Mohamed ben Issa


Mohamed ben Issa or al-Hadi ben Issa was a Moroccan Wali and founder of the Triqa Issawiya. He is considered the patron-saint of the city of Meknes.
His Tariqa has found many followers outside his native region, and today has outposts throughout Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt.
A hagiography was done by 18th-century Moroccan historian Ahmed ibn al-Mahdi al-Ghazzal in his book an-Nour al-Shamil.

Life

He originated from the Semlala, one of the most important Sanhaja Berber clans in Jazulah of Sous.
As his father was a follower of Imam al-Jazuli, he was born in the region of Safi amongst the Mukhatar clan of the Shaym tribe and travelled as a youngster with his father to Fes

Descendants

One of his grandsons has a mausoleum in Jamat Shaim, where it is referred to locally as Sidi Issa ben Makhlouf.