فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
Fez, Morocco – In a report published by the Senegalese newspaper “Le Soleil,” light was shed on the increasing popularity of the annual “Ziyara” (pilgrimage) to the shrine of Sheikh Ahmad al-Tijani in the city of Fez among Senegalese visitors. This religious practice is no longer limited to traditional Sufi circles but is attracting a growing number of followers.
The newspaper indicated that this practice, which was long confined to a religious elite, has seen a widespread expansion since the 1980s, before experiencing significant growth starting in 2012. This expansion is attributed in particular to the increase in air travel between Dakar and Morocco and the dynamism of spiritual tourism.
Senegalese travel agencies now offer organized week-long travel programs that coincide with the celebrations of the birth of the Prophet Muhammad or other major spiritual occasions.
“Le Soleil” confirmed that the “Ziyara” tradition, which dates back to 1922, was institutionalized after World War II. In a symbolic gesture reflecting the deep spiritual bonds between the two countries, the late King Mohammed V granted Senegalese pilgrims a residence at “Dar Al-Kettani.”
The newspaper also quoted Mr. Mohamed Mokhtar Dièye, from the Islamic Institute in Dakar, who stated that “the Ziyara, in addition to its religious dimension, reflects the vitality of a long-standing spiritual diplomacy inherited from the Almoravids and strengthened by scholars” such as El Hadj Malick Sy and Sheikh Ibrahim Niass.
The report concluded that the exemplary partnership between the two countries is evident in several aspects, such as the training of Senegalese scholars at Al-Qarawiyyin University, their participation in the Hassania lessons, and the establishment of the Mohammed VI Foundation of African Oulema, noting that the “Ziyara” to Fez remains one of the most prominent manifestations of this partnership.
