The Seven Saints

 Abou Yacoub Youssef Ali as-Sanhaji al-Mubtali 

• Born: Marrakech, Morocco
• Died: 1196 (593 AH), Marrakech, Morocco

 Known as Sidi Yusuf ibn Ali, known for his exceptional patience, forbearance, and acceptance of divine decree. Sidi Yusuf faced adversity early in life, afflicted with leprosy and banished from the city walls of Marrakech. Fondly called "the man of the hole," he sought solace in seclusion, digging a hole outside the city where he spent contemplative moments. Today, his resting place lies outside Bab Aghmat, a testament to his enduring connection with the city he called home. Explore the profound journey of Sidi Yusuf and the spiritual legacy he left for Marrakesh.

  Abu’l-Fadl Iyad ibn Musa ibn Iyad ibn Imrun ibn Musa ibn Muhammad ibn Abdullah ibn Musa ibn Iyad al Yahsubi 

• Born: 1083 (496 AH) Ceuta, Spain
• Died: 1149 (544 AH)Marrakech, Morocco

Learn more about the contributions of Qadi Iyad, the revered chronicler of Prophetic beauty. Born in Ceuta in 496 AH, with ancestral roots in Andalusia, his surname, "Yahsubi," links him to the Himyar tribe in Yemen. Renowned for his masterpiece, "ash-Shifa" (the healing), Qadi Iyad unfolds the captivating narrative of Prophet Muhammad's ﷺ life. His profound insights and scholarly endeavors make him an enduring beacon in the tapestry of Islamic history. 

   Sidi Ahmed ibn Djafar Abu al-Abbas al-Khazradiji as-Sabti 

• Born: 1130 (524 AH) Ceuta, Spain
• Died: 1205 (601 AH) Marrakech, Morocco

Discover the legacy of Sidi Bel Abbas, known as the patron saint of Marrakech. Born in Ceuta, he traveled to Morocco at 16 and settled in Marrakech after its capture by the Almohad army. A beacon of knowledge, he taught grammar and arithmetic, leaving an indelible mark on the town.

Renowned for his charitable endeavors, especially for the blind, Sidi Bel Abbas emphasized charity in his lectures and sermons. Admired for his eloquence, piety, and humble appearance, he embodied the malamati ethos, seeking to appear irreligious while embodying the opposite.

He is buried in his Zawiya close to Bab Taghzut. The complex houses his tomb and stands as a testament to his compassion, which features a refuge for the blind.

  Abdelaziz ibn Abdelhaq Tebbaa al-Hassani 

• Born: Marrakech, Morocco
• Died: 1499 (914 AH) Marrakech, Morocco

 Born in Marrakech, Sidi Abdelaziz al-Tebbaa emerged as a spiritual Pole, laying the foundations of the first Sufi zawiyya of the Jazuli order in Marrakesh. Rooted in the teachings of Abu Madyan, as articulated in Abu Madyan's seminal work "Bidayat al-murid," Sidi al-Tebbaa's influence extended beyond Marrakesh. He frequently journeyed to Fez, whe re he taught about tasawwuf and led Dalail al-Khayrat gatherings in the Al-Attarine Madrasa . Notably, in Fez, he initiated Sidi Ali Salih al-Andalusi, who established the second Jazuliya Zawiya in the city. Sidi Abdelaziz al-Tebbaa's Maqam remains a revered pilgrimage site, drawing seekers from far and wide. His enduring legacy continues through the teachings of his successors, including Sidi al-Ghazwani. 

 Abu Muhammad Abdallah al-Ghazwani  

• Born: Ksar-Kabir, Morocco
• Died: 1528 (934 AH) Marrakech, Morocco

 A scion of the desert, Sidi Abu Muhammad Abdallah al-Ghazwani rose to prominence as the esteemed spiritual successor of Abdelaziz al-Tebaa. Known locally as Mul al-Qusur, meaning Master of Palaces, al-Ghazwani's spiritual journey led him from Fes to Granada, Spain before culminating in Marrakech, where he completed his training under his mentor, Abdelaziz al-Tebaa. Embracing the role of the third major Shaykh of the flourishing Jazuliyya Sufi order in fifteenth and sixteenth century Morocco, al-Ghazwani faced adversity, enduring imprisonment by a jealous sultan who perceived a threat in his growing popularity. Notably, he is credited with coining the term al-Tariqah al-Muhammadiyya, emphasizing the path of The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Among his notable works is "al-Nuqta al-azaliyya fi-l-sirr al-dhat al-Muhammadiyya,"  studying the mysteries of the essence of Muhammad ﷺ. Sidi Abu Muhammad Abdallah al-Ghazwani's legacy continues as a guiding light in the rich history of Moroccan Sufism. 

   Abu al-Qasim Abd al-Rahman ibn Abd Allah al-Suhayli  

• Born: 1114 Fuengirola (Suhayl), Spain
• Died: 1185 (934 AH) Marrakech, Morocco

Born in the vibrant tapestry of Al-Andalus (modern-day Spain) in 1114, Sidi Abu al-Qasim Abd al-Rahman al-Suhayli emerged as a luminary scholar despite facing the loss of his eyesight at the tender age of 17. Hailing from Fuengirola, formerly known as Suhayl, he pursued his education in Quran, Hadith, and philology in his hometown, Cordoba, and Granada. Even a brief stint under the tutelage of the renowned Ibn Arabi in Seville enriched his scholarly journey. Undeterred by his visual impairment, al-Suhayli penned numerous books, with his commentary on Ibn Hisham's sira standing out as a testament to his intellectual prowess.

In response to the summons of the Almohad Sultan Abu Yusuf Yaqub al-Mansur, al-Suhayli graced Marrakesh with his presence in 1182. However, his time in the city was short-lived, as he departed this world merely three years later. His final resting place, marked by his mausoleum, lies beyond the old city walls near the king's palace, adjacent to the historic Bab Agnaou. Notably, students and individuals grappling with memory issues find solace in prayers beside his tomb, attesting to the enduring influence of Sidi Abu al-Qasim Abd al-Rahman al-Suhayli in the scholarly legacy of Marrakesh.