Ahmed ibn Abi Mahalli

Ahmed ibn Abi Mahalli (1559–1613), born in Sijilmasa, was an imam and the (Sufi) leader of a revolt (1610–13) against the reigning Saadi Sultan Zaydan Bin Ahmed in the south of Morocco in which Ibn Abi Mahalli proclaimed himself mahdi.[1]

He is the author of many books of which only six remain today. Among those are l'Islit al-khirrit (also spelled al-Aslit), Al Salsabil and Miharas.[2]

Ibn Abi Mahalli's revolt forced Zaydan An-Nasser to flee Marrakesh for Agadir. During this move, the Zaydani Library of manuscripts was lost to Spanish privateers, and eventually made its way to El Escorial Monastery, where it remains.

Works

• Islit Al-Khirit Fi Kalie Bouloume Al-Ifrit A'Nnefrit (en Arabic: إصليت الخريت في قطع بلعوم العفريت النفريت‎)
• El-Haoudadj (en Arabic: الهودج‎)
• Al-KOstas El-Mostakim Fi Maarifat A'sahih Mina A'sakim (en Arabic: القسطاس المستقيم في معرفة الصحيح من السقيم‎)
• El Ouaddah Arabic: الوضاح‎)
• Manjanik Sokhor Lihadmi Binaa Cheikh El Ghoror Ou'Rass El-Fodjor (en Arabic: منجنيق الصخور لهدم بناء شيخ الغرور ورأس الفجور‎)
• Jaouab El-Kharoubi Arabic: جواب الخروبي‎)

References

1. Mercedes Garcia-Arenal, "Imam et Mahdi : Ibn Abî Mahallî", in Revue des mondes musulmans et de la Méditerranée, 2000, p. 157-180 (retrieved 3-2-2011) translation in English, in: Mercedes Garcia-Arenal, Messianism and puritanical reform: Mahdīs of the Muslim west, Brill, 2006
2. Berque, Ulémas, fondateurs, insurgés du Maghreb, Paris, Sindbad, 1982, p. 275