The Great Tijaniyya Zawiya in Fez

The Great Tijaniyya Zawiya in Fez (الزاوية التيجانية الكبرى بفاس) is a Sufi zawiya, mosque, and Sufi religious landmark located in the city of Fez, Morocco, in the neighborhood of Humat al-Dardas, currently known as Al-Balida. It is considered one of the main centers of the Tijaniyya order, founded by Abu al-Abbas Ahmad al-Tijani in the late 18th century. The zawiya houses the tomb of Abu al-Abbas al-Tijani, which is a pilgrimage site for followers of the order during the period of Mawlid al-Nabi from all over the world, including Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, and Sub-Saharan Africa, especially Senegal. Since 2007, the zawiya has periodically hosted an international forum for the Tijaniyya order, which in 2014 included Sufis affiliated with the order from 47 countries.

History

Before the construction of the zawiya, Abu al-Abbas al-Tijani used his house in the city of Fez as a space for worship and remembrance along with his followers. He decided to build the zawiya in 1800 and bought a ruined, abandoned house, where the madmen used to gather for remembrance, in the Huma al-Dardas neighborhood, with a large vine in its center, which is the tree under which he would later be buried. Some of his opponents protested the construction process and took the matter to Sultan Moulay Suleiman, who did not accept their grievances and approved the process, even contributing financially to the construction of the zawiya. The construction process began in the month of Rabi' al-Awwal in 1800, and the zawiya in its initial form consisted of two spaces: the first housing the mausoleum extending to the current minaret, and the second extending to Bab al-Jiyad. The zawiya would later extend to the Laranga Mosque on one side and to Darb Janiara on the other, with 8 doors being added. Tijani followers claim that Abu al-Abbas al-Tijani had predicted this expansion during his lifetime. Due to the status and spiritual and political importance of the zawiya, the sultans of Morocco took care of it after the death of Abu al-Abbas al-Tijani in 1815, including expansions and additions to the courtyard, decorating the mausoleum and minaret with green tiles, and inscriptions containing verses of prophetic praise.