The Tijaniyyah Zawiya in Guemar is one of the most important historical landmarks in the Wilaya of Oued Souf, and even for the Tijaniyyah order worldwide. It is one of the most widespread Sufi orders in the Islamic world, as it is the first Zawiya of its kind. Any visitor to the Wilaya must visit this historical landmark, which is a masterpiece of Islamic architecture and decoration.
Foundation
The history of the Zawiya building, which is currently located in the eastern suburb of Guemar city, dates back to the last third of the year 1789 AD, corresponding to the year 1204 AH. It was founded by the Muqaddam (a rank of commitment in the Tijaniyyah order) Mohammed Al-Sasi Al-Guemari, by order of the founder of the Tijaniyyah order, Sheikh Sidi Ahmed Tijani. The initial nucleus of the Zawiya was built in the form of a square hall with a side length of nine meters, and it remained in this form for eighty years, until 1869, outside the eastern wall of the city. Its religious role at that time was limited to the five daily prayers and the recitation of the Holy Quran.
In the year 1869, the first expansion of the Zawiya took place during the era of the Khalifa of the Tijaniyyah order, Sheikh Sidi Mohammed Al-Aid I, who ordered the construction of the mosque known as the Mosque of Sidi Ammar, as well as the social headquarters of the Zawiya. It consists of an upper floor, which is the first in the region of Oued Souf, adorned with beautiful decorations and inscriptions, especially the large dome of the social headquarters of the Zawiya, created by the artist Ahmed Ben Taher, who was trained by Omar Gaqa, a native of Guemar, who excelled and continues to excel in gypsum engraving, a craft that builders in Guemar have mastered not only locally but also globally. In the late 19th century, the Khalifa of the Tijaniyyah at that time, Sidi Hammeh, ordered the construction of the Green House, which was designated to welcome visitors and teach various religious sciences. During that period, what is known as the Eastern Courtyard, an annex to the Zawiya, was also built. Expansions and additions to the Zawiya facilities, such as the urban complex “Hosh Asyadna”, continued.
The latest renovation of the Zawiya took place about ten years ago, during the era of the current Khalifa, Sheikh Sidi Mohammed Al-Aid, during which the entire buildings affiliated with the Zawiya were almost completely maintained and renovated.
The Tijaniyyah Zawiya in Guemar is one of the most important historical landmarks in the Wilaya of Oued Souf, and even for the Tijaniyyah order worldwide. It is one of the most widespread Sufi orders in the Islamic world, as it is the first Zawiya of its kind. Any visitor to the Wilaya must visit this historical landmark, which is a masterpiece of Islamic architecture and decoration.
Foundation
The history of the Zawiya building, which is currently located in the eastern suburb of Guemar city, dates back to the last third of the year 1789 AD, corresponding to the year 1204 AH. It was founded by the Muqaddam (a rank of commitment in the Tijaniyyah order) Mohammed Al-Sasi Al-Guemari, by order of the founder of the Tijaniyyah order, Sheikh Sidi Ahmed Tijani. The initial nucleus of the Zawiya was built in the form of a square hall with a side length of nine meters, and it remained in this form for eighty years, until 1869, outside the eastern wall of the city. Its religious role at that time was limited to the five daily prayers and the recitation of the Holy Quran.
In the year 1869, the first expansion of the Zawiya took place during the era of the Khalifa of the Tijaniyyah order, Sheikh Sidi Mohammed Al-Aid I, who ordered the construction of the mosque known as the Mosque of Sidi Ammar, as well as the social headquarters of the Zawiya. It consists of an upper floor, which is the first in the region of Oued Souf, adorned with beautiful decorations and inscriptions, especially the large dome of the social headquarters of the Zawiya, created by the artist Ahmed Ben Taher, who was trained by Omar Gaqa, a native of Guemar, who excelled and continues to excel in gypsum engraving, a craft that builders in Guemar have mastered not only locally but also globally. In the late 19th century, the Khalifa of the Tijaniyyah at that time, Sidi Hammeh, ordered the construction of the Green House, which was designated to welcome visitors and teach various religious sciences. During that period, what is known as the Eastern Courtyard, an annex to the Zawiya, was also built. Expansions and additions to the Zawiya facilities, such as the urban complex “Hosh Asyadna”, continued.
The latest renovation of the Zawiya took place about ten years ago, during the era of the current Khalifa, Sheikh Sidi Mohammed Al-Aid, during which the entire buildings affiliated with the Zawiya were almost completely maintained and renovated.
