Sidi Mohammed ibn Ahmed Akansus (d. 1294/1877 in Marrakech)

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Sidi Mohammed ibn Ahmed Akansus (d. 1294/1877 in Marrakech)

“If the greatest Poles (aqtab) of the Ummah are added together they would not reach the hair weight of the ocean of a group of my companions.” (Sidna Shaykh Abil Abbas Tijani)

Abu Abdellah Sidi Mohammed ibn Ahmed Akansus, a eminent Moroccan scholar, poet, mystic, biographer, historian, vizier and man of letters, was born in Sous in the year 1211/1796. He was one of the most learned of his time, and acquired a mastery of all branches of learning. For his education he went to the Qarawiyyine University in Fez at 18 years of age, where he met some scholars who introduced him to the Qutb of his age Mawlana Shaykh Abil Abbas Tijani, may Allah be pleased with him. He in the following years received the permission (ijaza) to read the Awrad of the Tijani Path from Sidi Mohammed al-Ghali Boutaleb al-Fasi (d. 1244/1828). The, he advanced himself to be a virtuous, well-informed, mature person through the authorized teachers: Sidi Mohammed ibn Abi Nasr Alawi (d. 1273/1856) and Sidi Abdelwahhab ibn al-'Ahmar (d. 1269/1852). He built a zawiya in the district of al-Mawasine, easy of access. He was the author of dozens of books and monographs of varying length, as well as poetry. Among the most well known are “Al-Jaysh al-‘Aramramu al-Khukasi fi Dawlat Awlad Mawlana Ali Sijilmasi” (The Great Fivefold Army in the State of the Children of Our Lord Ali Sijilmasi) and “Al-Jawab al-Muskit” (The Silenced Answer) in reply to Shaykh Ahmed al-Bakkay. He was esteemed by Tijani students and well known among their scholars. Among his fellow-students was Sidi Said ibn Ahmed Darariki (d. 1287/1870) and current Patron of Rabat Sidi Al-Arbi ibn Sayeh (d. 1309/1891), the great-grandson of the Jazoulite Pole Sidi Mohammed al-Sharqi. He was entrusted with the Maqam of Qutbaniya for 18 years, before he passed away in Marrakech in the year 1294/1877. His tomb at the cemetery of al-Imam Suhayli is today one of the most venerated holy Tijani places of Morocco after that of Sidi Abil Abbas Tijani in Fez and Sidi Al-Arbi ibn Sayeh in Rabat (map).

For further information on our scholar, please read Gannun’s book “Rasail Ma’alamat Ma’alim Sus Abi Abdellah Sidi Mohammed Akansous” (The Epistles of the Figure of Figures of Sous: Abi Abdellah Sidi Mohammed Akansus), Allama Sidi Ahmed Sukayrij’s; “Kashf al-Hijab 'Amman Talaaqa bi-Shaykh Tijani Mina-l As'hab” (Rising the Veil on the Companions of Shaykh Tijani), pp. 328; Nasiri’s “Istiqsa,” vol. 1, pp. 161, Abdellah Gannun’s “Nubugh al-Maghribi fi al-Adab al-Arabi” (The Moroccan Genius in the Arabic Literature), vol. 1, pp. 317; Makhluf’s “Shajarat al-Nur Zakiya” (The Blessed Tree of Light), pp. 404, number of biography; 1623; Zarqali’s “Al-A’alam” (The Figures), part. 6, pp. 19; Allama al-Hajouji’s “Fath al-Malik al-‘Allama” (The Opening of the King, the All-Knower), number of biography. 43; Allama Mohammed Shinguiti’s “Rawd Shamail Ahl al-‘Haqiqa fi-Ta’arif bi Akabir Ahl Tariqa” (Garden of the Narratives of the People of Truth in the Recollection of the Elite of the Path), number of biography: 27; Ibn Ibrahim al-Murrakushi’s “Al-I’alam bi-man ‘Halla Murrakush wa Aghmat min-a al-A’alam” (The Notification in the Figures that Entered Marrakech and Aghmat), part. 7, pp. 8; Mohammed Ghurrit’s “Fawasil al-Juman fi Anba’ Wuzara’ wa Kuttab al-Zaman” (The Necklaces of Pearls in the News of the Ministers and Authors of the Time), pp. 8-40; Al-Mukhtar al-Susi’s “Rijalat al-‘Ilm al-Arabi fi Souss” (The Men of Arab Knowledge in Souss), pp. 207, and the book of the Allama al-Hajouji’ “Bahjat al-Nufus fi Dhikr Ba’ad Manaqib Sidi Mohammed Akansus” (Delight of Spirits in the Recollection of some of the Feats of Sidi Mohammed Akansus) is a detailed exposition of his career and life.

Teachers: Sidi Mohammed al-Ghali Boutaleb al-Fasi (d. 1244/1828 in Makkah), Sidi Mohammed b. Abi Nasr Alawi (d. 1273/1856 in Fez), Sidi Abdelwahhab b. al-'Ahmar (d. 1269/1852 in Fez)

Getting there: Download Map. The Imam Suhayli Cemetery is about 10 minutes drive from the square of Sahat Lafana or the Kutubiya Mosque. Walk through the small gate of Bab Aghnou -not far from the Saadi Tombs- to find the gate of the cemetery on your right hand. The cemetery is located right next to the Royal Palace. So do not be surprised to find guards inside the cemetery. The tomb of our Faqih stands in blue, and it is located next to the wall outside the dome of Imam Suhayli. Ask police for the location of the tomb if needed. They are well acquainted with the blessed tomb.

Video: The video broadcasts quality footage of the Tiajni Zawiya of Mouassine (Lamwasine). The zawiya was founded by the Qutb of his Time, the Allama Sidi Mohammed ibn Ahmed Akansus (d. 1294/1877): the Khalifa of the Concealed Pole, Mawlana Shaykh Abil Abbas Tijani, may Allah sanctify his secret. The zawiya is located in the district of Mouassine near Bab al-Futuh, not far from the Zawiya of the renowned Allama, Sidi Mohammed ibn Abdelwahid Nadhifi (d. 1366/1947), another great Khalifa of Mawlana Shaykh Abil Abbas Tijani, may Allah be pleased with him. What is more intesteting about this video is that it shows the blessed Khalwa Chamber of the Allama Mawlana Mohammed al-Arabi ben Sayeh, may Allah be pleased with him, where he acheived his opening.