Village of Ain Madhi, Algeria

Ain Madhi is a village in the Wilaya of Laghouat. There is a distinction between the new Ain Madhi and the old town where Seyyidina Ahmed Tidjani (may ALLAH sanctify his precious secret) lived and where the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) walked.

Among the virtues of this noble town, there are the words of the well-known Sidi Muhammad Ibn Arabi Damrawi (may ALLAH be pleased with him), companion of Seyyidina (may ALLAH sanctify his precious secret), who said to the inhabitants of Ain Madhi: “If I show you all the parts where Seyyidina Ahmed Tidjani (may ALLAH sanctify his precious secret) walked in the company of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) you would have to walk for three days to relieve yourself.” Furthermore, the great companion and pole Sidi Hajj ‘Ali Tamacini (may ALLAH be pleased with him) said : “This town is like a place of spiritual retreat and here your wishes will be fulfilled.”

The old town of Ain Madhi is an oasis, it was founded in the 6th century ad and at present it is almost empty (but recently the Algerian government has initiated renovation with the long term aim of resettling people there). This town was named after Al Madhi ben Yaqoub who founded it after discovering a spring (which is located 3 kilometers from the town)

In the distance, the old town of Ain Madhi with the minaret of Masjid Atic (the oldest mosque in the village)

The path towards the old Ain Madhi

In fact, Ain Madhi is a ksar (a fortified city or a walled city)—like many that were built in the desert. So the ksar of Ain Madhi is surrounded by a wall. The wall of Ain Madhi has 3 doors of which Bab el kebir (the main door) and bab seghir (the door of the canal) are original. The third door, Bab charqui (i.e. eastern door) was added later. The compound (the enclosure) contains living quarters, the mosque, several zaouiya and accommodation for the guards responsible for the defense of the Zaouiya.

The construction was built with large stone and mortar forming narrow small alleys. There are three zaouiya: the Zawiya of Sidi Muhammad el Habib Tidjani, that of Sidi Muhammad El Bachir and that of Sidi Ben ‘Amar (may ALLAH be pleased with them). Zaouiya have kitchens, rooms for spiritual retreat and learning, pantries…

The path leading to masjid Atic in the old Ain Madhi

Inside Masjid Atic

Originally, there was only one mosque : “Masjidi Atic” in which Seyyidina Ahmed Tidjani (may ALLAH sanctify his precious secret) performed prayer and where he received his first religious instructions. Next to this mosque is the room where Seyyidina Ahmed Tidjani (may ALLAH sanctify his precious secret) learnt the Quran. Later on, a second mosque was built and it was here that Sidi Muhammad El Habib Tidjani (may ALLAH be pleased with him) held office and taught.

The son of Sidi Muhammad El Habib Tidjani (may ALLAH be pleased with him): Sidi Ahmed El Mekki (otherwise known as Ibn El Habachiya) passed away before his father and was buried in a corner of this mosque. Later Sidi Muhammad El Habib Tidjani (may ALLAH be pleased with him), in accordance with his wish, was buried next to his son. This mosque became the Zawiya of Sidi Muhammad El Habib Tidjani (may ALLAH be pleased with him), both tombs were enclosed in a mausoleum made of wood from Fes. Initially, this mausoleum was intended to enclose the tomb of Seyyidina Ahmed Tidjani (may ALLAH sanctify his precious secret) but eventually it was replaced. Next to this mausoleum is the grave of Sidi Muhammad El Bachir (may ALLAH be pleased with him) and of other Tidjani Caliphs. All the tombs are enclosed within a wrought iron portal (gate). A Muqadam of the Zaouiya is in charge of the keys to the tombs.

The entrance of the zaouiya of Sidi Muhammad El Habib (may ALLAH be pleased with him)

Another side of the exterior of the Zawiya of Sidi Muhammad El Habib (may ALLAH be pleased with him)

Inside of the Zawiya. Behind this wrought iron is the mausoleum of Sidi Muhammad El Habib Tidjani (may ALLAH be pleased with him) as well as those of other Chalifs Tidjani (may ALLAH be pleased with them)

Darih (Mausoleum) of Sidi Muhammad El Habib Tidjani (may ALLAH be pleased with him)

Inside the Zawiya of Sidi Muhammad El Habib Tidjani (may ALLAH be pleased with him) (Another view)

Inside the Zawiya of Sidi Muhammad El Habib Tidjani (may ALLAH be pleased with him) (Another view)

On the other side of the Zawiya are the tombs of Sidi Muhammad El Habib Tidjani (may ALLAH be pleased with him), Caliph of Dakar and of his son Sidi Zine El ‘Abidine Tidjani (may ALLAH be pleased with him) and other descendants of Seyyidina Ahmed Tidjani (may ALLAH sanctify his precious secret). Each Caliph brought his contribution to the renovation of this precious edifice.

The other side (mentionned above) of the interior of the Zawiya of Sidi Muhammad El Habib Tidjani (may ALLAH be pleased with him)

The other side (mentionned above) of the interior of the Zawiya of Sidi Muhammad El Habib Tidjani (may ALLAH be pleased with him) (Another view)

Sidi Muhammad El Bachir (may ALLAH be pleased with him) established his Zawiya opposite that of his father Sidi Muhammad El Habib (may ALLAH be pleased with him), Sidi Mahmoud Tidjani (may ALLAH be pleased with him) also lived here. They led a very religious life, Sidi Muhammad El Bachir (may ALLAH be pleased with him) used to recite 40000 Salat el Fatihi a night and Sidi Mahmoud (may ALLAH be pleased with him) never missed a prayer in congregation. The zawiya of Sidi Ben Amar Tidjani was established on part of the Zawiya of Sidi Muhammad el Habib (may ALLAH be pleased with them). This Zawiya was also that of Sidi Lahsen (may ALLAH be pleased with him). Sidi Ben ‘Amar Tidjani (may ALLAH be pleased with him) dedicated himself to the Da’wa (predication) in Africa. Sidi Ben ‘Amar Tidjani (may ALLAH be pleased with him) used to give a certificate (of conversion to Islam) to each person who converted to Islam due to him and keep a record of them. Thus, thousands of records were kept in the Zawiya (even records of converted ukranians can be found).

Other noteworthy places of the ksar

Darih of Sidi Muhammad ibn Arabi Damrawi (may ALLAH be pleased with him), noble companion of Seyyidina Ahmed Tidjani (may ALLAH sanctify his precious secret)

Darih of Sidi Muhammad ibn Arabi Damrawi (may ALLAH be pleased with him), noble companion of Seyyidina Ahmed Tidjani (may ALLAH sanctify his precious secret) (another view)

Inside of the Darih of Sidi Muhammad ibn Arabi Damrawi (may ALLAH be pleased with him), noble companion of Seyyidina Ahmed Tidjani (may ALLAH sanctify his precious secret)

The graveyard surrounding the mausoleum of Sidi Muhammad ibn Arabi Damrawi (may ALLAH be pleased with him)

In this graveyard, enclosure where the companion Sidi Muhammad ibn Mechri (may ALLAH be pleased with him) and the parents of Seyyidina Ahmed Tidjani (may ALLAH sanctify his precious secret) are buried as well as his brother who died at a young age.

In this graveyard, enclosure where the companion Sidi Muhammad ibn Mechri (may ALLAH be pleased with him) and the parents of Seyyidina Ahmed Tidjani (may ALLAH sanctify his precious secret) are buried as well as his brother who died at a young age – Another view

In this graveyard, enclosure where the companion Sidi Muhammad ibn Mechri (may ALLAH be pleased with him) and the parents of Seyyidina Ahmed Tidjani (may ALLAH sanctify his precious secret) are buried as well as his brother who died at a young age – Another view

In this graveyard, enclosure where the companion Sidi Muhammad ibn Mechri (may ALLAH be pleased with him) and the parents of Seyyidina Ahmed Tidjani (may ALLAH sanctify his precious secret) are buried as well as his brother who died at a young age – Another view

In this graveyard, enclosure where the companion Sidi Muhammad ibn Mechri (may ALLAH be pleased with him) and the parents of Seyyidina Ahmed Tidjani (may ALLAH sanctify his precious secret) are buried as well as his brother who died at a young age – Another view

The graveyard surrounding the mausoleum of Sidi Muhammad ibn Arabi Damrawi (may ALLAH be pleased with him) – Another view

The graveyard surrounding the mausoleum of Sidi Muhammad ibn Arabi Damrawi (may ALLAH be pleased with him) – Another view

The graveyard surrounding the mausoleum of Sidi Muhammad ibn Arabi Damrawi (may ALLAH be pleased with him) – Another view

The graveyard surrounding the mausoleum of Sidi Muhammad ibn Arabi Damrawi (may ALLAH be pleased with him) – Another view
The white construction in the photo is a particular place : when Seyyidina Ahmed Tidjani (may ALLAH sanctify his precious secret) went to Fes, all the inhabitants of the ksar wanted to follow him, but Seyyidina Ahmed Tidjani (may ALLAH sanctify his precious secret) told them to stay in order not to empty the ksar. As compensation, he promised that he who would stand on this spot facing west (Fes) and convey Salaam to Seyyidina Ahmed Tidjani (may ALLAH sanctify his precious secret), he would receive it.

The graveyard surrounding the mausoleum of Sidi Muhammad ibn Arabi Damrawi (may ALLAH be pleased with him) – Another view

The graveyard surrounding the mausoleum of Sidi Muhammad ibn Arabi Damrawi (may ALLAH be pleased with him) – Another view

The house of Seyyidina Ahmed Tidjani’s (may ALLAH sanctify his precious secret) parents

The entrance of Seyyidina Ahmed Tidjani’s (may ALLAH sanctify his precious secret) parents’ house

The courtyard of the house of Seyyidina Ahmed Tidjani’s (may ALLAH sanctify his precious secret) parents

The birth place of Seyyidina Ahmed Tidjani’s (may ALLAH sanctify his precious secret) in one of the room of this house.

Another corner of this room

Another corner of this room

The main alley of the old town of Ain Madhi near the house of the parents of Seyyidina Ahmed Tidjani (may ALLAH sanctify his precious secret)

The place where Seyyidina Ahmed Tidjani (may ALLAH sanctify his precious secret) first saw the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) : in the lane, before the porch of the mosque ‘Atic near the door of the house of his maternal aunt. In this place, he saw the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in a column of light. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) told him persevere in his efforts because he is on the right path.

  Other noteworthy places in the new Ain Madhi

In the distance, the Zawiya of Sidi AbdelJabbar Tidjani (may ALLAH be pleased with him)

The courtyard of this Zawiya

The inside of this Zawiya

The inside of this Zawiya (another view)

The inside of this Zawiya (another view)

The inside of this Zawiya (another view)

The inside of this Zawiya (another view)

The inside of this Zawiya (another view)

Darih of Sidi AbdelJabbar Tidjani (may ALLAH be pleased with him)

The cemetery where numerous members of the Tidjani family are buried (may ALLAH be pleased with them). In the background, on the right, the mausoleum of Sidi AbdelJabbar Tidjani (may ALLAH be pleased with him) and, on the left, that of his father Sidi Boudali (may ALLAH be pleased with him)

Same cemetery – Another view

  Other noteworthy place, A few kilometers from Ain Madhi : Qurdane

The entrance to the palace of Qurdane where Sidi Ahmed Amar Tidjani (may ALLAH be pleased with him), grandson of Seyyidina Ahmed Tidjani (may ALLAH sanctify his precious secret), lived with his wife Lalla Aurélie Picard (may ALLAH be pleased with her)

Palace of Qurdane – Another view

Palace of Qurdane – Another view

Palace of Qurdane – Another view

Palace of Qurdane – Another view

Palace of Qurdane – Another view

Palace of Qurdane – Another view

Graveyard where Sidi Ahmed Amar Tidjani (may ALLAH be pleased with him), his wife Lalla Aurélie Picard (may ALLAH be pleased with her), and his son Sidi Muhammad Tahar Tidjani (may ALLAH be pleased with him) are buried.

A close-up. Sidi Ahmed Amar Tidjani and his son Sidi Muhammad Tahar Tidjani are buried In the enclosure (may ALLAH be pleased with them).

Inside the enclosure. On the right, the tomb of Sidi Ahmed Amar Tidjani (may ALLAH be pleased with him). On the left, the tomb of Sidi Muhammad Tahar Tidjani (may ALLAH be pleased with him)

Grave of Lalla Aurélie Picard (may ALLAH be pleased with her)

Grave of Lalla Aurélie Picard (may ALLAH be pleased with her) – A close-up

Same graveyard – Other view

Same graveyard – Other view

The retreat room of Sidi Muhammad Tahar Tidjani (may ALLAH be pleased with him) (inside of the house)

The retreat room of Sidi Muhammad Tahar Tidjani (may ALLAH be pleased with him) (inside of the house) – another view