Morocco's Zawiya of Tazerwalt: The Dila'iyya Rival and Southern Sufi Power

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the rise and fall of the Zawiya of Tazerwalt, a Sufi lodge in southern Morocco that challenged the Dila'iyya for spiritual and political dominance in the 17th century. They trace its founding by the charismatic shaykh Abu Bakr Ayyad, its alliance with the Saadian sultan al-Ghalib, and its eventual clash with the rising Alaouites. The conversation reveals how Tazerwalt controlled the trans-Saharan gold routes from its fortress at Igoudar, minted its own currency, and briefly became the most powerful state in the Sous Valley. Lucas explains the role of the zawiya as a political institution, the rivalry between the north and south, and how Moulay al-Rashid finally crushed Tazerwalt in 1668, forcing its leaders into exile in the Sahara. Along the way, they discuss the unique Berber-Sufi synthesis, the economic importance of the Arma trade with Timbuktu, and the parallels with other Islamic brotherhoods like the Sanusiyya. This episode fills a gap left by earlier shows on the Dila'iyya and the Alaouite rise, offering a fresh look at how Sufi networks shaped Morocco's early modern history. #ZawiyaOfTazerwalt #Tazerwalt #Sufi #Morocco #SousValley #Dila'iyya #Alaouites #MoulayAlRashid #AbuBakrAyyad #Igoudar #Arma #Timbuktu #GoldTrade #BerberHistory #Saadian #17thCentury #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo