Moussem of Sidi Ali Boughaleb

Moulay Ali Boughaleb was born during the first half of the 12th century in the city of Shilb in western Andalusia, Moulay Ali Boughaleb, whose full name is Abou al-Hassan Ali Ibn Khalaf ibn Ghaleb al-Ansari al-Chilbi, appears to come from a large and wealthy Andalusian family. After studying Sharia and Arabic language sciences in his hometown, he went to Cordoba where he studied mathematics under the great Andalusian scholar and mathematician Abou al-Abbas Ahmed ibn Otmane al-Shilbi.

Traveling from one university to another and from one discipline to another in search of knowledge and learning, Moulay Ali Boughaleb eventually came into contact with the great Andalusian Sufis Ibn Al-Arif and Abou al-Hakam al-Lakhmi who had a significant influence on his thoughts and personality. It is said that Moulay Ali Boughaleb was able to donate a large fortune he inherited from his father to charity.

Loving to travel in the land of God, Moulay Ali Boughaleb emigrated to Morocco in the second half of the 12th century just before the fall of the city of Chalab (1190). While the reasons for his emigration are unknown, historians report that he initially settled in the city of Fez where he taught at the Al-Karaouine University and became a prominent jurist among the jurists of Fez.

For incomprehensible reasons, he left the city of Fez to settle in the city of al-Kasr al-Kabir where he became the imam of Khotba and a teacher in the grand mosque. Moulay Ali Boughaleb would spend the rest of his life in the city of al-Kasr al-Kabir teaching and promoting the values of benevolence among the city’s inhabitants. He lived near the grand mosque where he owned a house, the remains of which are still present.

After his death, he was buried in his orchard which he had dedicated in his lifetime as a Waqf to establish a cemetery in the north of the city. For his works and behavior, the holy marabout Moulay Ali Boughaleb became the patron saint of the city of al-Kasr al-Kabir. His mausoleum, which was probably built during the 13th century, has become the official site where religious events are celebrated, especially the Prophet’s birthday, receiving pilgrims, and performing circumcisions.”