The conferences

The role of Zawaya in preserving the nation's identity

Introduction

When speaking about Zawaya, one must not think about those which promulgate heresies and enormities, but rather about those which are considered as sources of knowledge and centers of guidance; those whose center of attention is to preserve the identity of the nation and protect it from all kinds of destruction.

I- The definition of Zawaya:

The word Zâwiya (the singular of Zawaya) is a name given to a place of worship and teaching the Holy Koran. It includes all the necessary accommodations for learners and wayfarers. It is also named "Thimmâmarth" which means filling places with people and good things as opposed to devastation.

This religious and social institution goes back to the eighth century of Hegira. It was founded by erudite men and reformists in order to make it convey its religious, social and civilizing massages.

Among these Zawaya, we mention the following ones:

1-    Zaouia of Oulad Boumerdes: It was founded by Boumerdes around the 7^th century of Hegira in the township of Tidjlabin -Boumerdes.

2-    Zaouia of Al-Moukhtaria: It was founded by Sheikh Al-Moukhtar ben Abdu Ar-Rahman in 1871 AD in the township of Oulad Djellal - Biskra.

3-    Zaouia of Al-Hamel: It was founded by Sheikh Mohammed Abu Al-Kacem Al-Kacimi Al-Hassani in 1855 AD in Boussâada- M'sila.

4- Zaouia of Sidi Al-Boudali: It was founded by Sidi Al-Boudali Abdul Kader in 1860 AD in Saida.

5-    Zaouia of Sidi Abdul Allah: It was founded in Mascara by Sidi Abdul Allah in 1850 AD.

6- Zaouia of Sidi Sahnoun: It was founded by Sidi Sahnoun in the 7^th century of Hegira in Djemâa Saharridj, Mekla, Tizi -Ouzou.

7-    Zaouia Sidi Abu Bakr: It was founded by Abu Bakr in the7^th  century of Hegira  in Tigzert- Tizi -Ouzou

8-    Zaouia Thifrith Nath Al-Haj: It was founded by Sidi Muhammad Ouali ul Hajj in 805 Hegira in Azzefoun- Tizi -Ouzou.

9-    Zaouia of Sidi Omar ul Hajj: It was founded by Sidi Omar ul Hajj in 805 Hegira in Bouzguen, Azazga, Tizi- Ouzou District.

10-     Zaouia of Sidi Ahmad Ben Idriss: It was founded by Ahmad Ben Idriss Al Bejâ'i in 720 Hegira in Bouzguen- Tizi-Ouzou.

11-     Zaouia of Sidi Ali Ouyahia: It was founded by Sidi Ali Ouyahia in the 9^th century of Hegira in Beni Koufi, Boghni, Tizi- Ouzou.

12-     Zaouia of Sidi Bahloul Chorfa: It was founded by Sidi Bahloul Al Ghabrini in the 8^th century of Hegira in Azzazga, Tizi -Ouzou.

13-     Zaouia of Al-Hammâmia: It was founded by Sheikh Abdul Kader Al Qadhi Al Hammâmi in 1880 AD in Al-Akhdaria, Bouira.

14-     Zaouia of Sheikh Belhadad: It was founded by Sheikh Belhadad in 13^th century of Hegira in Sadouk, Bejaia.

15-     Zaouia of Sidi Said Amssissen: It was founded in 9^th century of Hegira in Sadouk, Bejaia.

16-     Zaouia of Sidi Ahmad Ouhadad: It was founded in the 10^th century of Hegira in Akfadou, Bejaia.

17-     Zaouia of Sidi Ahmad Ouyahia Oumalou: It was founded in the 9^th century of Hegira in Bejaia.

18-     Zaouia of Sidi Yahia Al-Adli: It was founded in the 9^th century of Hegira in Tamkara, Bejaia.

19-     Zaouia of Abi Al-Kacem Al-Houssini Al-Boudjîli: It was founded in the 11^th century of Hegira in Akbou, Bejaia.

II- The role of Zawaya:

The founders of Zawaya are people who have a message to convey and who made their glory and that of the nation. The Zawaya that they founded are used as fortresses to stand against destruction. Their message was to preserve the identity of our nation from deformation and obliteration. This protection would be by:

1- Serving the Holy Koran:

Learning and teaching the Holy Koran is the most valuable work. So both the learner and the teacher (of the Holy Koran) will deserve to be given the name of the good. The prophet -may peace be upon him: «The best of you is the one who have learnt the Holy Koran and teaches it to others». [Reported by Al-Boukhari]

2- Teaching the Arabic Language:

Arabic is the language in which the Koran is revealed. It preserves the Islamic heritage.

3- Opposing the Christian's crusades.

The Zawaya withstood the advance of Christianization and its different crusades by spreading the Islamic teachings and rejecting the suspicions of the Christians about Islam.

4- Bringing about reconciliation between people:

Zawaya play an important role in settling disputes (between people) amicably and according to the Islamic Sharia. Their way of judging and arbitrating is said to be an efficient one. Thus, the contemporary law and jurisdiction opted to adopt it holistically.

5- The revolutionary role:

Zawaya were the starting point of fight and revolution against the French colonizer. Indeed, the very first fighters and leaders of the Algerian Revolution were educated in Zawaya like Amir Abdul Kader, Al-Haj Mohammad Al-Mukrani, Lalla Fathma N'summer, Sheikh Buâmama, and Sheikh Al-Haddad. Zawaya too contributed a lot in the Algerian Revolution which had an Islamic dimension. This can be seen mainly through:

- The mentioning of "Allah is the Greatest" by the vanquished fighters.

- Naming the fighters by a "Mujahid" or a "Mussabil".

- Naming the dead by "Shahid".

- Applying the Islamic recommendations and injunctions while treating the captives.

During the Algerian revolution, the French authorities destructed and burned many of the Zawaya because of their involvement in the war.

6- Educating Ulemas: Zawaya played a significant role in educating people and Ulemas who left many works in the field of knowledge, reform, justice and delivering legal opinions (Fatawa) like Sheikh Nacer Edin Al-Mashdali, Sheikh Moussa Amran, Sheikh Arezki Charfaoui Al-Azhari, Sheikh Mouloud Al-Hafidhi Al-Azhari, Sheikh Al-Boudjelili, Sheikh Abou Al-Fadl Al-Mashdali, Sheikh Mouhammad Salah Ar-Rahmouni Al-Mashdali…

7- Inculcating moral values and virtues:

Zawaya played a vital role in setting high standards of behavior. This appeared mainly in the heritage of the communities for example:

A) In the domain of poetry and prose:

The most important aim of poetry and prose is to inculcate in people moral standards and principles and teach them the importance of their cultural heritage, and remind them of the Day of Resurrection.

- Tajadith (the heritage that is left by the ancestors).

If tajadith leaves us, we became like a man without a head,

Distress is waiting for us like a strife which has no end.  

- Thinking about the Day of Judgment.

Sheikh Mohand Oulhoucine told his interlocutor:

Ô my son! Stick to the pillar (the high moral standards),

May Allah provide the self with patience.

There is no day which has no evening,

There is no night which has no dawn (day break).

B) In the domain of adages and proverbs: the Berber adages and proverbs are characterized by the following features:

1- Brevity: they have a brief structure but a deep and profound meaning.

- Its connection to the Islamic morals and values.     2

3- Including many religious and life matters.

4- Spreading rapidly in the society.

Some adages and proverbs:

a- He who sticks to the One (the Almighty Allah) fears no one (human being).

b- Man is a stream; woman is a pond.

c- The man who has no companion cannot sit with wise people.

d- The beauty of man is in his virility and that of the woman is in her timidity.  

8- The martial institutions:

1.     The Village Council "Thajmaâth": it is a kind of small parliament that consists of mature and responsible men. Its role is to make laws that must be obeyed and applied by all the villagers. This council meets regularly and periodically.

2.     The president of the council (Lamîn): he is responsible for the good management of the village.

3.     The representative of the district (Tamen): he is the one who represents his district in the Village Council.

4.     The treasurer (Lukiîl): he is charged with collecting the incomes of the common properties (Al-Mashmal), donations, and the fines imposed on those who violate the established rules of the village.

5.     The charged with the religious matters (Imam): he is deeply respected by the villagers. He is entrusted with religious matters and teaching kids. In addition, he records the decisions and the rules made by the Village Council.

9. The martial laws:

- Mutual help and cooperation is obligatory between the inhabitants for achieving the public projects such as: building mosques, paving the roads, and repairing spring waters…

- Dividing times for bringing water from the spring water for men and women.

- Incriminating all types of theft.

- Incriminating quarrels and insults between the inhabitants.

III- The new role of Zawaya:

The Zawaya and the Koranic schools are expected to continue conveying their message by stressing on serving the Holy Koran through:

a-      Qualifying and training the teachers of the Holy Koran.

b-     Designing scholarship for excellent students for advanced studies.

c-     Organizing sessions for teaching the rules of reciting the Holy Koran for pupils and students during holidays.

d-     Teaching the Holy Koran in the punitive institutions.

e-      Participating in activating the Holy Koran broadcasts.

f-       Organizing koranic competitive examination of:

1-     Reciting the Holy Koran: mastering the art of reciting the Koran (in accordance with the established rules of pronunciation).

2-     Learning by heart the Holy Koran (completely or partially).

3-     Koranic readings: for the students who are specialist in the seven or the ten Koranic readings.

4-     Exegesis of the Holy Koran: the exegesis of its content, its injunctions, and showing the sides of its inimitability.

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