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Algerian Islamic reference |
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Sufism is considered as an essential part of Islam In Algeria. [1] Sufism was fought and oppressed by the Salafists, and now is again regaining its importance as it was there before Algerian Civil War. [2] Sufis have a considerable influence on both urban and rural society of Algeria. [3] Sufism is the part of Algeria as long as 1400 years ago, so recognised as "Home of Sufi Marabouts". [4] Most of the people in Algeria are the followers and murids of Sufism. [5] Sufism has shaped Algerian society and politics for much of the country's history. [6] Today, very few are aware of this legacy. Might the Sufis now provide an important contribution to the stability of the country. [7]
Sufism is tightly bounded to the History of Algeria as it is said that the Ottoman governors of Algiers were traditionally crowned in the presence of a great Sufi Sheikh. [8]
Before and after 1830, under the power of Emir Abdelkader, the Sufis saw their position in Algerian society consolidated and reinforced by the Algerian popular resistance against French invasion. [9]
Many non-Sufi Muslims and Sufis united to face the Invasion of Algiers in 1830, the French conquest of Algeria and the hegemony of French Algeria.
Ashewiq is a devotional Sufi music which is played and sung over the country according to different versions as Imzad. [10]
Other Sufi practices includes dhikr and wird, construction of various Qubbas and Zawiyas to spread Islam.
Rahmani Sufi order is one of the most dominant Sufi order in Algeria, which is a branch of Khalwati Tariqa and it is said to be influential to the present day.
Ashura, Mawlid, Mawsim, Sebiba and Tweeza are widely celebrated by the Sufis in Algeria. [11]
The regular Sufi practice in many of the Zawiyas in Algeria sees the presence of participants to the Hizb Rateb and the Salka without performing any other Sama or Whirling.
The only music performed with the verbal Dhikr is Madih nabawi, Nasheed and Achewiq , written and sung with rhythm and melody but without any musical instrument except Daf, by the poesy reciters and performers of Dhikr.
The anniversary of the birth and death of a Sufi Saint is observed annually in the so-called Mawsim. [12]
Large numbers of Murids attend these ceremonies, which are festive occasions enjoyed by the Murids as well as Scholar Muslims.
Many Murids, if not most, visit the graveside Maqams, some at least occasionally, many often, and an untold number rather regularly, throughout their lives.
People regularly visit these shrines to invoke by Tawassul the acceptance of their prayers to God (Allah) Almighty, and to offer votive prayers and donations. [13]
Official rulers of Algeria began with Sufi blessings when taking power claiming to have had the blessing of the marabouts and dervishes who endorsed the winner politicians, and the political governance always had a relationship of mutual patronage with Sufis. [14]
The massive geographic presence of Islam in Algeria can be explained by the tireless activity of Sufi Khatibs and Sheikhs and Murshids. [15]
Sunni Sufism had left a prevailing impact on Algerian religious, cultural, and social life in this central region of Maghreb and North Africa.
The mystical form of Islam was introduced by Sufi saints and scholars traveling from all over continental Africa who were instrumental and influential in the social, economic, and philosophic development of Algeria.
Besides preaching in major cities and centers of intellectual thought, Sufis reached out to poor and marginalized rural communities and preached in local dialects such as Kabyle, Shilha, Mozabite, Shawiya versus Berber, and Arabic. [16]
Sufism emerged as a "moral and comprehensive socio-religious force" that even influenced other cultural traditions such as Berbers culture.
Their traditions of devotional practices and modest living attracted all people and their teachings of humanity, love for God and Prophet continue to be surrounded by mystical tales and folk songs today.
Sufis were firm in abstaining from religious and communal conflict and strived to be peaceful elements of civil society, and this attitude of accommodation, adaptation, piety, and charisma that continues to help Sufism remain as a pillar of mystical Islam in Algeria. [17]
Many Sufi orders were widespread in Algeria in the late 1950s, including the following: [18]
Algeria is a birthplace of many Sufis such as:
Muʿādh ibn Jabal was a sahabi (companion) of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Muadh was an Ansar of Banu Khazraj and compiled the Quran with five companions while Muhammad was still alive. He was known as the one with a lot of knowledge. He was called by Muhammad "the one who will lead the scholars into Paradise."
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Abdul-Rahman al-Tha'alibi, was an Arab Scholar, Imam and Sufi wali. He was born near the town of Isser 86 km south east of Algiers. He was raised in a very spiritual environment with high Islamic values and ethics. He had great interpersonal skills and devoted his entire life in service of the most deprived, to dhikr of Allah, and to writing of over 100 books and treatises.
Sidi Boushaki or Ibrahim Ibn Faïd Ez-Zaouaoui was a maliki theologian born near the town of Thenia, 54 km (34 mi) east of Algiers. He was raised in a very spiritual environment with high Islamic values and ethics within the Algerian Islamic reference.
Abū Abdallāh al-Ḥusayn ibn Aḥmad al-Mughallis al-Marāghī was a tenth-century CE poet. He flourished around 381 AH/991 CE, being associated with the court of Bahāʾ al-Dawla. He is noted as one of the only known composers of Arabic riddles in the third century AH.
The Thaalibia Quran is a Quranic manuscript (mus'haf) written in Algeria with the Maghrebi script.
The post of Mufti in Algiers, or Shaykh al-Djazaïr, has been filled by a member of the Maliki and Hanafi ulema, the religious scholars, of Algiers, within the Algerian Islamic reference.
Ahmed Zouaoui was born in Algiers. He was a theologian and Maliki Mufti of Algiers.
Thaalibia Cemetery or Sidi Abd al-Rahman al-Tha'alibi Cemetery is a cemetery in the Casbah of Algiers in the commune of Casbah in Algeria. The name "Thaalibia" is related to Abd al-Rahman al-Tha'alibi.
The Hizb Rateb is a collective recitation of Quran or dhikr or dua or wird done by murids and saliks in islamic sufism.
The Zawiya Thaalibia or the Sidi Abd al-Rahman al-Tha'alibi Zawiya is a zawiya in the Casbah of Algiers in the commune of Casbah in Algeria. The name "Thaalibia" relates to Abd al-Rahman al-Tha'alibi.
The Zawiyas in Algeria are religious buildings located in Algeria honoring the memory of patron saints and dedicated to Quranic and religious education. They are affiliated with Sufi Torouq brotherhoods under the supervision of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Endowments in accordance with the precepts of the Algerian islamic reference.
Matn Ibn Ashir or Al-Murshid al-Mu'een is a Maliki fiqh book written by Ibn Ashir for learning Islam in North Africa.
The Algerian Islamic reference is the fundamentalist and legal framework for the practice of the religion of Islam in Algeria within Sunnism under the tutelage of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Endowments.
The Hezzab is the hafiz or qāriʾ supervising or participating in the Hizb Rateb in mosques and zawiyas in Algeria according to the Algerian Islamic reference under the supervision of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Endowments.
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Malikism is considered as an essential part of the Fiqh jurisprudence practice within the Islam in Algeria. Algeria has adopted Malikism because the principles of this jurisprudential rite are rules which take into account the changes observed within the Muslim Algerian society for centuries. Understanding the rules of this Sunni Madhhab makes it possible to certify that they continuously respond to the constantly changing challenges of the daily life of the Algerian people. The rite of Imam Malik Ibn Anas has thus been adopted in Algeria and by the countries of the Maghreb and North Africa by large sections of the Muslim populations for centuries thanks to its objectivity and its recognized and certified references. It is generally agreed that the Malikite School worked to fight against the proliferation of sects and new trends resulting from fallacious and hazardous interpretations and tafsir of the precepts of the Quran.
Zawiyet Sidi Brahim Boushaki or Zawiyet Thénia is a zawiya of the Rahmaniyya Sufi brotherhood located in Boumerdès Province within lower Kabylia of Algeria.
The Poem of Sidi Boushaki is a poem of arabic grammar written by the theologian and linguist Sidi Boushaki (1394-1453).
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