International Encyclopedia of Revolution and Protest

Extract

The al-Sanusi (Senussi), called sanmyyia in Arabic, is a Sufi order founded by Muhammad ibn Ali al-Sanusi, who was born near Mustaghanim in Algeria. The Sanusyyia movement was an Islamic reform movement like the Wahhabi of Arabia and the Mahdist movement of Sudan. Organized into a brotherhood ( tariqá ), the Sanusyyia method of reform sought to renew devotion to Islam by emphasis upon spiritual experiences. The call for renewal of an Islamic life became a militant mystical movement that was also a call to oppose western colonialism. The expansion of the French into North Africa was resisted by several elements. These included many desert tribes, traditional rulers, and the al-Sanusi. In 1837 al-Sanusi founded the Sanusyyia at Mt. Abu Qubais near Mecca. Six years later he returned to North Africa, settling in Jabal Akhdar in Cyrenaica. In the mountainous fastness of the area he founded a center of operations at al-Beida in 1843 with the organization of the al-Sanusi Sufi lodge and built the Zawiya al-Baida (White Monastery). Leadership of the al-Sanusi passed to Muhammad al-Mahdi upon al-Sanusi's death in 1859. As the Grand Sanusi, Muhammad al-Mahdi expanded the brotherhood along the Saharan caravan routes. In 1895 the al-Sanusi moved their main lodge to the oasis of Kufra and afterward to the oasis of Qiru in the central Sahara in 1899. These oases were located along Saharan caravan ... log in or subscribe to read full text