Zawiya

Defining Zawiya of Moulay Elhaj Amar

             "Zawiya" of moulay Elhaj Amar locates in Kassar of HarteElmorabitine which its turn situates down the valley of Toudagh on the left bank. It is 15 kms far away from the center of Tinghir. It belongs to the oasis of Todgha which situates in the connective zone between district of Ouarzazate and Rachidia. It is surrounded with the great Atlas Mountains in the North, and Anti Atlas mountains to the south (the mountain of Saghrou). In the west, it is surrounded by the mound of “Andab” that separates Tinghir from Boulamn Dadass. It is surrounded by the mound of “ghriss” In the east.
 

1.    Location of zawiya

           We should bear in mind that this region is called Toudgha in attribution to the famous story that says: Toudgha derived from the 

name of the daughter of an Amazigh leader called “Aad” who used to govern this region. He really used the name of his daughter, Toudgha to define the zone of his authority. According to another story, Toudga derived from “Toudart” which means the life, standing for the fountains of water that exists in the oasis.

2.    The founder of zawiya.

             The name Zawiya Al Amriya is given to this Zawiya in attribution to its founder the saint, Moulay Elhaj Amar. It appeared since the epoch of Sadiyine in about 1485. The talk about Zawiya entails the talk about its founder. In his book “Al massoul”, Mohamed Elmakhtar Soussi said that the kinship of Elhaj Amar related to “wakak Ibnou Zaw” who was one of the founders of the state of ELmorabitine. Soussi also said that Elhaj Amar was a brilliant scholar in logic and religious sciences. He graduated in Fes, Ibn Ghazi. Soussi also mentioned that Elhaj Amar was alive till about 1560 and his kinship related to Ali bnou Abi Talib and the noble family of the prophet Mohamed, peace be upon him.

              Abou Albass Ahmed ben Abd Alah Albakri mentioned that the origin of Alhaj Amar was from “Souss”, in particular the region of “ARGAN”. He had a bother called “Moussa”. This latter left “Souss” towards “Mdghra”. El Bakri attributed ELhaj Amar‘s kinship to “AL Adariss Ashorafa”

3.     Moussem( religious festival)

             Being “Zawiya” an educational and cultural establishment, like other Zawya in Morocco, it organised a religious festival every year in the second week after L3id Al Adha celebration for three days, from 17 to 19 Du Elhija. This moussem was really for the graduated students from “zawiya”. By the way, scholars came from different regions of Morocco to meet each other and to discuss and to exchange information. But now this moussem has been changed to a commercial one and has lost its real function.