Muhammad Awzal
Encyclopedia
Mohammed Awzal (Berber: Muḥemmed Awzal), also known as Muhammad ibn Ali Awzal or al-Awzali was a religious Berber
poet
. He is considered the most important author of the Teshelhit (southern Morocco
Berber language) literary tradition. He was born around 1680 in the village of al-Qasaba in the region of Sous
, Morocco
and died in 1758/9.
, a village known for an ancient sanctuary, where he started his religious studies. It was probably towards the end of his studies that he wrote in Arabic, as an essay, his first work, Mahamiz al-Ghaflan. After some time he came back to his place of origin, putting himself at the disposal of the family of the murder victim. They may have taken revenge on him but instead, convinced of the sincerity of his conversion and of his new choice of life, they forgave him.
Life, however, was not always easy in his village as his preachings were not popular. It seems that in reaction to such resistance he composed his second work, in Arabic, the Tanbih ("Admonition").
When he returned to Tamegroute
his master, Sheikh Ahmad, recognising his talent as a poet, supported the writing of his first work in Berber
language, Al-Hawd ("The Reservoir": alluding to the basin where the Prophet will meet one day his community on Qiyamah
, Last Judgement). This work, divided in two parts, represents a complete manual on islamic law
following the malikite tradition, based on two classical texts, as-Sanusi (for the first part, 26 chapters, on Ibadat "ritual obligations") and Khalil
(for the second, from chapter 27 to 56, on the mu'amalat "transactions").
His following work, Bahr ad-Dumu ("The Ocean of Tears"), an exhortation in verse and treatise on eschatology
. This is probably the best know text by Al Awzal and a masterpiece of Berber literature. It can be found as a manuscript in the most important libraries and private collections. The text has been translated into French by B.H. Stricker and Arsène Roux
and into English by N. van den Boogert.
Probably at the time of writing "The Ocean of Tears", 1714), the poet had already returned for a last time to his village of birth, where he worked as a teacher and a mufti
until his death. He left a daughter and a son, Ibrahim.
The dating of his last and shorter work in Berber is uncertain, An-Nasiha ("The Advice"), is an ode in praise of Sidi (Saint) Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Nasir
, Awzal's spiritual guide and grand master of the Nasiriyya Sufi order (founded by his grandfather), probably inspired as a funeral eulogy by his death, around 1708.
Almost a third of all known Shilha manuscripts contain parts of his works, and the largest Berber text in existence is a commentary by al-Hasan al-Tamuddizti (d. 1898) on Awzal's al-Hawd.
Awzal, in his honor, is also the name of rhymed couplets and long poems that Ishilhin
women chant daily or weekly, between the afternoon and sunset Islamic obligatory prayer times, in the tomb complexes of local holy figures.
Berber people
Berbers are the indigenous peoples of North Africa west of the Nile Valley. They are continuously distributed from the Atlantic to the Siwa oasis, in Egypt, and from the Mediterranean to the Niger River. Historically they spoke the Berber language or varieties of it, which together form a branch...
poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
. He is considered the most important author of the Teshelhit (southern Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
Berber language) literary tradition. He was born around 1680 in the village of al-Qasaba in the region of Sous
Sous
The Sous or Souss is a region in southern Morocco. Geologically, it is the alluvial basin of the Oued Sous , separated from the Sahara by the Anti-Atlas Mountains...
, Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
and died in 1758/9.
Life and works
There are few hard facts about Awzal's life. He may have killed somebody from his tribe when he was young and this may have been the reason for him to seek refuge in TamegrouteTamegroute
Tamegroute is a village in the south of Morocco, in the valley of the Draa River. It has a history as an important center of learning and religion through its famous Sufi zawiya, historical center of the Nasiriyya Sufi order, one of the most influential - and at one time one of the largest - Sufi...
, a village known for an ancient sanctuary, where he started his religious studies. It was probably towards the end of his studies that he wrote in Arabic, as an essay, his first work, Mahamiz al-Ghaflan. After some time he came back to his place of origin, putting himself at the disposal of the family of the murder victim. They may have taken revenge on him but instead, convinced of the sincerity of his conversion and of his new choice of life, they forgave him.
Life, however, was not always easy in his village as his preachings were not popular. It seems that in reaction to such resistance he composed his second work, in Arabic, the Tanbih ("Admonition").
When he returned to Tamegroute
Tamegroute
Tamegroute is a village in the south of Morocco, in the valley of the Draa River. It has a history as an important center of learning and religion through its famous Sufi zawiya, historical center of the Nasiriyya Sufi order, one of the most influential - and at one time one of the largest - Sufi...
his master, Sheikh Ahmad, recognising his talent as a poet, supported the writing of his first work in Berber
Berber languages
The Berber languages are a family of languages indigenous to North Africa, spoken from Siwa Oasis in Egypt to Morocco , and south to the countries of the Sahara Desert...
language, Al-Hawd ("The Reservoir": alluding to the basin where the Prophet will meet one day his community on Qiyamah
Qiyamah
In Islam, Yawm al-Qiyāmah or Yawm ad-Din is believed to be God's final assessment of humanity as it exists. The sequence of events is the annihilation of all creatures allowable, resurrection of the body, and the judgment of all sentient creatures.The exact time when these events are to occur...
, Last Judgement). This work, divided in two parts, represents a complete manual on islamic law
Sharia
Sharia law, is the moral code and religious law of Islam. Sharia is derived from two primary sources of Islamic law: the precepts set forth in the Quran, and the example set by the Islamic prophet Muhammad in the Sunnah. Fiqh jurisprudence interprets and extends the application of sharia to...
following the malikite tradition, based on two classical texts, as-Sanusi (for the first part, 26 chapters, on Ibadat "ritual obligations") and Khalil
Khalil
Al-Malik al-Ashraf Salāh al-Dīn Khalil ibn Qalawūn ; was the eighth Mamluk sultan of Egypt from 1290 until his assassination in December, 1293...
(for the second, from chapter 27 to 56, on the mu'amalat "transactions").
His following work, Bahr ad-Dumu ("The Ocean of Tears"), an exhortation in verse and treatise on eschatology
Eschatology
Eschatology is a part of theology, philosophy, and futurology concerned with what are believed to be the final events in history, or the ultimate destiny of humanity, commonly referred to as the end of the world or the World to Come...
. This is probably the best know text by Al Awzal and a masterpiece of Berber literature. It can be found as a manuscript in the most important libraries and private collections. The text has been translated into French by B.H. Stricker and Arsène Roux
Arsène Roux
Arsène Roux was a French Arabist and Berberologist. He was born in Rochegude and emigrated to Morocco in his early twenties where he started studying Classical Arabic, Moroccan Arabic and the Moroccan Berber languages...
and into English by N. van den Boogert.
Probably at the time of writing "The Ocean of Tears", 1714), the poet had already returned for a last time to his village of birth, where he worked as a teacher and a mufti
Mufti
A mufti is a Sunni Islamic scholar who is an interpreter or expounder of Islamic law . In religious administrative terms, a mufti is roughly equivalent to a deacon to a Sunni population...
until his death. He left a daughter and a son, Ibrahim.
The dating of his last and shorter work in Berber is uncertain, An-Nasiha ("The Advice"), is an ode in praise of Sidi (Saint) Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Nasir
Ahmed ibn Nasir
Ahmed ibn Nasir was a Moroccan Sufi writer and teacher of the Nasiriyya zawiyya of Tamegroute. He made six pilgrimages to Mecca and made each of these pilgimages into a journey of several years. Sidi Ahmed ibn Nasir travelled to Ethiopia, Arabia, Egypt, Iraq and Persia...
, Awzal's spiritual guide and grand master of the Nasiriyya Sufi order (founded by his grandfather), probably inspired as a funeral eulogy by his death, around 1708.
Almost a third of all known Shilha manuscripts contain parts of his works, and the largest Berber text in existence is a commentary by al-Hasan al-Tamuddizti (d. 1898) on Awzal's al-Hawd.
Awzal, in his honor, is also the name of rhymed couplets and long poems that Ishilhin
Chleuh
The Shilha people, commonly known as the Chleuh are a Berber ethnic group. They live mainly in Morocco's Atlas Mountains and Souss Valley. The Shilha population is estimated to be approximately 8 million.They speak the Shilha language in several regional varieties...
women chant daily or weekly, between the afternoon and sunset Islamic obligatory prayer times, in the tomb complexes of local holy figures.