Dila Brotherhood

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The Dila Brotherhood , also Dila'iyya ( Arabic الدلائية, DMG ad-Dilāʾīya ), was an important Muslim Sufi brotherhood ( Tariqa ) in northern Morocco in the 17th century.

history

The brotherhood ( zaouia ) was founded by Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad (1537-1612), a disciple of the mystic Muhammad al-Jazuli (1390s-1465), who in turn is venerated as one of the Seven Saints of Marrakech . The headquarters of the brotherhood was ad-Dila in the Middle Atlas . The ruins of ad-Dila are located near the village of Aït Ishaq about 30 kilometers south of Khénifra . Under al-Dschazuli's successor Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr (r. 1612–1637), the brotherhood expanded its influence on the tribes in the High Atlas . With Mohammed al-Hajj ibn Abi Bakr ad-Dila'i (ruled 1635–1688) the Dila brotherhood reached its greatest influence.

After 1637 the Dilaiyya began subjugating Morocco, defeating Muhammad al-Ayyashi in Meknes in 1640 . He was ruler of the independent pirate republic Bou-Regreg of Salé , which shortly after fell into the hands of the brotherhood. After conquering Fez in 1641, they overthrew the northern sidelines of the Saadian dynasty and controlled northern and central Morocco. The fighting with the Alawids continued in southern Morocco . When the Alawids were able to defeat the troops of the Dila Brotherhood in a three-day battle near Meknes in 1664, many allies of Muhammad al-Hajj fell away, so that the Alawids finally prevailed in Morocco and destroyed ad-Dila in 1668. The Alawids dissolved the brotherhood and sent Muhammad al-Hajj into exile.

literature