Sidi El Houari facts for kids
Quick facts for kids El Houariسيدي الهواري |
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Mausoleum of Sidi El Houari in Oran
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| Religion | Islam |
| Denomination | Sunni |
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| Born | Mohamed ben Omar el-Houari 1350 Sour, Ain Tedles, Wilaya of Mostaganem |
| Died | 12 September 1439 Oran |
| Influenced | Ibrahim Tazi |
Sidi El Houari (born in 1350, died September 12, 1439) was a very important Algerian imam. An imam is a leader in the Muslim community, often leading prayers. His real name was Ben-Amar El Houari. He is known as the patron saint of Oran, a big city in Algeria. A patron saint is like a special protector or guide for a place or group of people. An old part of Oran is even named after him!
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Who Was Sidi El Houari?
Sidi El Houari was born in 1350 in a village called Sour. This village is about 20 kilometers east of Mostaganem, near Ain Tedles. At that time, this area was ruled by the Marinid dynasty.
His Early Life and Learning
Sidi El Houari was very smart from a young age. By the time he was just ten years old, he had already memorized the entire Qur'an. The Qur'an is the holy book of Islam. Because he knew the Qur'an by heart, he earned the special title of Hafiz. He also learned about Sufism, which is a spiritual part of Islam.
He traveled to many cities to learn more. He visited places like Tlemcen, Fes, Tunis, Mecca, Jerusalem, and Damascus. After all his travels, he decided to make Oran his home. The people of Oran welcomed him warmly.
His Studies and Teachings
Sidi El Houari studied Islamic theology at a special school called a zawiya. He learned at the Derkaouia Mahajia zawiya, which was famous for religious studies. He also studied in Béjaïa and then in Fes, where he even taught for a while. Later, he traveled to Egypt.
He made a Hajj to Mecca. A Hajj is a very important pilgrimage for Muslims. After his journey, he returned to Oran and opened his own school, called a madrasah. Many students and friends followed him, including Sidi Ibrahim Tazi and Sidi Said.
Where He Is Buried
Sidi El Houari passed away on September 12, 1439. He is buried in a place called Aghlad, which is near Timimoun. Even though he is buried far from Oran, many people still visit his mausoleum. A mausoleum is a building that holds a tomb. Visiting his tomb is like a daily pilgrimage for many people.
Images for kids
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People of the Sahara believe that Sidi Houari is buried in this Tomb in the whereabouts of Timimoun
