serigne Cheikh Ahmed Tidiane Sy Al Amine concludes with a fundamental question: what is the value of a society that multiplies speeches about values ​​if its daily actions deviate from them? True social transformation begins with this "perpetual war against oneself," which remains the most demanding but also the noblest of victories.