The zāwiya in the Marinid period: the pious ruler and the revealing case of al-Nussāk (Salé, Morocco)

  • Iñigo Almela Museum für Islamische Kunst - Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
Keywords: Islamic architecture, zāwiya, Maghrib, Morocco, Marinid, Fez, Salé

Abstract

The present work tries to approach the social, political and architectural dimension of an institution of great relevance for the history of the Maghreb, the zāwiya. This has largely been a hallmark of the religious life of the Islamic West since the Middle Ages and its physical manifestation, both in the urban and rural world, is remarkable. However, its study throughout the different historical periods is conflicting since, unlike other institutions, the concept has undergone an evolution and its current meaning cannot be extrapolated to past times.

Thus, to better understand this aspect, an attempt has been made to define the idea of zāwiya in the Marinid era by means of two significant examples which were sponsored by sultán Abū ʻInān and described by his secretary al-Numayri. In fact, the second of them, located in Salé, is especially revealing, insofar as its archaeological remains have survived to this day. Although very devastated, these vestiges have allowed us to carry out an analysis with the aim of knowing its architectural configuration, the functions it housed and its relationship with the environment.

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Published
2022-03-20
How to Cite
Almela I. (2022). The zāwiya in the Marinid period: the pious ruler and the revealing case of al-Nussāk (Salé, Morocco). Anaquel de Estudios Árabes, 33, 33-73. https://doi.org/10.5209/anqe.77645
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Articles