Limitation of Sufi Biographies

Al-Qutb Sidi Abdellaziz Debbarh al-Fasi informs us in the Ibriz that the image of sainthood (wilaya) that is found in the Sufi hagiographies reflects to a high extent the mystic perspective of the saint on the account of his human character. For mystically minded hagiographers, who usually ignore the humanity of Sufis, the saint’s example had to conform to more widely accepted traditions and narratives. Sidi Abdellaziz rejects this approach and confirms that sainthood is more importantly a divine ascription free of any specific criteria... [More]

 

The Ahmediya Mohammediya Ibrahimiya Hanifiya Tijaniya Path

In the history of Islam, there are numerous Sufi types. The universality of Sufi tradition balks at any attempt to reduce it to a signal, controllable pattern. Over the last centuries of the time, however, there has emerged a unique type of Sufi Shaykh who embodies in his...[More]

 

The Khalwatiya Path 

One of the most widespread and ramified orders of Sufism is that of the Khalwatiya, which remained for generations one of Islam’s most important orthodox paths along with the Shadhiliya, the Qadiriya, and the Naqshbandiya. The very foundation of Sufism originated, of course...[More]

 

The Shadhiliya Path 

An important step in establishing the Shadhiliya in the Maghreb was taken when Abul Hassan inherited the title of Axis of the Age (Qutb az-zaman) from the Moroccan Sufi Sidi Abul Hajjaj al-Uqsuri ("Sabti al-'Hussayni"; d. 642/1244)...[More]

 

Pan Ties of Qadiri-Shadhili Branches 

The Qadiriya Sufi Order, so named after Shaykh Moulay Abdellqadir Jilani (d. 561/1166), occupies a pre-eminent place in Moroccan Sufism. Although its organizational..[More]

 

Succession in Sufism

The spiritual succession is often represented as a tree: as it grows from a sapling to fully matured tree, it throws out branches, and these in turn sometimes develop still other, lesser branches. The same hold true for Sufi orders, but as time goes by the main...[More]  

 

Ideal Saints

To consider wilaya (sainthood) from the perspective of human experience, and not from some doctrinal ideal, one must first of all acknowledge that wilaya is a social phenomenon. In fact, the extraordinary is recognised in practice before it is defined in theory...[More]

 

Murabit Saints

A particularity of early Moroccan Sufism is a phenomenon called Maraboutism. Within two generations after the death of Sidna al-Imam, Mawlana Idriss al-Azhar (d. 213/798), Maliki Sufi jurists began systematically to introduce Malikism in the Moroccan countryside, first instituted in Fez by the Maliki ideologist Sidi Darras ibn Ismail (d. 357/942). This activity was part of a concerted effort by the ulama of North Africa to Islamise areas that were beyond the reach of the state and hence outside of the practical limits of the Shari'a...[More]

 

Ideal Saints

To consider wilaya (sainthood) from the perspective of human experience, and not from some doctrinal ideal, one must first of all acknowledge that wilaya is a social phenomenon. In fact, the extraordinary is recognised in practice before it is defined in theory. To restate this point in the terms used by Moroccan Sufis: if the nature of person's knowledge ('ilm) is revealed through one's actions ('amal), then the nature of a person's sainthood will also be revealed through the actions of the saint as experienced by others...[More]

 

Mohammedian Saints

Sufi doctrine emphasises that the reality (haqiqa) that constitutes Islam issued from the inner meaning of the Quran and the inner nature of the Prophet Sidna Mohammed (peace and blessing be upon him), who is at the origin of the silsila, or the chain of spiritual descent of every Sufi order. Upon his death, the prophetic function came to an end, but the saintly power (wilaya) continued and was transmitted through Sidna Ali ibn Abi Talib...[More]

 

Sharifian Saints

There are within Moroccan style of Islam three major types of legitimation: the Quran (including its extension by Hadith), the consensus of the community, and the line of succession. The Holy Book is repository of the divine word, publicly available, not incarnated in any one person, group, institution, or policy, and hence capable of...[More]

 

Mujahid Saints

There are some of the zawiyas where the shaykhs resisted the invaders and did jihad with weapons or the pen or the tongue.  It is not our aim to examine all the mujahidun Awliya here. We simply want to provide some evidence for those who say that not all the Sufi orders submitted to colonialists. These are but a few of the Sufi Shaykhs among those who liberated the Moroccan coasts...[More]

 

Scholarly Saints

The Moroccan Sufi zawaya (lodges or headquarters) provided numerous services for neighbouring communities. In times of political turmoil, for instance, they served as communal granaries; peasants often left their crops in nearby zawaya for safekeeping, to prevent their seizure by marauding nomads or looters...[More]

 

Charitable Saints

The Moroccan Sufi zawaya (lodges or headquarters) provided numerous services for neighbouring communities. In times of political turmoil, for instance, they served as communal granaries; peasants often left their crops in nearby zawaya for safekeeping, to prevent their seizure by marauding nomads or looters...[More]

 

Sultans and Sufis

The fate of Moroccan Sufism has since the Almoravid era, been closely connected to remarkable individuals whose achievements were praised in hagiographical literature. The Sufi Master Sidi Waggag ibn Zallu al-Lamti (d. 445/1030), disciple of Sidi Abu Imran al-Fasi (d. 430/1015)...[More]

 

Hagiography Bank /by Patron Saints 

Poles of Sufism

'Ayn d-Dat al-'Aliyya, 'Ayn Rahma Rabbaniya,Qutb al-Kamal wa al-Jamal, Taha, Yassin, al-Fatih li-Ma Ughliq, 

Mawlana Mohammed b. Abdellah 

(peace and blessing be upon him)

'Ayn al-Katm wa al-Khatm, al-Qutb al-Maktum, al-Barzakh al-Makhtum,  

 Shaykh Abil Abbas Sidi Ahmed Tijani

(may Allah be pleased with him)

Qutb al-Maghreb, Founder of the Moroccan State, Mawlana al-Imam,

Moulay Idriss al-Akbar

(d. 177/762)

Founder of the Holy City of Fez, al-Fatih al-Akbar, al Imam al-Anwar, Mawlana,

Moulay Idriss al-Azhar 

(d. 213/798)

Patron Saint of Sanhaja, al-Sharif al-Amjad, al-Kawkab al-As'ad, 

Moulay Bousalham

 (d. 343/923)

The Baraka of Fez, Shaykh al-Malikiya bi al-Maghreb, al-Wali al-Kabir al-As'ad,

Sidi Darras ibn Ismail 

 (d. 357/942)

Patron Saint of Qayrawan, Student of Imam al-Junaid, al-'Alim al-Fahhama, 

Sidi Abu Imran al-Fasi

(d. 430/1015)

 Patron Saint of Tamasna, Founder of the Almoravides, Imam al-Murabit, 

Sidi Abdellah ibn Yassin Jazouli  

(d. 451/1036)

Al-Wali Salih, al-Qudwa al-Nasi'h, Author of the Munfarija Poem, Shaykh,

Sidi Abul Fadl ibn Nahwi   

(d. 513/1098)

Patron Saint of Sus, Father of the Almohad State, al- Ghazali's Successor,

Sidi Mohammed al-Mahdi b. Tumart

(d. 524/1130)

Patron Saint of Dukkala, Founder of the Initial Moroccan Sufi order, the Sharif,

 Moulay Abu Abdellah Amghar

(d. after 540/1125)

Patron Saint of Fez, al-Qadi, al-Muhaddith, al- Ghazali's Successor, 

Sidi Abu Bakr b. al-Arabi

 (d. 543/1128)

Patron Saint of Marrakech, Author of 'Kitab al-Shifa', al-Qadi al-Faqih al-Allama,

Sidi al-Qadi 'Iyyad

(d. 544/1129)

Patron Saint of Fez, Qutb al-Maghrib,

Malamati al-Shahir, Allama al-Nabil, 

 Sidi Abul Hassan Ali b. Harzihim

(d. 559/1144)

Al-Qutb Rabbani, al-Ghawt Samadani, Shaykh Tariqa Nuriya, Mawlana, 

Moulay Boushayb as-Sarya  

(d. 561/1146)

Shaykh Tariqa al-Nuriya, Supporter of His Caller, al-Qutb al-Farid al-Abhar,

Sidi Abu Yaaza Yalnour

(d. 572/1157)

Patron Saint of Marrakech, al-Baraka al-Malamati, Shaykh of Shaykhs, 

Sidi Yusuf b. Ali Sanhaji al-Mubtala

(d. 593/1179)

Patron Saint of Tlemcen, al-Baraka al-Ajall, al-Sayyid al-Akmal, Mawlana,

Sidi Abu Madyan Shuayb al-Ghawt

(d. 594/1179)

Patron Saint of Marrakech, the Most Charitable, Sayyid Nabil, al-Baraka,

 Sidi Abul Abbas Sabti

(d. 6o1/1186)

 Patron Saint of Jbala, Father of Moroccan Sufism, Master of Masters,

Moulay Abdessalam b. Mashish

(d. 622/1207)

Patron Saint of Asfi, al-Murabit al-Kamil, al-'Arif al-Zahid, al-Wali al-Fadil, 

Sidi Abu Salih Majiri

(d. 631/1216)

Patron Saint of Damascus, Shaykh al-Akbar, al-Qutb al-Azhar, al-Khatm,

Sidi Muhyiddin Ibn al-Arabi

(d. 636/1221)

Patron Saint of Egypt,  Founder of the Shadhiliya Order, al-Ghawt al-Kamil,

Sidi Abul Hassan Shadhili

(d. 656/1241) 

Patron Saint of Egypt, the Baraka of Tanta, Shaykh Tariqa ar-Rifa'iya,

Sidi Ahmed al-Badawi al-Fasi

(d. 675/1260)

Patron Saint of Sabta, Shaykh Sufi al-Kabir, al-Arif Billah, Mawlana,

Sidi Abdelhaq ibn Sab'in 

(d. 669/1254)

Patron Saint of Alexandria, al-Qutb al-Andalusi al-Kabir, al-Mahbub al-Kabir, Sidi Abul Abbas al-Mursi al-Andalusi 

(d. 686/1271)

Patron Saint of Salé, al-Wali al-Salih, al-Murshid al-Nasih, al-Nur al-Wadhih,

Sidi Ahmed b. Achir al-Andalusi

(d. 764/1349)

Patron Saint of Cairo, Sayyid al-Wasilin, Furqan as-Sadiqin, The Idrissid Sharif,

Sidi Mohammed Wafa' al-Idrissi 

(d. 765/1852)

 Al-Wali al-Baraka, Imam Jami'a al-Qarawiyyine, Shaykh Shadhiliya, 

Sidi Ahmed Ibn Abbad Rundi 

(d. 792/1377) 

Patron Saint of Marrakech, al-Ghawt Shahir, al-Fard al-Jami'a, al-Imam,

Sidi Mohmmed b. Sulayman al-Jazouli  (d. 869/1454)

Patron Saint of the Desert, father of the Alawis, al-'Alim al-Kabir, Abul Jamal

Moulay Ali Sharif Alawi

(d. 847/1432)

Patron Saint of Fez, Ruh al-Arwa'h, an-Nafas al-Aqdas, Mawlana,

Sidi Ali Salih al-Andalusi 

(d. 893/1488)

Patron Saint of Lybia, al-Qudwa al-'Udhma, Shaykh al-Taifa al-'Ulya,

Sidi Ahmed Zarruq al-Fasi

(d. 898/1493) 

Patron Saint of Marrakech, Successor of al-Jazouli, Mawlana al-Qutb, Abu Faris,

Sidi Abdellaziz at-Tabba'a

(d. 914/1499)

Patron Saint of Meknes, al-Sharif al-Fadil, Shaykh al-Kamil, Abul Jamal,

Sidi al-Hadi ben Aissa

(d. 933/1518)

Patron Saint of Marrakech, al-Qutb al-Kabir, Successor of al-Tabba',

Sidi Abdelkarim al-Fallah 

(d. 933/1518)

Patron Saint of Marrakech, Successor of al-Qutb al-Tabba', al-Jaras, al-Sultan,

Sidi Abdellah al-Ghazwani

(d. 935/1520)

Barakat Bab al-Futuh, al-Wali Salih, Sayyid Ahl al-Jadb, Zarruqi al-Mashrab,  Sidi Ali Dawar Sanhaji  

(d. 950/1535)   

Patron Saint of Habt, al-Sufi al-Mujaddid, al-Faqih al-Mujahid,

Sidi Abdellah al-Habti

(d. 963/1548)

Patron Saint of Tazarwalt, Sharif al-Hassani al-Idrissi, al-Fard al-Jami'a,

Sidi Ahmed ou Moussa Simlali

(d. 991/1576)

Patron Saint of Tadila, al-Qutb al-Kabir, Sayyid Waqtih wa Imam 'Asrih, 

Sidi Mohammed Sharqi al-Umari

(d. 1010/1595)

The Baraka of Fez, al-Wali al-Shahir, al-Qudwa al-Kabir, al-Allama,

Sidi Abul Mahasin Yusuf al-Fasi

(d. 1013/1598)

Shaykh Tariqa Dilaiya, the product of al-Qastili-Falah-Tabba'a-Jazouli chain, 

Sidi Mohammed ibn Abi Bakr Dilai 

(d. 1046/1631)

Patron Saint of Dar'a, Founder of the Nasiriya Order, Mawlana al-Qutb,

Sidi Mhammed b. Nasir Dar'i

(d. 1085/1670)

Patron Saint of Wazzan, Founder of the Wazzaniya Order, Qutb 'Dar Dmana',

Moulay Abdellah Sharif al-Wazzani  

(d. 1089/1674)

Patron Saint of the Desert, Student of al-Yusi, Sahib Rihla Iyyachiya, Imam,

 Sidi Abu Salim al-Ayyashi 

(d. 1090/1675)

Sahib Shaykh Ben Naser, al-'Alim al-Fahhama, Shaykh al-Jama'a, 

Sidi Abul Hassan al-Yusi 

(d. 1102/1687)

Sahib Shaykh Ben Naser, al-'Allama al-Fasi, Shaykh al-Jama'a, Imam,

Sidi Abdelmalik at-Tajmu'ti 

(d. 1118/1703)

The Baraka of Fez, al-Wali al-Kabir, al-Allama Shahir, Sahib al-Sadr al-Salim,

Sidi Ahmed b. Abdellah al-Andalusi

(d. 112o/17o5)

Qutb Wazzan, al-'Alim al-'Amil, al-'Arif al-Wasil, al-Sharif al-Kamil, Mawlana,  

Sidi Tuhami b. Mohammed Wazzani  

(d. 1127/1712) 

Sahib al-Ibriz, al-Qutb al-Aziz, Ghawt Ahl Tabriz, Imam Dairat al-'Izz, Sharif

Moulay Abdellaziz Dabbagh

(d. 1132/1717)

The Baraka of Fez, al-Qutb al-Samadani, al-Fard al-Rabbani,al-Sharif al-Hussayni,

Moulay Ahmed Siqilli

(d. 1177/1762)

Sahib Dakhirat al-Muhtaj fi-Salat 'ala Sahib al-Liwa' wa Tajj, Taj al-'Arifin, al-Qutb,  

Sidi al-Mu'ati ibn Salih Sharqi

(d. 1180/1766)

Qutb Wazzan, al-'Arif al-Kabir, al-Badr al-Munir, al-Qutb al-Ghawt, al-Sharif,  

Sidi Tayyeb b. Mohammed al-Wazzani  

(d. 1181/1766) 

Al-Wasita al-'Udhma, Sahib al-Siyada al-Kubra, al-Sharif al-Hassani al-Aqdas,

Sidi Mohammed b. al-Arabi Tazi

d. 1210/1795)

Al-Khalifa al-Mu'addham, al-Wasita al-Muqaddas, Sahib Kitab Jawahir al-Maani, Sidi Abul Hassan Ali Harazem Berrada

(d. 1218/1803)

Patron Saint of Anjra, Shaykh al-Qudwa,  the Prolific Writer, al-Sharif Mawlana,

Sidi Ahmed b. Ajiba

 (d. 1224/1809)

Patron Saint of Bani Zarwal, Shaykh Tariqa Darqawiya, al-Sharif Mawlana,

Moulay al-Arbi Darqawi

(d. 1239/1824)

Al-Khalifa al-Ashraf, al-Qudwa al-Akbar,  Mafatih al-Kunuz, al-Sharif Mawlana,

Sidi Mohammed al-Ghali Boutaleb 

(d. 1244/1829)

Patron Saint of Yemen, al-Fadil al-Amjad, al-Kawkab al-As'ad, al-Sharif Mawlana,

Sidi Ahmed b. Idriss al-Fasi

(d. 1252/1837)

Al-Qutb al-Rabbani, al-Ghawt al-Samadani, al-Sharif Mawlana,

Sidi al-Haj Ali b. Isa Tamasini

(d. 1260/1845)

The Baraka of Fez, al-Muqaddam az-Zaki, al-Nasik al-Shakir, Mawlana,

Sidi Abdelwahhab b. 'Ahmar al-Fasi

(d. 1269/1853)

The Baraka of Fez, al-Yaquta al-Farida, Sahib al-Qutbaniya al-'Udhma, Sharif,

Sidi Mohammed b. Abi Nasr Alawi

(d. 1273/1858)

Patron Saint of  Marrakech,  al-Qutb al-Jami'a, al-Wazir al-Bahir, al-Sharif,

Sidi Mohammed b. Ahmed Akansus

(d. 1294/1856)

Patron Saint of Rabat, Shaykh Tariqa Tijaniya, al-Qutb al-Ghawt, al-Faqih,

Sidi Al-Arbi b. Sayeh Sharqi

(d. 1309/1891)

Patron Saint of Tiznit, Qutb al-Aqtab, al-Khalifa al-Kabir, al-Sharif Mawlana,

Sidi al-Hussayn al-Ifrani

(d. 1328/1910)

Patron Saint of Musawa, Sultan al-Muqaddamin, Sharif, Abul Mahasin, 

Sidi Mohammed b. Arabi Alawi

(d. 1328/1910)

The Baraka of Rabat, al-Faqih al-Adib, Shaykh al-Jalil, al-Wali al-Kabir, Abul Fayd

 Sidi Mohammed b. Yahya Balamino 

(d. 1333/1914)

The Baraka of Fez, al-Qutb Lahuti, al-Fard al-Jabaruti, Saiq as-Sa'ada, Abul Khayr,

 Sidi al-Arbi al-Mu'hib Alawi

(d. 1351/1932)

Patron Saint of Marrakech, al-Kibrit al-A'hamr, Shaykh al-Maktum, al-Qutb,

Abul Abbas Sidi Ahmed Skirej al-Fasi

(d. 1363/1944)

Patron Saint of Marrakech, Qutb Dairat al-Jamal, al-Mughit fi al-Barri wal Ba'hri,

Sidi Mohammd Nadhifi 

 (d. 1366/1947)

Patron Saint of Casablanca, Nuqtat ad-Daira, al-Ghawt al-Jami'a, Sharif,

Sidi al-Hassan al-Baaqili

 (d. 1368/1948)

Patron Saint of Damnat, Nuqtat ad-Daira, al-Qutb al-Rabbani, al-Sharif Samadani, 

Sidi Mohammed al-'Hajuji al-Fasi

(d. 1370/1951)

Patron Saint of Asfi, al-Wali al-Kabir, al-Ghawt Shahir, al-Sharif Mawlana,
Sidi Mohammed Siba'i 
(d. 1403/1983)

Patron Saint of Bani Zarwal, al-Qutb al-Rabbani, al-Ghawt Samadani, Sharif,

Mawlay al-Hassan Kathiri

(d. 1406/1986)

Custodian of the Secrets of this Ahmediya Mohammediya Tijaniya Path, Gatherer of its sciences and gnosis, one of the Current Open Doors of the Concealed Pole, Sharif al-Idrissi al-Hassani, Sidi Mohammed Radi Gannun (may Allah outstay his lifetime)