In the name of Allah, the Passionate, the Merciful. Praise be to Allah the God of all creatures. The best prayers be on the Prophet, our master Muhammad peace be upon him (PBUH), and his family and companions

The Ancient Origin of the Badenjki Zawia and its Branches:

The Badenjki Zawia is situated in Aleppo (Al-Shahaba) in the northern square of the Tourrntaeah School in Bab Al- Neirab. It is called after the name of the holy, ascetic mullah Sayyid Muhammad Sa'eed son of Sayyid Abdullwahid Al- Maidanjki, who belongs to the Hussaini and Nabahani lineage and follows the Shafi'i doctrine and the kadiri and Khalouti way. He was born in Aleppo in 1189A.H, and he is the descendent of the Nabahani Al-Hussaini family who established the famous section in Jebreen near Aleppo.

Mullah Sa'eed (May Allah be pleased with him) worked on reviving the sessions of praising and remembrance of Allah and reciting the Holy Qur'an in the Tourrntaeah School. He was the first of the Badenjki family, who founded the classes of the Holy Qur'an and praising Allah in the aforementioned school. His last name, the Maidanjki or (Al-Badenjki), was given to him first because he lived in (Midan Jok) quarter. (Midan Jok) is a Turkish word which means: the small quarter (plaza).

The mullah Muhammad Ragheb Al-Tabakh mentioned in the biography of mullah Sa'eed that the last followed the steps of mullah Ibraheem Al-Ddar A'zzani who made him his successor, and took from him the Khaluti and Kadri way. The mullah Muhammad Ragheb Al-Tabakh stated in his book "Ia'alaam Al-Nobala Btareekh Halab": "then, after two years- of establishing the remembrance of Allah sessions (Zikr) in Midan Jok(Badenjk) mosque- mullah Sa'eed moved to the Tourrntaeah School in Muhammad Beik district and started the classes till his death in 1250 A.H. He was buried in Bab Al-Malik cemetery. Weaving was his career. Apparent minor miracles were related to him".

However, the correct date of his death is 1252A.H as indicated in the documents and the family tree of the Badenjki family.

Mullah Muhammad Abu Al-Wafa Al-Rifa'i also hinted in his poetry at his holiness, asceticism, piety and following the Kadri way.

Mullah Sa'eed's origin goes back to his grandfather, the Aleppean ideal person, Muhammad son of Nabhan Al-Jibrini Al-Hussaini whose famous section is in Jebreen. Mullah Sa'eed died in 744 A.H. His forefathers- May Allah be pleased with them- were mullahs and scholars.

Ibn Al-Wardi stated in his book" Dhailu Tareekh Abu Al-Fida" in the month of Dhu al-Qi'dah/ in 749 A.H that mullah Ali son of mullah Muhammad son of Nabhan Al-Jebreni died in Jebreen. Then, his son Muhammad Al-Sofi became his successor. Mullah Ali was very generous (May the mercy of Allah be upon him), as stated also in Ibn Al-Wardi's book "TaTumatu Al-Mukhtasar fi Akhbar Al-Bashar".

The Nabhani Section and its mullahs were mentioned in Ibn Hajar Al-As'qalani's book in the biography of Muhammad son of Ali son of Muhammad Ben Nabhan.

Regarding the succession of mullahs in the Badenjki Section, the scholar mullah Abdulghani son of mullah Mohiuddeen Al-Maidanjki who died in 1365 A.H mentioned that mullah Muhammad Sa'eed Al-Maidanjki followed the steps of mullah Ibrahim Al-Hilali. He got the mullah's certificate, but he didn't succeed his mullah during his life as a courtesy to him. So, when Muhammad Al-Hilali succeeded his father Ibrahim Al-Hilali, mullah Muhammad Sa'eed was given the permission to succeed his mullah. Muhammad Sa'eed became the mullah during the life of the mullah Muhammad Al-Hilali. After that, Mullah Muhammad Sa'eed paved the way for his son Mohammad Al-Maidanjki, known as (Abu Kersh).

Cleric Mohammad Al-Maidanjki got the rank as amullah during the life of the mullah Abdulatif Al-Hilali. Mullah Abdulatif Al-Hilali paved the way for Mullah Muhammad Mohiuddeen Al-Maidanjki and made him his successor. Cleric Muhammad Mohiuddeen Al-Maidanjki became the mullah and his son Muhammad became his successor. Muhammad became the mullah and his brother Abdullatif succeeded him. After Abdullatif, his brother Abdulghani became the mullah. Mullah Abdulghani mentioned that Muhammad Sa'eed Al-Maidanjki followed mullah Ibrahim Al-Hilali. Mullah Mohammad Al-Maidanjki, known as (Abu Kersh) followed mullah Muhammad Sa'eed. Mohammad Al-Maidanjki's brother, Muhammad Mohiuddeen Al-Maidanjki who was taught by mullah Abdullatif Al-Hilali the son of Ibrahim Al-Hilali, followed him. The grandsons of mullah Mohiuddeen Al-Maidanjki mentioned that their grandfather had paved the way for his six sons who are: mullah Muhammad, mullah Abdullatif, mullah Abdulghani(his son from his wife Sharifa daughter of Omar Al-Nayal), mullah Sa'eed, mullah Abdulrahman, and mullah Ali (his son from his wife Rouqaia daughter of Ahamad Al-Kayali ).

Mullah Kamel Al-Ghazzi said describing the Tourrntaeah School: (prayers and remembrance of Allah sessions (Zikr) were held in its mosque. The scholar mullah Mohiuddeen Al-Badenjki and his successors took it as a place to worship Allah. His family tree goes back to mullah Nabhan Al-Jibrini.
Regarding the branches of the Badenjki section, it is subdivided into many sections to remember Allah: one section was for mullah Ibrahim son of mullah Muhammad son of mullah Mohiuddeen Al-Badenjki in the mosque of Khawajah quarter in Bab Al-Nairab in Aleppo by the permission of his grandfather Mohiuddeen (May Allah be pleased with them).
Another session was held by mullah Muhammad Al-Masehooj the student of mullah Muhammad son of Mohiuddeen Al-Badenjki on every Friday noon in Al-Saied village in Munboj by the permission of his mullah Muhammad.

Another session was held by Muhammad Baha'a son of mullah Abdulrahman son of mullah Mohiuddeen Badenjki on every Friday noon at mullah Abdulraman Al-Badenjki's mosque in (Al-Salheih) in Bab Al-Neirab in Aleppo by the permission of his father mullah Abdulrahman (May Allah be pleased with them).

Another session was held by mullah Ahmed Al-Kheir son of mullah Abdulraman son of mullah Mohiuddeen Badenjki on every Wednesday afternoon at the Armanazi mosque in the Basha quarter in Aleppo.

Another session was held by mullah Abdulrahman son of mullah Uthman son of mullah Abdulrahman son of mullah Mohiuddeen Badenjki in Halap AlJadedah, in Aleppo.
The last session was held by mullah Ahmed son of mullah Uthman son of mullah Abdulrahman son of mullah Mohiuddeen Badenjki to remember Allah on Tuesday nights after Esh'a prayer at the Hariri mosque in the Farafrah in Aleppo.

It is worth mentioning that mullah AbdulWahid Al-Maidanjki son of mullah Ali son of AbdulWahid Al-Hussaini Al-Nabahani who held remembrance of Allah sessions (Zikr) every Monday behind Sulaiman mosque in the Dodo quarter in Aleppo, by the certificate given to him by his mullah Muhammad son of Ibrahim Al-Hilali. Mullah AbdulWahid, the establisher of the section, is the nephew of mullah Sa'eed Al- Maidanjki junior. Mullah AbdulWahid was the first establisher of the remembrance of Allah sessions (Zikr) in the Tourrntaeah School.

The Badenjki Zawia in the Tourrntaeah School, by the Grace of Allah and His prophet (PBUH) as well as the piety of those men is full of the Holy Qur'an and theology classes every day. Every Friday evening and noon, it became full of remembrance of Allah sessions. Every year, people secluded there for forty days in winter and seven days in the end of Rajab and the beginning of Sha'aban. On the last ten days of Ramadan, people isolate themselves there in order to worship Allah. These activities were supported by the successors of mullah Mohiuddeen Al-Maidanjki (May Allah be pleased with him).

Blessings of Allah be upon our master Muhammad and his family and companions.

This is written in 20 / Shawwal / 1430 A.H, by Dr. Hassan the son of Abdul Rahman AlBadenjki, who seeks God's forgiveness.

References: Zailu Tareekh Abi Al-Fida" by Ibn Al-Werdi, " Al-Dorar Al-Kamenah fe Aya'an almia Al-Thamina" by Ibn Hajar Al-Asqallaani, "Al-Wafi bel Wafeyat" by Al-Safadi, "Nahr Al-Dahab fe Tareekh Halab" by the mullah Kamel Al-Ghazzi, "Manzumat Al-Sheikh Abi Al-Wafa fe Owlyia'a Halab" and "Ia'alaam Al-Nobala Btareekh Halab" by the mullah Muhammad Ragheb Al-Tabakh, manuscripts of the Badenjki family that go back to early thirteenth century of the Hegira, and dialogues and information memorized by the grandsons of mullah Mohiuddeen Al-Badenjki (May Allah be pleased with him).