Cheikh Al Kamel Mausoleum
{{Short description|Historic religious complex in Mekness, Morocco}}
{{Infobox religious building
| name = Cheikh Al Kamel Mausoleum
| native_name = {{langx|ar|ضريح الشيخ الكامل}}
| native_name_lang = ara
| image = Meknes sidi ben aissa IMG 1380.jpg
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| map_type = Morocco
| map_size = 240
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| map_relief = 1
| map_caption = Location in Morocco
| coordinates = {{coord|33.8987900|-5.5705515|display=inline, title}}
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| religious_affiliation = Islam
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| district = Bab al-Jadid
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| region = Fès-Meknès
| country = Morocco
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| functional_status = Active
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| architecture_type = mausoleum, zawiya and mosque
| architecture_style = Moroccan
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| creator = Mohammed ben Abdallah
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| established = 16th century
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| year_completed = 1776
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The Shaykh al-Kamil Mausoleum (Arabic: ضريح الشيخ الكامل), romanized as Cheikh Al Kamel Mausoleum also known as the Mausoleum of al-Hadi ben Issa (ضريح الهادي بنعيسى) is a historic religious complex located in Meknes, Morocco.{{Cite web|title=El Hadi Ben Aïssa : Le symbole de la délivrance|url=https://aujourdhui.ma/archives/el-hadi-ben-aissa-le-symbole-de-la-delivrance-89637|access-date=2020-11-30|website=Aujourd'hui le Maroc|date=9 September 2008 |language=fr-FR}}
It consists of a zawiya, mosque, and the mausoleum of Mohammed al-Hadi ben Issa the founder of the Isawiyya order of Sufism.
History
File:Mekness Koubba Sidi Ben Aissa.png
The mausoleum of Mohamed ben Issa, a prominent Ash'ari scholar and Sufi mystic, was established in the 16th century.{{Cite web|date=2011-02-18|title=ضريح الشيخ الكامل وجهة مريدي الزوايا - جريدة الصباح|url=https://assabah.ma/7643.html|access-date=2020-11-30|website=assabah.ma|language=ar}} Later in 1776, the Alaouite ruler, Mohammed Ben Abdallah, built a completely new structure around the saint's tomb.{{Cite book |last=Aouchar |first=Amina |title=Fès, Meknès |publisher=Flammarion |year=2005 |isbn=9782080108418 |pages=65 |language=fr}} The minaret appears to have been a later addition. The complex is currently used as both a mosque and mausoleum.
Usage
= Mawlid Celebration =
{{main|Mawlid}}
The celebration of Mawlid, which is the celebration of the birth of Muhammad, occurs at the mausoleum.{{Cite web |last=ناصر |first=هشام |title=مكناس.. الطوائف العيساوية تضفي طابعا احتفاليا فريدا بمناسبة ذكرى عيد المولد النبوي |url=https://anfaspress.com/news/voir/122424-2023-09-27-06-42-59 |access-date=2023-12-20 |website=الكاتب |language=ar}} This festival is different from other Mawlids, due to it being done in the unique Issawi style. Instruments like the ta'raj, the brass, the flutes, the drums, the trumpet, are played, before the participants enter a long session of dhikr and meditation. Traditionally, dates are a meal during this festive occasion.
= Rituals =
The rituals of the Issawi order are performed here.{{Cite book |last=Funck-Brentano |first=C. |url=http://archive.org/details/ejbrillsfirstenc0005unse |title=E.J. Brill's first encyclopaedia of Islam, 1913-1936 |publisher=Leiden; New York : E.J. Brill |year=1987 |isbn=978-90-04-08265-6 |volume=5 |pages=456 |language=en |chapter=Meknes |orig-date=1934}} The mausoleum is also the focal point of an annual moussem (a type of Sufi religious festival). Unlike Mawlid, the festival here was brutal in nature, and it was historically known for its displays of self-mutilation. The religious rituals in the festival are intertwined with musical and joyful celebrations that are sometimes violent, including rolling around and drinking blood of animal sacrifices.{{Cite web |date=2020-10-30 |title=مكناس تتحول إلى"كعبة" الطوائف العيساوية في عيد المولد النبوي {{!}}{{!}} ANFASPRESS - أنفاس بريس جريدة إلكترونية مغربية - جريدة إلكترونية مغربية تجدد على مدار الساعة - المغرب - ANFAS PRESS ( Ariri Abderrahim ) |url=https://anfaspress.com/news/voir/44786-2018-11-19-11-57-13 |access-date=2023-12-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030044028/https://anfaspress.com/news/voir/44786-2018-11-19-11-57-13 |archive-date=2020-10-30 }}
Controversy
The mausoleum became known for its presence of homosexuals, and the government tried to suppress the rising of homosexual rituals within the building.{{Cite web |date=2018-11-21 |title=طقوس غريبة توقظ "الشيخ الكامل" .. و"جذبة عيساوة" تطرد الجن |url=https://www.hespress.com/%D8%B7%D9%82%D9%88%D8%B3-%D8%BA%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A8%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D9%88%D9%82%D8%B8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D9%8A%D8%AE-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%83%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%84-%D9%88%D8%AC%D8%B0%D8%A8%D8%A9-463617.html |access-date=2023-12-20 |website=Hespress - هسبريس جريدة إلكترونية مغربية |language=ar}} These homosexuals claimed to have been the descendants of Aisha, another local patron saint of Meknes.
Gallery
File:ضريح الشيخ الكامل 24.jpg|The entrance to the mausoleum
File:ضريح الشيخ الكامل - Mausolée Cheikh El Kamel 1.jpg|The courtyard of the building, covered by glass roof
File:ضريح الشيخ الكامل - Mausolée Cheikh El Kamel 6.jpg|Doorway and entrance to the prayer hall
File:ضريح الشيخ الكامل 15.jpg|The tomb of one of Mohammed Al-Hadi ben Issa's descendants
File:ضريح الشيخ الكامل 19.jpg|Hallway
File:ضريح الشيخ الكامل - Mausolée Cheikh El Kamel.jpg|Several graves of commoners, behind the mausoleum
See also
{{commons category|Mausoleum of Cheikh Al Kamel}}