Zaouïa of Sidi Saâdi
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| Zaouïa of Sidi Saâdi | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
, 16000 | |
| Coordinates | Algeria |
| Information | |
| Type | Zaouïa Sufi Sunni Maliki |
| Motto | Zaouïa Rahmaniya |
| Established | 1706 |
| Oversight | Ministry of Religious Affairs and Wakfs, Algerian Religious Reference, Zaouïas in Algeria |
| Affiliation | Rahmaniya brotherhood - Tharahmanith - Khalwatiyya |
| Website | marw.dz |
The Zaouïa of Sidi Saâdi is a religious building located in Algiers, Algeria. It is part of the Zaouïas in Algeria affiliated with the Rahmaniya Sufi order under the supervision of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Wakfs and the Algerian Religious Reference.[1]
Construction[edit]
The theologian "Sidi Saâdi" constructed this zaouïa in 1706 above what is now the "Jardin de Prague" in the Kettani neighborhood of Bab El Oued, traversed by the "Rampe أرزقي لوني".[2]
The full name of this learned faqīh is "Abou Abdallah Mohamed ben Mohamed Saâdi".[3]
He acquired a plot of land of about five hectares at the western exit of the Casbah of Algiers in 1706 Gregorian equivalent to 1118 Hijri.[4]
This land overlooked the Bay of Algiers and the estuary where the Oued Mkacel flows.[5]
The history of the Casbah of Algiers mentions that it was Mezzomorto Hüseyin Pasha, then Raïs of the Regency of Algiers, who rewarded this theologian for his religious activities in the Algerian city, allowing him to acquire this land.
The dilapidated buildings that existed on this large plot were refurbished after its acquisition, and several other buildings were erected over a year of sustained work.[6]
Upon completion of the new version of this zaouïa in 1707, this place of worship was then registered in the Habous records of Dar Es-Soltane.[7]
Description[edit]
The zaouïa of Sidi Saâdi comprised several buildings:
- A mosque without a minaret, with a roof in tiles in the Berber architectural style.
- A house for the cheikh of the zaouïa.
- A mausoleum honoring the late "Sidi Saâdi".
- Classrooms for teaching the Qur'an and Islamic sciences.
- Accommodation for the disciples.[8]
Mausoleum[edit]
The mausoleum of "Sidi Saâdi" was located within the zaouïa's enclosure, where he was buried upon his death in 1734 Gregorian equivalent to 1147 Hijri.
It was registered as a protected building in the records of Dar Es-Soltane by a notarial deed.
This dome containing a shrine was less than a kilometer from the Zaouïa of Sidi Abderrahmane and the Emir Abdelkader High School.[9]
Visitors practiced tawassul and du'a according to the precepts of the Algerian Religious Reference.[10]
Waqfs[edit]
The zaouïa of Sidi Saâdi funded its operations and maintenance through revenues generated from various waqf properties it owned.
These waqf properties included several buildings that formed the endowment of this zaouïa:
- An agricultural field.[11]
- Three rental houses.
- Two pottery workshops.
- Two shops.
The income from these waqf properties enabled the zaouïa to sustain its religious, educational, and social activities.
Importance[edit]
The zaouïa of Sidi Saâdi played a significant role in the spiritual and social life of Algiers. It served as a center for Islamic education and the dissemination of the Rahmaniya Sufi order's teachings. It was also a place of refuge and support for the needy, embodying the principles of charity and community service central to the Sufi tradition.
Decline[edit]
Over the years, the influence and activities of the zaouïa diminished due to various socio-political changes in Algeria. The site itself experienced neglect and deterioration, reflecting broader changes in the urban landscape and religious practices in Algiers.
Restoration efforts[edit]
In recent years, there have been initiatives to restore and preserve the zaouïa of Sidi Saâdi as part of efforts to maintain Algeria's cultural and religious heritage. These efforts aim to revitalize the zaouïa as a historical landmark and a living center of Sufi practice and community life.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "Google Maps". Google Maps. Retrieved 2023-05-05..
- ^ "Les édifices religieux de l'ancien Alger / par Albert Devoulx,..." Gallica. 1870. Retrieved 2020-09-01..
- ^ "Il y a 53 ans, Louni Arezki était guillotiné à Serkadji". Djazairess. Retrieved 2020-09-01..
- ^ "Le Jardin Marengo ... à Alger". cdha.fr. Retrieved 2023-05-05..
- ^ "Alger-mondain. Organe du Comité des fêtes". Gallica. 1891-04-16. Retrieved 2020-09-01..
- ^ "Alger - Jardin de Prague à Bab El Oued : Un bel espace vert". vitaminedz.com. Retrieved 2020-09-01..
- ^ http://revueafricaine.mmsh.univ-aix.fr/Pdf/1863_039_001.pdf
- ^ Devoulx, Albert (1870). Les édifices religieux de l'ancien Alger (in French). p. 25. Retrieved 2020-09-04..
- ^ "Bab El Oued : Le jardin Prague abandonné". Djazairess. Retrieved 2020-09-01..
- ^ "Les édifices religieux de l'ancien Alger / par Albert Devoulx,..." Gallica. 1870. Retrieved 2020-09-01..
- ^ "Alger et ses environs". Gallica. 1897. Retrieved 2020-09-01..
External links[edit]
- Official website of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Wakfs
- Les édifices religieux de l'ancien Alger - Detailed historical account by Albert Devoulx
- Djazairess article on Arezki Louni