The Seven Saints of Marrakech
Marrakech has always been the "ochre" city, a name inspired by the color of its flowers, and its charisma drawn from its rich History and authenticity.
Marrakech has always been the "ochre" city, a name inspired by the color of its flowers, and its charisma drawn from its rich History and authenticity. Yet most people have long called it the "city of the seven saints": seven men, whose names still appear on many neighborhoods, avenues and establishments—all learned scholars, Islamic jurists, saints, and righteous figures.
Despite the great renown of Djamaa el fna square, Marrakech remains deeply connected in the collective mind to its seven saints. Who were these men? Are they buried in one place or several? Why did they merit such esteem and respect among so many other saints and Islamic scholars of Marrakech?
The Seven Saints Are:
Youssef Ben Ali Sanhajji, known to Marrakechis as Sidi Youssef Ben Ali: Called "The Man of the Cave" because he lived in one after being afflicted with leprosy. Born in Marrakech, which he never left until his death. He was of Yemenite Arab origin.
Ayyad ben Moussa Alyahssabi, known as "Al Cadi Ayyad": an Arab born in Ceuta in 476 AH/1083 CE, he served for twenty years as a Cadi (judge) in Ceuta and then Cordoba, exemplifying loyalty and justice.
Abou El Abbas Ben Jaâfer El Kharjji Assabti, one of the greatest and most celebrated saints of the city, born in Ceuta in 524 AH/1129 CE. He died in Marrakech in 601 AH/1204 CE.
Abou Abdallah Mohamed Ben Souleymane Eljazouli, descended from the lineage of Ali Ben Abi Taleb. Born in "Tankourt" near Sousse. During his travels, he visited all the cities of the Hijaz, Egypt, and Al Quds. He founded the Zaouïa "Jazulite". He was buried in Marrakech, which he visited only once during his entire life.
Abdel Aziz Ben Abdelhaq Ettabae, born in Marrakech, a disciple of Sheikh El Jazouli, he studied in Fès but built his Zaouïa in Marrakech in the "Kabbabine" (najjarine) neighborhood. He died in 914 AH/1508 CE and was buried in "Loumouassine" in Marrakech. Subsequently, that same neighborhood became known as "the neighborhood of Sidi Abdel Aziz".
Abou Mohamed Ben Abdullah Ben Ajjal El Ghazouani, from an Arab tribe "Lghzouane" located in "Tamsna" (La Chawia), a scholar of the Chadliste Jazulite Zaouïa who honored the love of God and the Prophet.
Abderrahmane Ben Abdallah Essouhaili (the blind one), born in Malaga in 508 AH/1114 CE. He lost his sight in childhood, but his disability did not prevent him from becoming one of the finest defenders and advocates of Islam. For this reason, Caliph Youssef Ben Abdel Moumen brought him to the capital Marrakech, where he settled as a teacher and lecturer until his death in 581 AH/1185 CE.
The common threads among the seven saints of Marrakech are their spiritual wisdom, their quest for goodness, their mastery and recitation of the Quran, their role in spreading Islamic teachings, and their scholarly works on Hadith, Islamic jurisprudence, the Sunnah, and the Arabic language.
Frequently asked questions
The 7 saints of Marrakech are buried in different neighborhoods of the medina. Each has his own mausoleum and zaouïa, notably Sidi Youssef Ben Ali in the south of the medina, and Sidi Abdel Aziz in the neighborhood that bears his name. A traditional pilgrimage circuit, the Ziara, allows visitors to honor all of them during a single journey.
Most mausoleums are accessible to non-Muslim visitors, but with complete respect: modest dress required, silence and discretion recommended. It is advisable to check locally for opening hours, which may vary depending on the day and prayer times.
Marrakech is nicknamed 'the city of the 7 saints' because of the presence of the tombs of seven venerated Islamic scholars (jurists and Sufi masters) who lived or died in the city between the 11th and 16th centuries. Their spiritual and intellectual legacy is so profound that they have left their names on neighborhoods, avenues and institutions throughout the city.
Among the 7 saints, Abou El Abbas Assabti (born in Ceuta in 1129, died in Marrakech in 1204) is one of the most venerated. He is recognized for his exemplary generosity and piety. Al Cadi Ayyad, a jurist and judge born in Ceuta in 1083, is also highly celebrated in the Islamic world for his writings on the Prophet.
The Ziara is a traditional pilgrimage consisting of successively visiting the 7 mausoleums of the saints of Marrakech. This devotional practice, deeply rooted in Moroccan Sufi tradition, is undertaken by residents and pilgrims to bless a journey, seek intercession, or honor the memory of these men of faith.
