Shaykh Tayyib b. Ahmad al-Sufyani records in his book al-Ifada al-Ahmadiyya that one day, a heretical pretender to the spiritual path asked one of the companions of Shaykh Ahmad al-Tijani for some food. Instead of feeding him right away, the companion of the Shaykh told him to wait for a while. As he was waiting, the companion went to Shaykh Ahmad al-Tijani and told him about the man, and asked if he should feed him, to which the Shaykh replied, “Tell him we’ll give him lead!“

Shaykh Ahmad Sukayrij writes in the margins of his personal manuscript copy of al-Ifada al-Ahmadiyya:

It is well known that our master Shaykh [Ahmad al-Tijani] was very stern against the people of blameworthy innovations. He was not placid or mellow in his treatment of them, especially those among them who falsely claimed sainthood (wilaya)—and how numerous they were in his age! They attempted to open the door of Shaykhood by concocting lies against God, and made Shaykhhood a net by which they could catch unsuspecting people and gain access to their wealth and honor.