Imagine Abou alkassim, a name whispered with reverence. Who was this man of such renown?
Abou alkassim al-Zayyani was no ordinary figure. He was a Moroccan historian a geographer and also a poet. Az-Zayyani was a statesman from the Berber Zayane tribe. His life story is captivating.
Born in Fes in 1734 or 1735 Abou alkassim’s lineage traced back to the Sanhaja tribes. Imagine his ancestors converting to Islam in the eighth century AD.
Az-Zayyani’s grandfather became an Imam. He died in Meknes in 1727. His son Ahmed moved to Fez. Here Abou alkassim was born eight years later.
He completed his Islamic studies in Fes in 1785. He attended courses in the mosques of al-Qarawiyyin and al-Andalusiyyin. Az-Zayyani frequented the madrasas of al-Sahrij and al-‘Attarin.
Life took an adventurous turn. Az-Zayyani accompanied his parents on a pilgrimage to Medina. They sold their houses and library. They intended to settle there permanently.
Their journey was fraught with peril. A shipwreck near Yanbu’ cost them their cargo. They landed in Arabia destitute. His mother had sewn three hundred pieces of gold in her belt. This saved them. They completed their pilgrimage. But they had to return to Morocco.
Back in Cairo, Az-Zayyani explored alchemy and divination. He searched for the peculiarities of metals and stones.
After nearly two years they learned of the death of the Moroccan Sultan ‘Abd Allah. They embarked on a French ship to Livorno. They traveled to Morocco by land.
In Barcelona, they learned that the French besieged Gibraltar. They waited until the blockade was raised. Finally, they arrived in Fez with only seven silver mithqal.
Az-Zayyani sought a secretarial post. His father tried to dissuade him. But Ez-Zayyani didn’t change his decision.
He became an imperial secretary in Morocco. He skillfully navigated the intrigues of the Moroccan Makhzen. He made his qualities recognized soon.
Abu al-Qasim al-Zayyani died in 1833. He was ninety-nine years old. The sultan ordered his burial in the zawiyya of the Nasiriyya Sufi order.
Az-Zayyani wrote fifteen works in history and geography. Some consider him the greatest historian of Morocco. His writings include historical accounts of the Ottoman and Alaouite dynasties. Al-Tarjuman al-mu’rib ‘an duwal al-mashriq wa’l-maghrib is one of his famous books.
Abu al-Qasim al-Zayyani engineered government attempts. He tried to bring tribes under central authority. He undertook diplomatic missions to the Ottoman court.
Standing here remember Abou alkassim al-Zayyani’s legacy. He was a historian a geographer a poet and a statesman. His life was full of adventure and intellectual pursuit. His works continue to inspire.