[Magal 2026 Special] Sokhna Maïmouna Mbacké: The Glimmer of the Night of Destiny

In the history of Mouridism, few female figures have left such a powerful spiritual imprint as Sokhna Maïmouna Mbacké. The youngest daughter of the brotherhood's founder, Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba, she whom the faithful affectionately call Sokhna Maï Laylat al-Qadr embodies an absolute model of devotion, erudition, and generosity. Her name and her life story remain forever linked to the celebration of the Night of Destiny (Laylat al-Qadr).

It was under the guidance of her revered elder brother and ^second Caliph of the Mourides, Serigne Fallou Mbacké, that Sokhna Maïmouna was entrusted with the noble mission of glorifying this sacred night, on which the Holy Quran was revealed. With remarkable dedication, she transformed this commemoration into a pivotal moment of spiritual communion. Each year, her home became a sacred place where the Quran and the Xassidas of Serigne Touba were recited until dawn, as prescribed in Surah Al-Qadr. The Berndé, this act of sharing abundant food with the poor and pilgrims, took on a monumental dimension under her leadership.

But to reduce Sokhna Maïmouna to this single organization would be to misunderstand the extent of her knowledge. An exceptional scholar, she had memorized the entire Quran and mastered several other branches of Islamic sciences.

A woman of action and accomplished entrepreneur, she operated vast agricultural estates to self-finance her social and religious works, embodying with dignity the Mouride precept combining work (liguey) and spiritual devotion (Diamou Yallah).

His grandson, Serigne Sidy Mokhtar Mbacké, paints his portrait.