Draft:Muhammad bin Ali al-Senussi
| Muhammad bin Ali al-Senussi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | Muhammad bin Ali al-Senussi |
| Other Names | {{{other_names}}} |
| Personal Details | |
| Birth Place | Torsh, near Mostaganem, Algeria |
| Brith Date | 22 December 1787 (CE) |
| Death Place | Jaghbub, Libya |
| Death Date | 1859 (CE) |
| Religion | Islam |
Muhammad bin Ali al-Senussi was the founder of the Senussi, one of the Sufi orders of Sunni Islam in North Africa. This order once held the government of Libya.
Biography
The modern history of Libya was influenced more by the establishment and radiance of a new powerful order called the Senussi than by the presence of the Ottoman Turks, whose presence was relatively limited in duration. The founder of this dynasty was an individual named Muhammad bin Ali al-Senussi, the forty-second descendant from the lineage of the Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny), who was born on 22 December 1787 (CE), corresponding to 1166 SH, in "Torsh" near "Mostaganem" in Algeria. From 1209 SH (1830 CE), Senussi spent some time in Mecca as a student of Ahmad bin Idris al-Fasi, the founder of the Qadiriyya – Idrisiyya orders, and following his death in 1216 SH (1837 CE) in the Mount Abu Qubais area near Mecca, he established his first zawiya ("zawiya" refers to centres where sciences are taught and religious orders are propagated). After some time, Senussi returned to Barqa and in 1234 SH (1855 CE) established a zawiya in Al-Bayda and a zawiya in Jaghbub, and in 1238 SH (1859 CE) passed away in the same location. (He was known as al-Senussi al-Khattabi al-Hasani al-Idrisi and was the founder and leader of the first Senussi; he also had works.) [1]
First Successor (Muhammad al-Mahdi)
Following Senussi's death, his son named Muhammad al-Mahdi al-Senussi took his place and, by dominating a significant part of the Eastern Sahara, established branches of the order in Kanem, Ouaddai, and Borkou. Muhammad al-Mahdi died in Guro in 1280 SH (1901 CE). (He claimed Mahdism and his movement found many followers in Barqa (located in the Maghreb of Egypt situated in present-day Libya) and the Sahara of Algeria, and spread to Sudan as well. Eventually, after causing disturbances for the British, with the occupation of Libya by Italian forces in 1329 SH (1950 CE)Template:Efn, the Senussi force was also crushed[2].
Second Successor (Muhammad al-Sharif)
The nephew of Muhammad al-Mahdi al-Senussi named Muhammad al-Sharif became his successor (1259–1312 SH / 1880–1933 CE) and due to the arrival of the French in Chad (Kanem, and Tibesti), relocated to Kufra and there set about forming a guerrilla group against European colonisers. Following the formation of this group, in the years 1294–1295 SH (1915–1916 CE), Muhammad al-Sharif fought against the British on the border of Egypt and against the French in the Sahara, and eventually was defeated behind the gates of Agades and in southern Tunisia and was forced to leave Libya.
Leadership of Muhammad Idris al-Senussi in Libya
The grandson of the founder of the Senussi order known as Muhammad Idris al-Senussi, who was born in 1268 SH (1889 CE), became the Emir of Barqa in 1295 SH (1916 CE) and in 1301 SH (1922 CE) was expelled by Mussolini and fled to Cairo, returning to Libya 24 years later to take power. The Italians, following the Treaty of Ouchy, took the place of the Turks and immediately after the war, brought the entire country under their control; but despite the exhausting efforts and long resistance of the Senussi (Omar Mukhtar in Al-Qasur near Barqa), the war ended with the conquest of Kufra in 1310 SH (1931 CE) and Senussi assets were seized and their zawiyas closed except for the Jaghbub zawiya. During the Second World War, Emir Idris, by sending Western Libyan forces to Egypt, sided with the British, and "Sir Anthony Eden" in 1321 SH (1942 CE) promised the Senussi dynasty the restoration of their rights for 1325 SH (1946 CE). Three years later, Idris became the Emir of independent Barqa and in 1331 SH (1952 CE) became the ruler of the Kingdom of Libya (including Barqa, Tripolitania, and Fezzan). After Libya achieved the precious capital of oil and its export, it was able to earn a large budget. However, the internal political situation changed very quickly, and King Idris, who initially had a popular face, lost his credibility and influence due to the misuse by tyrannical and corrupt courtiers. Student protests and oil worker strikes in 1346 SH (1967 CE) were also not a good sign for the continuation of his reign. The Libyan Army, which was disappointed by the defeat in the Six-Day War (the war of Arabs with Israel which occurred in 1346 SH (1967 CE), lasted no more than six days and led to the defeat of the Arabs), and watched the Sultan's indifference regarding Palestine, delivered the final blow when Idris was visiting Turkey and Greece. And by seizing sensitive points of the country in 1348 SH (1969 CE), declared a republic.
Weakening of Senussi Thought
The Senussi thought, which had played an important role in the religious life of Libya for a century, was weakened by the uprising of 1348 SH (1969 CE), and the removal of the University of Al-Bayda, which was counted as a Senussi seminary, dealt a deadly blow to the body of this order[3]. Senussi believe that Muslims should live in the same way as the Muslims of early Islam and become united and integrated with each other.