Posts Tagged ‘Moulay Ismail’

Marrakech Saints and Zaouias, Your Morocco Tour Guide

Monday, December 9th, 2013

Marrakech Seven Saints

Marrakech has seven patron saints who were Sufi mystics and Islamic scholars who are said to look after the city and each has a zaouia which is a mausoleum where pilgrims and those wishing for the help of the Saint or Sidi can pray at his tomb. The larger zaouias in Marrakech have mosques and they are charitable religious foundations who care for the sick, blind and crippled as well as orphans or the old and infirm. The spirit of charity is an important part of the role of the saints who were Sufi mystics and pilgrims give donations to the Zaouia. The concept of the Marrakech seven saints in Morocco predates Christianity and Islam and Cueta (or Sebta meaning seven),Jebel Hadid and Fez all have seven saints.

The Alaouite Sultan Moulay Ismail (1672-1727) requested the Sufi scholar Abu Ali al Hassan to organize the Ziara or pilgrimage of the seven saints  along more orthodox lines and establish or refurbish the zaouias.

This was to raise the spiritual level of Marrakech as a pilgrimage centre. At the time groups of Sufi mystics had begun to play an important role in jihad or the struggle against the Portuguese and Spanish and the bid to unify Morocco after tribal and dynastic struggles.  Moulay Ismail also wanted to ensure the orthodoxy of the devotions to saints. The cult of saints in Morocco has always been a subject of  some controversy and unease in certain quarters  as according to strict Islamic doctrine prayers should only be directed to Allah.  However Morocco’s Malekite rite has its own variations and Sufism is well established.

The saints who were selected were Sidi Youssef Ben Ali, Cadi Ayad Sidi Bel Abbes (Marrakech’s most revered saint),Sidi Ben Slimane el Jazouli ,Sidi Abd el Azziz,Sidi el Gheswani and Sidi es Soheyli  and Sidi Abdelaziz Tebbaa . This is the order in which the Ziara or pilgrimage is conducted. Only two of the saints were born in Marrakech, Sidi Youssef Ben Ali and Sidi Abdelaziz Tebbaa .

Marrakech Bel Abbes Zaouia

The Zaouia of of Sidi Bel Abbes is the largest in the Medina.  Born in Sebta (Ceuta) in 1145 Sidi Bel Abbes came to Marrakech as a youngman having pursued religious studies from an early age. He settled in a cave on a hill near a source of water and became a hermit. He lived there for 40 years without ever entering the city but became famous as a preacher. Sultan  Yacoub El Mansour persuaded him to move into the city and provided him with a house and a madrassa where he could teach. He cared for the poor especially the crippled and the blind and the Zaouia carries on the work today. Sidi Bel Abbes died in 1205. The  Zaouia  of Sidi Bel Abbes is located 100m north of the Bab Taghzout. Non believers cannot enter but it is possible to catch glimpses of the large complex and its mosque.

Sidi Mohammed bin Suleiman Al Jazouli pursued his religious studies in Fez. He played a leading role in the Sufi brotherhoods who conducted jihad against the Portuguese and Spanish and he attracted thousands of devotees. He died in 1465 at Jazoula near Essaouira   His body was transferred to Marrakech. He is the author of the famous collection of prayers called Dala’il al- Khairat ( the paths of benefits ). This is a renowned work of Sufi mysticism. The Jazouli Zaouia was redesigned in the 18th Century and lies north of the Medina, near the Dar el Bacha.

Sidi Suheil  was born near Malaga and is known for his Sufi poetry and openness to new ideas at a time of strong religious orthodoxy. He was brought from Spain by Yacoub El Mansour. He wrote two masterpieces on the proper names of prophets mentioned in the Koran and a biography of Sidna Mohammed. He died in Marrakech in 1186. He is buried near Bab Rob . Students with memory problems are said to pray at his tomb.

Sidi Cadi Ayyad came from Ceuta or Sebta. He was the most famous scholar in Granada of the  Malikite rite in the Muslim West . With the advent of the Almoravids , he was  exiled in Tadla before moving to  Marrakech where he lived until his death in 1149. His book ” Al- Chifaa ” is renowned. He is buried in an old marabout near Bab Aylen.  Marrakech’s university is named after him.

Sidi Ben Abdallah El  Ghazouani  came from the Berber Ghomara tribe. He consolidated the Sufi revival initiated by Sidi Ben Slimane el Jazouli. After pursuing his studies in Fez and Granada ,he moved to Marrakech to complete his training under Sidi Abdelaziz Tabaa . He was imprisoned by the Wattasids and sent to Fez but he returned to Marrakech. He founded a Zaouia and died in 1528. He was buried near the Mouassine mosque.

Sidi Sidi Abdelaziz  Tebaa was a silk merchant in Fes who  became attracted to the spiritual life. He moved to Marrakech and was the chief disciple of Sidi Ben Slimane  el Jazouli and spread  Sufi  ethics  amongst the trade guilds in Marrakech  establishing an important link which remains to this day. He was buried near the Ben Youssef Mosque in 1508.

Sidi Youssef Ben Ali was of Yemeni origin, he was a brilliant student of Sheikh Ben Asfour in Marrakech. He suffered from leprosy and lived in the leper colony in Bab Aghmat. He was renowned for his patience and humility despite his suffering. He died in 1196. His mausoleum was built by the Saadian Sultan Moulay Abdallah . His  Zaouia  is located opposite Bab Aghmat . He  often recited a  poem : ” God dispels concerns, God spreads the light, God protects the weak God always forgives and everywhere God will not abandon you .”

The Seven Saints of Marrakech occupy an important place in the history, life and culture of the city. The seven towers built in 2005 at Bab Doukkala are in memory of the Seven Saints.

For More Information on Marrakech Saints and Zaouias

Morocco’s Imperial CitiesSeaside Resorts,Sahara Desert,Berber villagesA Taste of MoroccoMagical Kasbahs, Ruins & WaterfallsAbsolute Morocco, The Best of MarrakechFes, and Ouarzazate

Discover The Best of Morocco - Travel Exploration
Travel Exploration specializes in Morocco Travel.  We provide Tours and travel opportunities to Morocco for the independent traveler and tailor-made tours for families and groups with a distinctly unique flavor. From Morocco’s Seven Imperial Cities, to the Magical Sahara Travel Exploration offers a captivating experience that will inspire you. At Travel Exploration we guarantee that you will discover the best of Morocco! Call Travel Exploration at 1 (800) 787-8806 or + 1 (212) 618882681 and let’s book a tour to Morocco for you today.

Imperial Meknes, What to See and Do, Your Morocco Tour Guide

Saturday, November 9th, 2013

Moulay Ismail Mausoleum and Spiritual Site

Morocco ‘s 4th Imperial City of Meknes is often left off tourist itineraries. Meknes is a UNESCO World heritage site and has massive imposing ramparts, 25 kms long, built by Sultan Moulay Ismail, of the Alaouite dynasty, who ruled Morocco from 1672-1727. He chose Meknes as his capital because of the resistance and intrigue he encountered in Fes and Marrakech. He successfully defeated warring tribes and religious brotherhoods in the south uniting the country and repelling European invaders in the north, liberating Tangiers from British rule. The Sultan Moulay Ismaeil also withstood the Ottoman invaders who took Tunisia and Algeria.

Having won many battles and ensuring the unity of what became the modern Moroccan state, he returned to build Meknes as his capital over a period of 55 years. Moulay Ismail was not one to do things by half measures. The old town of Meknes had been the capital of a Berber tribe which had come from Tunisia, the Mekanassa. Alongside this old medina town the Sultan built his imperial city which provided accommodation for his wives and some 500 concubines and 800 children with 24 royal palaces, mosques, barracks and ornamental gardens, surrounded by four sets of massive defensive walls .

The Sultan also installed his army of black soldiers, the Abids or Black Guard, which grew to a force of more than 25,000 in number during his reign in Meknes. He used this slave army to impose a centralized state instead of using unreliable Moroccan tribes to enforce his rule as other sultans had done before him. He created a huge complex, which you can still see, for storage facilities and stabling for thousands of horses at the Heri el Souani granary. He used 50,000 Berber and European slaves to build the imperial city. He plundered the roman remains of Volubilis and completely removed the interior of the Badi Palace in Marrakech to build his imperial city.

Despite his iron control during his reign he failed to ensure the succession. Shortly after his death his sons dismantled most of what he had built within the walls and removed the materials to other locations following a pattern repeated in Moroccan history up until the French Protectorate and conservation efforts following Morocco’s independence in 1956.

 

Dar Jamai Museum, Meknes

Meknes has some remarkable entrance gates or babs, the best known and most ornate is the Bab Mansour, embellished with zellij tiles and Islamic script engraven on stucco. It is at Place el Helim which separates the Medina from the Imperial city and the nearby Bab Jema en Nouar ,both designed by Moulay Ismail’s court architect, a Christian renegade known as Mansour el Aleuj. The Dar Jamai Museum overlooks the Place el Helim and is a former palace built in 1882 for the Jamai family, two of whom were viziers to the sultan. Since 1920 it became one of Morocco’s best museums displaying the work of urban craftsmen and traditional Berber tribal artifacts. Its exhibits include ceramics, antique Fes and Meknes pottery, Berber jewelry, rugs, kelims, antique carpets, embroidery and woodwork. You can also enjoy the greenery and fountains of the museum’s Andalusian garden . Upstairs the vizier’s salon is arranged as a typical 19th century palace reception room with period decorations and furniture.

Opposite the Grand Mosque is the Medersa Bou Inania, a Merinid Medersa ( Islamic college) built in 1358 by Bou Inania ,who also built the renowned Medersa of the same name in Fes which is much larger. The medersa has fine zellij tiles, delicate stucco relief work and a carved olive wood ceiling. You can climb up to the roof for a fine view of the green tiled Grand Mosque and its minaret. The medersa itself is closed to non muslims.

In the Imperial City the tomb of its founder Sultan Moulay Ismail remains and is open to non muslims. It has courtyards which lead to the tomb hall which is finely decorated with zellij tiles and crafted stucco decorations. You can view the tomb but should not advance in to the chamber which is visited by pilgrims.

Moulay Ismail’s parade ground, the mechaouar, for reviewing his troops, is now called the Place Lalla Aouda and lies to the south of the Bab Mansour . The Koubbba al Sufara further on, is where the sultan received ambassadors and stairs lead down to a large crypt with dark rooms which are said to be dungeons but were apparently for storage.

The medina is smaller than that of Fes or Marrakech but nevertheless has good souks for jewelry, textiles, carpets and kelims. For accommodation you can choose riads in the medina including Riad Yacout or Riad D’Or and the Ville Nouvelle has a number of hotels including the Ibis and the Transatlantique. If you fancy a drink there is Le Pub and there are a number of restaurants in the medina including Dar Sultana and Restaurant Zitouna and in the Ville Nouvelle, such as Chez Phillipe and the Bistrot Art & Wine Bar. Meknes is a good place to stay whilst visiting the nearby Roman ruins of Volubilis with its famous mosaics and the religious pilgrimage town of Moulay Idris.

As well as being famous for its ramparts Meknes and the region is also a major agricultural centre and is home to the famous vineyards of Celliers de Meknes at Chateau Roslane which produces many fine Moroccan wines. Ask your travel agent to arrange a visit.

For More Information on Meknes Tours and Attractions

Morocco’s Imperial CitiesSeaside Resorts,Sahara Desert,Berber villagesA Taste of MoroccoMagical Kasbahs, Ruins & WaterfallsAbsolute Morocco, The Best of MarrakechFes, and Ouarzazate

Discover The Best of Morocco - Travel Exploration
Travel Exploration specializes in Morocco Travel.  We provide Tours and travel opportunities to Morocco for the independent traveler and tailor-made tours for families and groups with a distinctly unique flavor. From Morocco’s Seven Imperial Cities, to the Magical Sahara Travel Exploration offers a captivating experience that will inspire you. At Travel Exploration we guarantee that you will discover the best of Morocco! Call Travel Exploration at 1 (800) 787-8806 or + 1 (212) 618882681 and let’s book a tour to Morocco for you today.