Zaouia of Dila
The Zaouia of Dila was a Sufi brotherhood, centred in the Middle Atlas range of Morocco. It was founded by Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad al-Majjati al-Sanhaji, a Sanhaja Berber of the Mjjat tribe, a branch of the Ait Idrassen confederation. He was a follower of the famous mystic Muhammad al-Jazuli. The ruins of the town of Dila are situated just south of the city of Khenifra.
Under the leadership of Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr, the brotherhood was able to establish itself in the Berber territory of the Middle Atlas and High Atlas mountain ranges. From 1637 onwards, the brotherhood started with the conquest of large parts of northern Morocco. By 1641, they had conquered Meknes, Fes and the port of Salé; from where a rival marabout, al-Ayachi, was expeled, and assassinated on 30 April 1641. In Fes, the Saadi family was expelled and Muhammad al-Hajj was proclaimed sultan.
The Dila'ites would rule over central and northern Morocco until 1668, when Dila itself was annexed by the shurafa Alaouites and Fes was taken.
