| Moulay Brahim is the grandson of Abdellah Ben Husain, the founder of the most
powerful Zaouia in the region of Marrakech in 1525:
The zaouia of Tamsloht some kilometres to the West of
that of Moulay Brahim., which was founded in 1658.
To establish their status, the saints had to perform some miracles. Moulay
Brahim embarked (apparently with a lot of success) in matrimonial affairs and
(supernaturally) “assisted procreation”: Youngsters (male and female) looking
for a partner and barren women sought (and still seek nowadays) Moulay Brahim’s
assistance. The most fervent believers (the saying goes), who are gratified
by the favours of the saint, give birth to beautiful babies nine month later.
Moulay Brahim used to exercise his supernatural talents on a hill on the opposite
bank of Ghighaya River in a quite and private place that local people, respectfully
call " Khaloua [1] of Moulay Brahim" and the non believers call "panties trees
" because of the feminine underwear that penitents leave there. Moulay Brahim
is still today the theatre of a well-known Moussem
that is held once a year.
In fact, Moulay Brahim was not doing something original, since many other saints
in the region of Marrakech (Muslims and Jews) were helping youngsters to find
a partner and women to have children. Conversely, his grandfather, the founder
of Tamsloht, had a rare speciality: he had the power to frighten sparrows away
from fields. And when one realises the extent of damage done to crops by these
birds in the region of Marrakech, one can then have an idea of the social power
that this saint had. It is also noteworthy that the miracles of all these saints
are always related to the survival of the group.
A share of the crops was given to the holly man as a reward for his services.
The offerings of the faithful added to the exemptions and privileges bestowed
upon the zaouia by the Sultans made of the latter the biggest landowner and
the first oil producer in the region of Marrakech in the XIX century. These
land riches were not exceeded until the next century by that of the Glaouis.
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