Doha – The Tijaniyya Sufi order continues to play a vital role in enriching religious and spiritual communication between Morocco and African nations, particularly Senegal, Morocco’s Minister of Religious Endowments and Islamic Affairs Ahmed Toufiq said Saturday in Dakar.
Speaking at the opening of the 44th Islamic Cultural Days, organized under the patronage of King Mohammed VI, Toufiq highlighted how Senegal has strengthened its civilizational and spiritual ties with Morocco, facilitating the spread of Sufi teachings among Moroccans in West Africa, especially in Senegal.
The event, held at the Dakar Grand Mosque esplanade under the presidency of Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, brought together prominent scholars and disciples of the Tijania order to discuss Zawiya projects and activities in Senegal.
During the ceremony, Toufiq conveyed King Mohammed VI’s greetings to the Tijani brotherhood, emphasizing the monarch’s special attention to the Tijanis and his commitment to preserving the distinguished fraternal bonds between Morocco and Senegal.
The minister highlighted the significance of Sheikh Sidi Ahmed Tijani’s mausoleum in Fez, which remains a permanent pilgrimage site for the brotherhood’s followers from around the world. He noted that the founder chose Fez as his residence and the headquarters of his Zawiya.
Toufiq emphasized the Tijania order’s adherence to Sharia principles, the Prophet’s Sunnah, and spiritual purification fundamentals. He also noted the order’s historical role in Senegal, particularly in resisting colonial occupation and contemporary extremist movements.
Speaking through a representative, Tijani General Khalifa Sereigne Babacar Sy Mohamed Mansour praised King Mohammed VI’s continuous efforts to preserve religious constants and strengthen spiritual relations between Morocco and Senegal, while expressing both countries’ commitment to reinforcing active South-South cooperation.
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The Islamic Cultural Days, considered one of the largest Tijania gatherings in Senegal, have been under royal patronage since 1986, initially under late King Hassan II and subsequently under King Mohammed VI.
The event, established in 1981 by the late Serigne Abdoul Aziz Sy Dabakh, aims to strengthen cohesion among Tijania followers and promote peace, tolerance, and coexistence.
The Tijaniyya order was founded by Ahmed Ben Mohammed Ben Al Mokhtar Ben Ahmed Ben Mohammed Salem Al Tijani, born in 1737 in Ain Mahdi.
The order bases its spiritual foundations on Quranic precepts, the Sunna, and Islamic values, emphasizing continuous divine invocation, prophet blessings, Quran recitation, and group prayers.
According to French newspaper Le Point’s report, the order claims approximately 300 million followers worldwide, particularly in West Africa.
The publication noted that the Tijania brotherhood has become “one of the most influential confraternities” in countries like Senegal, where several holy cities align with the Tariqa Tijaniya tradition.
The ceremony was attended by Senegalese Interior and Public Security Minister Jean Baptiste Tine, Moroccan Ambassador to Senegal Hassan Naciri, and other prominent Moroccan and Senegalese figures.
