By Mohamed Bokreta
Islamic Tourism: Sidi Al Maghili was born in the village of M'ghila near Tlemcen in the year 790AH around1414AD to a noble Ahl Al Bait Prophet Mohamed ‘s (PBUH) lineage. He learnt the Holy Quran at an early age as well as "Mokhtassar Sidi Khalil" through his Sheikh Sidi Ahmed Ben Aissa Al Djellab.
Al Maghili was also a devout student of the highly renowned Sheikh Abu Abass Al Waghlissi who was his Sheikh in all stages of Arabic language learning.
After acquiring such maturity and deep probing knowledge he left to Bijaya (Eastern Algeria) a flourishing knowledge-seeking centre from there he went to Algiers and studied under Sidi Abderrahmane Athaalibi the Patron saint of Algiers. He was linked to an earnest brotherhood with Sidi Abderrahmane and married Sidi Abderrahmnae's Daughter Zaynab.
After this marriage, Sidi Al Maghili went back to Tlemcen, but soon became disillusioned with the way the rulers were governing their subjects and the lack of awareness among the "court-scholars" that he travelled to the "Land of Touat" (present Adrar), in 1470AD then to the the village of "Ouled Said" (240km north of Adrar) and settled there for a while. He had three sons (Ali-Abdul, Jabbar and Abdullah) , but only Abdullah survived after his father's death.
Sidi Al Maghili in his sincere approach towards "enjoining good and reprimanding the integrity of the Muslim Ummah and the supremacy of the Sharia, had to deal with such severity and fight fierce intellectual and later physical battles against unjust and corrupt Muslim leaders and their venal scholars - specially the Jews who had monopolized the economy and began to flout the Sharia with impunity and spreading mischief on earth.
Such dealing with the Jews met with an objection from a scholar at that time "Sheikh Abdullah Al Asnouni" while other emminent scholars such as Sidi Abdel Jabbar al Fijiji, Imam Assanoussi, Al Hafid Atinissi and Imam Mahdi Al Mawssi supported Al Maghili's stance and actions.
In the aftermath of this event, Sidi Al Maghili went to the "Land of Sudan" (present-day Nigeria) to the famous city of Kano where he was welcomed by its King Sarki Mohamed Rumfa who ruled this northern part of Nigeria from 1463 to 1499AD. He taught Koranic studies in Katsina and law at Kano. He also wrote a treatise on government for Sultan Rumfa called "On the Obligations of Princes".
One excerpt from this advice- masterpiece reads as follows:
The sojourn of a prince in the city breeds all manner of trouble and harm. The bird of prey abides in open and wild places. Vigorous is the cock as he struts round his domains. The eagle can only win his realm by firm resolve, and the cock's voice is strong as he masters the hens. Ride, then, the horses of resolution upon the saddles of prudence. Cherish the land from the spoiling drought, from the raging wind, the dust-laden storm, the raucous thunder, the gleaming lightning, the shattering fireball and the beating rain. Kingdoms are held by the sword, not by delays. Can fear be thrust back except by causing fear? Allow only the nearest of your friends to bring you food and drink and bed and clothes. Do not part with your coat of mail and weapons and let no one approach you save men of trust and virtue. Never sleep in a place of peril. Have near to guard you at all times a band of faithful and gallant men, sentries, bowmen, horse and foot. Times of alarm are not like times of safety. Conceal your secrets from other people until you are master of your undertaking."
As a result of this work of jurisprudence and advice Sultan Rumfa was advised to install an ombudsman to receive complaints against the government, and Rumfa put the advice into practice and Al Maghili left for the Songhai city of Gao where he met the great architect and ideologue of the Songhai Empire Mohamed Askia. During this meeting he gave the leader relevant, injected a new drive into the intellectual tradition and invigorated the social and political climate of the whole region.
After a long journey of dawah and preaching and accompanied by his devout student Sidi Omar Al Kounti, Al Maghili went to perform the hajj. On their way to Makkah they met in the great scholar Jallal Uddin Soyouti in Assiout (Egypt). He warmly welcomed his guests and an intellectual debate took place during this meeting specially on an issue related to "Ilm Al Mantik" (the sciences of logic).
After his return from hajj, Sidi Al Maghili settled in the small village of Abu Ali (Bouali) 90km south of Adrar. He continued teaching all Islamic topics until he passed away in 909AH -1504AD. He was buried next to his Mosque in the village of Bouali .
Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdelkrim Al Maghili had genuinely contributed to an outstanding a chapter of the history of Islam whether inTouat or West Africa. He was a driving force behind the high profile awareness of Islam that has been generated in the region and shaped the future for many generations.
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