Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

Sidi

Sidi is an Arabic honorific title derived from sayyidī, meaning "my lord" or "my master," used primarily in North African and some Middle Eastern contexts to denote respect for individuals of high social, religious, or scholarly standing.^[1] The term originates from the Arabic root sayyid, signifying a lord or master, and evolved as a dialectical form in regions like Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Egypt, where it functions as a polite address equivalent to "sir" in English.^[1] In historical contexts, particularly in the Maghreb, Sidi is frequently prefixed to the names of venerated Sufi saints and marabouts, such as Sidi Bou Said in Tunisia or Sidi Abd el-Kader in Algeria, highlighting its association with Islamic piety and spiritual authority.^[2] Beyond religious usage, Sidi serves as a general term of respect for elders, teachers, or community leaders in everyday interactions across Western Arabic dialects, often contrasting with feminine equivalents like Lalla. In colonial and postcolonial literature from North Africa, the title appears in narratives depicting social hierarchies, underscoring its role in maintaining traditional deference structures.^[2] Its application extends to place names and surnames in the region, perpetuating cultural reverence for historical figures.^[3]

Etymology and Meaning

Linguistic Origins

The term "Sidi" originates from the Arabic سيدي (Sayyīdī), a possessive form of سيد (sayyid, meaning "lord" or "master"), literally translating to "my lord" or "my master." This derivation stems from the triconsonantal root س-ي-د (s-y-d), which connotes exaltation, mastery, or lordship over others in Semitic linguistics.^[1]^[4] In dialectal Arabic, "Sidi" exhibits variations shaped by regional phonology and usage. In Maghrebi Arabic, prevalent in Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, it is typically rendered as Sīdī with a long ī vowel and simplified consonants, distinguishing it from the Eastern Arabic dialects where it appears as Sayyidi with fuller diphthongization. This contrasts with the standard Classical Arabic sayyid, which broadly signifies a gentleman, leader, or—more narrowly—a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad through his grandsons Hasan and Husayn.^[5]^[6]

Honorific Connotations

The honorific "Sidi" primarily conveys respect for elders, scholars, and spiritual leaders in Arabic-speaking North African societies, functioning as an equivalent to "Sir," "Mister," or "Saint" in English contexts. Derived from the Arabic root s-y-d denoting mastery or lordship, it is prefixed to a person's name (e.g., Sidi Muhammad) to acknowledge authority, wisdom, or moral standing, often in formal address or reference.^[7]^[8] This title exhibits dual layers of connotation: secular, applied to any respected male regardless of religious status, such as judges, prayer leaders, or community elders to signify politeness and social deference; and sacred, reserved for walis (saints) or marabouts whose baraka (spiritual blessing) implies divine favor and intercessory power. In secular usage, it underscores humility and solidarity in interactions with superiors, while the sacred application elevates the bearer to a role of pious exemplarity, as seen in the veneration of figures like Sidi Muhammad in pre-Saharan North African traditions.^[9]^[10]^[8] As a masculine form exclusively, "Sidi" has no direct feminine equivalent within the same linguistic paradigm, though parallels exist in regional dialects such as Lalla in Amazigh (Berber) contexts for women of respect, or Sayyida in classical Arabic for noble or saintly females, highlighting gendered distinctions in honorific systems.^[7] In informal speech, particularly in Moroccan and Tunisian Arabic dialects, "Sidi" extends to familial roles like grandfathers, blending deference with intimacy to foster relational warmth and hierarchy within the household. For instance, a child could use it for a grandfather, reinforcing bonds through everyday courtesy.^[11]

Historical Context

Early Islamic Usage

The honorific "Sidi" derives from the Arabic term sayyid meaning "lord" or "master," which appeared in the 7th century during the early caliphates and was initially applied to prominent figures associated with the Arab conquests, including military leaders and pious individuals, though more narrowly reserved for descendants of the Prophet Muhammad's clan in classical usage.^[12]^[13] This broader connotation for sayyid honored individuals exemplifying piety and authority in nascent Islamic communities. In later North African traditions, Uqba ibn Nafi (d. 683 CE), the Umayyad general who led the conquest of North Africa and founded Kairouan, came to be venerated as "Sidi Uqba," reflecting posthumous respect for early Islamic conquerors and administrators.^[14] By the 8th century, under the Umayyad Caliphate (661–750 CE), sayyid extended to early ascetics and imams who embodied spiritual leadership, laying the groundwork for later associations with sainthood.^[15] Conceptually, the title drew indirect influence from Quranic verses emphasizing mastery (sayyid) and piety, such as in Surah Yusuf (12:25), where it denotes authoritative guardianship, and broader themes of righteous leadership in Surah Al-Ma'idah (5:54–55), which highlight stewardship and moral authority without direct honorific application. Hadith traditions further reinforced this by according respect to early companions and successors (tabi'un) for their role in preserving Islamic teachings, though explicit use of "Sidi" in hadith collections from this era remains sparse. These textual foundations provided a pious connotation, aligning the title with figures who demonstrated mastery in faith and governance during the formative Rashidun (632–661 CE) and Umayyad periods.^[15] The initial spread of sayyid occurred through the Arab conquests, reaching North Africa by the mid-7th century via campaigns led by figures like Uqba ibn Nafi, who established administrative and religious centers where the title signified authority for governors and local imams.^[14] In the Umayyad era, it appeared in Iberian contexts following the 711 CE invasion, applied to early Muslim rulers and scholars integrating Islamic governance in al-Andalus.^[13] This dissemination was tied to the caliphate's expansion, where the honorific facilitated social cohesion among Arab settlers, Berber converts, and local elites. By the 9th century, under the Abbasid transition, its usage for early ascetics—such as those in Basra and Kufa—foreshadowed its evolution into a marker of spiritual precedence, as seen in practices antecedent to 12th-century figures like Abu Madyan (d. 1197 CE), whose veneration echoed 8th–9th-century ascetic traditions. While sayyid had early roots, "Sidi" emerged as a dialectical variant in North African contexts by the medieval period, particularly associated with Sufi saints.^[15]^[13]

Medieval Expansion

During the 10th to 16th centuries, the honorific "Sidi" underwent significant broadening within the Islamic world, particularly through its integration into emerging Sufi orders and the political structures of the Almoravid (c. 1040–1147) and Almohad (c. 1121–1269) dynasties in the Maghreb. These Berber-led empires, which emphasized religious reform and orthodoxy, elevated "Sidi" as a marker of spiritual authority for tariqa leaders and mystics, reflecting the title's shift from personal respect to institutional reverence in Sufi hierarchies. For instance, Sidi Abu Madyan al-Shuʿayb (d. 1197 or 1198), an Andalusian mystic active under Almohad rule, became a foundational figure in Maghrebi Sufism, with his legacy perpetuating the title's association with saintly mastery and zawiya-based teaching. In Reconquista-era Iberia, "Sidi" played a notable role in cross-cultural interactions, denoting Muslim lords and commanders whose authority was acknowledged by both Muslim and Christian forces. The famous warrior Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, known to Muslims as Sidi or as-Sayyid ("my lord"), exemplified this usage during the late 11th-century conflicts in al-Andalus, where the title bridged military and honorific contexts amid the ongoing Christian reconquest. Similarly, in Fatimid (909–1171) and later Mamluk (1250–1517) Egypt, "Sidi" denoted high-ranking ulama and Sufi saints, underscoring its adaptation to scholarly and mystical elites in urban centers like Cairo, where it highlighted spiritual pedigree amid the proliferation of tariqas.^[16] Institutionally, "Sidi" became prefixed to the names of deceased saints in madrasas and zawiyas, fostering practices of tomb veneration that solidified communal ties to Sufi lineages. Prominent examples include the Zawiya of Sidi Bel Abbes in Marrakesh (13th century), a key Almohad successor site dedicated to the venerated Sufi Abu al-Abbas al-Sabti (d. 1204), and the complex of Sidi Boumediene in Tlemcen, Algeria, which served as a center for ritual commemoration and education. These structures not only housed relics but also propagated the title's sanctity through annual mawlids and pilgrimage, embedding "Sidi" in the architectural and devotional landscape of medieval Islam. The title's expansion was further shaped by cross-pollination with Persian and Turkish honorifics during the Abbasid (750–1258) and early Ottoman (c. 1299–1922) periods, where "Sidi" interacted with equivalents like "Sayyid" in multicultural courts and orders, adapting to denote prophetic descent or spiritual eminence across linguistic boundaries. This synthesis contributed to "Sidi's" pan-Islamic resonance, particularly as Sufi networks linked the Maghreb, Egypt, and Anatolia.

Regional Usages

North Africa

In the Maghreb region of North Africa, encompassing Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, the honorific "Sidi" holds profound cultural and religious significance, primarily denoting reverence for saints, spiritual masters, and figures of authority within Islamic traditions. Derived from broader Arabic connotations of lordship, it integrates Berber-Arabic linguistic fusions unique to these areas, often associated with Sufi practices and local veneration. In Morocco, "Sidi" functions as a formal title for male members of the Alawi dynasty bearing the name Muhammad, serving as a substitute for "Mulay" to emphasize their prophetic lineage.^[17] This usage extends to the heir apparent, where it appears in styles like "Smiyet Sidi" to honor shared names with forebears, reflecting the dynasty's Sharifian heritage established in the 17th century.^[17] The title is also prevalent among marabouts, such as Sidi Ahmed al-Tijani (1737–1815), an Algeria-born founder of the Tijaniyya Sufi order who settled in Fez and whose zawiya remains a major pilgrimage center for West African adherents.^[18] In Algeria, "Sidi" commonly prefixes names of Sufi saints revered in zawiyas, religious complexes that serve as educational and communal hubs. The Qadiriyya order, attributed to Sidi Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani (1077–1166), exerted significant influence, with its first Algerian branch established around 1200 and expanding to over 30 zawiyas by the late 19th century, supporting resistance movements and spiritual life.^[19] By 1897, the order had amassed 24,575 followers across these sites, underscoring "Sidi"'s role in denoting saintly authority within Sufi networks. In Tunisia, "Si" operates as a casual equivalent to "Mister" or "Sir," prefixed to men's names for everyday respect, while "Sidi" elevates the term to "Master" or "Saint," often applied to revered elders such as husbands or grandsons in familial contexts.^[20] This distinction appears in numerous mausoleums honoring saints, like the 14th-century Zawiya of Sidi Abid al-Ghariani in Kairouan, which features a marble courtyard, horseshoe arches, and a green-tiled dome, drawing visitors for its architectural and devotional importance.^[21] Shared across the Maghreb, "Sidi" fosters folk veneration at pilgrimage sites, such as the tomb of Moulay Idriss I (d. 791) in Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, Morocco's holiest locale after Mecca, where annual festivals in August attract thousands to honor the Idrisid founder's saintly legacy of Islamizing Berber tribes.^[22] These practices blend Sufi rituals with local customs, reinforcing communal bonds through annual moussem gatherings and shrine visits.

Arabian Peninsula

In the Hijaz region of Saudi Arabia, particularly among traditional Meccan families, "Sidi" functions as a kinship-based honorific, denoting respect for older brothers or paternal uncles rather than invoking saintly connotations. This usage underscores the emphasis on familial hierarchy and patrilineal bonds within Hijazi society, where it is employed even among close relatives to affirm social cohesion.^[23] The term's retention in urban centers like Jeddah reflects Ottoman legacies, where it was applied to merchants and ulama amid the city's role as a bustling port for trade and pilgrimage. During Ottoman administration, such honorifics highlighted the privileges of elite groups, including the Ashraf, who used "Sidi" interchangeably as "master" in both professional and familial settings.^[23] In Yemen and the Gulf states, "Sidi" is extended to religious scholars or sayyids asserting prophetic descent, often within Sufi contexts influenced by the Hadhrami diaspora. Hadhrami migrations have disseminated these practices, integrating the title into local scholarly traditions across the peninsula.^[24] Contemporary shifts in Saudi Arabia have diminished the formal application of "Sidi," with state policies in the 1980s restricting related titles like "sharif" to prevent challenges to central authority, though it endures in Hijazi poetry and oral narratives as a marker of cultural heritage.^[23]

Al-Andalus and Mediterranean Influence

In Al-Andalus, the honorific "Sidi," meaning "my master" or "lord" in Arabic, was widely used among Arabic-speaking Muslims, Mozarabs (Arabic-speaking Christians), and Berber communities to venerate saints and denote authority figures. This usage reflected the multicultural linguistic landscape of Islamic Iberia, where Arabic titles bridged diverse ethnic and religious groups in daily and religious contexts. For instance, the Sufi scholar Abu Sa'id Khalaf al-Baji (d. 1231), revered as Sidi Abu Sa'id al-Baji, was active in Tunis and influenced early Maghrebi Sufism through his teachings on jurisprudence and mysticism.^[25] Following the Reconquista, particularly after the fall of Granada in 1492, Arabic honorifics persisted in secret among Spanish crypto-Muslim communities, known as Moriscos, who outwardly converted to Christianity while preserving Islamic traditions underground. These communities, facing Inquisition scrutiny, maintained elements of Arabic naming and rituals in private to affirm religious identity amid forced assimilation.^[26] This survival extended to Sephardic Jewish naming practices, where "Sidi" emerged as a surname or honorific synonymous with "lord" or "master," originating in 13th-century Spain and carried into the diaspora after the 1492 expulsions.^[27] The title's influence spread across the Mediterranean through Norman-Arab interactions in Sicily and Malta during the 11th–13th centuries, when Norman rulers preserved Arabic administrative and cultural elements in their multicultural kingdoms. In Sicily, under Norman rule, Arabic dialects like Siculo-Arabic facilitated the retention of honorifics such as "Sidi" in intercommunal exchanges, blending with Latin and Greek influences.^[28] In Malta, conquered by Normans in 1091 after Arab rule, "Sidi" endures as a masculine title of respect meaning "my master," embedded in the Maltese language's Semitic core derived from Siculo-Arabic.^[29] This adoption exemplifies the lasting Arab linguistic imprint on southern European honorific traditions.

Cultural Significance

In Sufism and Sainthood

In Sufism, particularly within North African traditions, the honorific "Sidi" serves as a prefix denoting respect for murshids, or spiritual guides, in prominent orders such as the Tijaniyya and Qadiriyya.^[30] For instance, the founder of the Tijaniyya, Ahmad al-Tijani (d. 1815), is commonly addressed as Sidi Ahmad al-Tijani, emphasizing his role as a spiritual authority transmitting esoteric knowledge.^[30] Similarly, in the Qadiriyya, figures like Sidi Sa‘id ibn Yusuf al-Ahansali (d. 1702), founder of the Hansaliyya branch, bear the title to signify their leadership in guiding disciples toward spiritual purification.^[30] This usage implies the murshid's possession of baraka, a divine blessing that flows through their teachings and presence, enabling the transmission of spiritual energy to followers during initiation rituals like the bai‘a.^[30]^[31] The title "Sidi" is closely associated with the concept of wilaya, or sainthood, where it designates walis—friends of God—whose spiritual stature elevates them as exemplars of piety and miraculous intervention.^[32] In Moroccan Sufism, for example, Sidi Šamharūš (d. 1865) exemplifies this, revered as a saint whose authority stems from walaya, granting him occult powers to mediate social injustices through trance rituals.^[32] Tombs of such walis, often prefixed with "Sidi," function as key pilgrimage sites where devotees seek proximity to the divine, believing the saint's enduring baraka resides there.^[31] Rituals at these sites, including mawlid celebrations marking the saint's death anniversary, involve communal recitation, music, and dhikr to invoke blessings and healing.^[31] The title's application is predominantly masculine, reflecting gendered norms in Sufi hierarchies where female equivalents like "Sitt" are rarer for equivalent saintly roles.^[32] Theologically, "Sidi" aligns with broader Sufi understandings of sanctity drawn from Ibn ‘Arabī's (d. 1240) framework of walaya as a perpetual divine friendship manifesting through hidden saints who sustain cosmic order.^[33] These walis embody divine attributes, serving as non-prophetic heirs to spiritual insight without supplanting prophetic authority.^[33] In hagiographies, the title underscores the wali's symbolic function as an intermediary, bridging the human and divine realms by channeling baraka and guiding seekers toward mystical union.^[32]^[33] Such narratives portray Sidi-honored figures as conduits of grace, their lives illustrating the transformative power of walaya in everyday devotion.^[31]

Modern and Diaspora Applications

In the 20th and 21st centuries, the honorific "Sidi" has persisted in postcolonial North African contexts, particularly in literature and media, where it evokes respect for elders, saints, or authority figures. For instance, in Moroccan novelist Mahi Binebine's 2010 work Les étoiles de Sidi Moumen (translated as Horses of God), the title references Sidi Moumen, a Casablanca neighborhood named after a revered saint, symbolizing the blend of spiritual heritage and urban marginalization in contemporary narratives.^[34] This usage reflects a shift toward more secular or social interpretations amid modernization, while retaining its connotations of mastery or sanctity in cultural expressions. In urban Saudi Arabia, particularly the Hijaz region, "Sidi" continues as a familial honorific for older brothers or grandfathers in traditional settings, denoting respect within close-knit communities.^[35] Among Maghrebi diaspora communities in France and Europe, "Sidi" is retained as a term of endearment and respect for elders, especially grandparents, preserving familial hierarchies amid assimilation pressures. In immigrant narratives and oral traditions, it underscores intergenerational continuity, as seen in literary depictions of Arab family dynamics where "Sidi" addresses paternal grandfathers to convey wisdom and authority.^[36] This adaptation highlights the title's role in maintaining cultural identity in multicultural environments. In Indian Ocean communities, "Sidi" occasionally denotes descendants of sayyids (sharifs claiming Prophetic lineage), blending with local Islamic hierarchies, though documentation remains sparse outside historical texts. More prominently, the term carries connotations as a title for African Muslim elites in Deccan India, where it originated from the Arabic "sayyidi" (my lord) and was applied to Habshi (Abyssinian) administrators and nobles under sultanates like Bijapur and Ahmadnagar. Today, it persists in the Siddi community—descendants of these elites and slaves—who number around 70,000 in Gujarat, Karnataka, and Hyderabad, using "Sidi" to affirm their Muslim-African heritage amid ongoing social marginalization.^[37]^[38] The cultural persistence of "Sidi" is evident in gnawa music traditions of Morocco, a syncretic genre blending Sufi Islam, sub-Saharan African rhythms, and spirit possession rituals that have endured into the global era. In lila ceremonies, "Sidi" prefixes names of mluk (spirits), such as Sidi Hamou (associated with the slaughterhouse and red energy) and Sidi Mimoun (a black spirit of healing), invoking ancestral and supernatural authority to facilitate trance and exorcism.^[39] This practice, rooted in the 16th-century arrival of enslaved West Africans, has globalized through festivals like Essaouira's annual Gnaoua World Music Festival since 1998, fusing with jazz and rock while preserving "Sidi"-invoked rituals as symbols of resistance and identity.^[40] In naming conventions across globalized Islamic communities, "Sidi" appears in place names, personal titles, and diaspora lore, adapting to hybrid identities without losing its essence of reverence.^[41]

References

[1]
SIDI Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
The meaning of SIDI is an African Muslim holding a high position under a King of the Deccan —used as a title of respect.
[2]
[PDF] A Jewish Childhood in the Muslim Mediterranean - OAPEN Library
Author's note: Sidi, in Arabic, means Mister, or Sir; Effendi (or effendy) is an honorific title of. Turkish origin. Comparable to “lord” or “master”, it is ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[3]
[PDF] A GUIDE TO NAMES AND NAMING PRACTICES - fbiic
Titles. 17.12 The following titles can also be used with an Arab name: Mr. Sayyed / Al-Sayyed / Sidi (latter in Western Arabic countries,. e.g. Algeria ...
[4]
What Does The Name Sidi Mean?
Derived from the Arabic root s-y-d, the name literally means "my lord" or "my master," functioning as an honorific title of respect and reverence.Missing: etymology derivation sayyidi
[5]
Sayyid - Etymology, Origin & Meaning
Sayid, from Arabic sayyid meaning "lord, chief," originated in 1788 as an Islamic title of honor for descendants of Hussein, Muhammad's grandson.Missing: Sidi honorific syd
[6]
Meaning of the name Sidi
Aug 4, 2025 · The name Sidi is primarily used in Arabic-speaking and North African cultures as a title of respect, akin to 'Sir' or 'Lord.
[7]
Syed - Hazrat Khawaja Moinudeen Chishty (RA) - Weebly
The same concept is expressed by the word Sidi (from the Arabic word 'sayyidi') in the Moroccan dialect of Arabic. Alevis use Syed (In Turkish) as an honorific ...Missing: etymology derivation syd
[8]
The influence of the Berber language on Moroccan Arabic
Aug 6, 2025 · Moroccan Arabic is much influenced by Berber phonetics, phonology, morphology, and lexicon because Berber speakers have carried over many structural features ...
[9]
[PDF] Berber Influence on Arabic Form IX in North Africa - HAL-SHS
Dec 8, 2023 · All Arabic dialects west of Libya productively make use of a verb form FʕāL to generate change-of- state verbs. These typically correspond to ...
[10]
[PDF] Circulation and the Redefinition of Islam in the Ottoman Empire
dissertation centers geographically on the major Ottoman cities of the Eastern Mediterranean. ... adopted this honorific upon completion of pilgrimage ...
[11]
Sayyid | Middle Eastern, Islamic, Descendant - Britannica
Sayyid, (Arabic: “master,” or “lord”), Arabic title of respect, sometimes restricted, as is the title sharīf, to the Banū Hāshim, members of Muḥammad's clan.Missing: honorific | Show results with:honorific
[12]
[PDF] Arabic Scribal Practices in the 3rd-4th/9th-10th Centuries - Refubium
I hereby declare that this dissertation was written and prepared by me independently. Furthermore, no sources and aids other than those indicated have been ...
[13]
[PDF] The Anthropological Role of Arabic Sociolinguistics: The Touat ...
Nov 1, 2019 · they require that their status-titles, such as “Mulay” (My Master) and “Sidi” (My Lord) for the males,. “Lalla” (My Lady) and “Moulate” (My ...Missing: dialects | Show results with:dialects<|control11|><|separator|>
[14]
[PDF] Address Norms in Jordanian Arabic: A Sociolinguistic Perspective
The word can also be used in comple ment with sidi 'sir', sidi ?ifeix 'My sir the Sheikh' to refer to a prayer leader (i. e. Imam). Similarly, persons with ...
[15]
Narrative Remembrance: Close Encounters Between Muslims and Jews in Morocco's Atlas Mountains
### Summary of "Sidi" Usage in Moroccan Context
[16]
2 Saint and Sufi: Religious Notables of the Pre-Sahara
Prior to becoming a Rahmaniyya notable, Sidi Muhammad already enjoyed the status of both saint and scholar due to kinship with the Prophet's family as well as ...Missing: title walis
[17]
Visiting Imam Jazuli and the 7 Saints of Marrakesh | Sacred Footsteps
May 16, 2015 · [5] 'Sidi' from the Arabic سيدي sayyidi, literally 'my master' is a term used in a number of ways; it can be used when referring to a ...
[18]
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/morocco/fez/medina/attractions/zawiya-of-sidi-ahmed-tijani/a/poi-sig/1631864/1342767
[19]
Sayyid | Encyclopedia.com
The colloquial term sidi, derived from sayyid, is used as an honorific before Muslim saints, especially in North Africa. It does not always imply that the ...
[20]
ʿUqbah ibn Nāfiʿ | Arab general - Britannica
ʿUqbah ibn Nāfiʿ (Sīdī ʿUqbah) commanded the Arab army that occupied Tunisia in 670. Before his recall in 674, ʿUqbah founded the town of Kairouan.Missing: Sidi honorific title<|control11|><|separator|>
[21]
Uqba ibn Nafi - Wikipedia
Edward Gibbon, referring to Uqba ibn Nafi as Akbah, gives him the title "Conqueror of Africa," beginning his story when he "marched from Damascus at the head ...Missing: honorific | Show results with:honorific
[22]
[PDF] Sayyids and Sharifs in Muslim Societies - Ghayb.com
Providing a thorough analysis of sayyids and sharīfs from the ninth century to the present day, and from the Iberian Peninsula to the Indonesian. Archipelago, ...
[23]
Static diasporas (Part 1) - Muslims of Medieval Latin Christendom, c ...
... Muslim Seville whom he had led to victory over Granada in the 1070s, “the Cid” (from sīdī, “my lord”) had also been a popular hero in Muslim Zaragoza, which ...
[24]
The Popularisation of Sufism in Ayyubid and Mamluk Egypt, 1173 ...
After the fall of the Fatimid Empire in 1171 and the emergence of a new Sunni polity under the Ayyubids, Sufism came to extraordinary prominence in Egypt.
[25]
MOROCCO1 - Royal Ark
Sidi: 'Lord', the title used in substitute for Mulay for those male members of the Alawi dynasty sharing the name of the Prophet, Muhammad. Smiyit Lalla: a ...
[26]
Zawiya of Sidi Ahmed Tijani | Attractions - Lonely Planet
Algeria-born Sidi Ahmed Tijani settled in Fez and established the Tijaniya order in the late 18th century. It's now the largest Sufi order in West Africa.
[27]
Full article: The spiritual life in Algeria during the 19th century A.D
... Sufi orders in Algeria: Al-Qadiriyah was the first Sufi order to appear in Algeria. It is attributed to Abdul Qadir al-Jilani, who died in Baghdad in 561 AH.
[28]
[PDF] The Secrets and History of the Madaniyya Sufi Tariqah of Ksibet al
May 11, 2009 · ' In Tunisia, it is used as a term of endearment and respect. 4 'Si' is a common prefix attached to a man's name to show respect. It is roughly.Missing: Mister | Show results with:Mister
[29]
Mausoleum of Sidi Abid al-Ghariani Kairouan - AMVPPC : Overview
This Zawia was built in the 8th century AH / 14th century CE, by the Kairouani jurisconsult Abu Abdullah Muhammad al-Jadidi, who died while on pilgrimage in ...
[30]
Tomb of Moulay Idriss - Sacred Destinations
Moulay Idriss is a town and important religious site in northern Morocco that makes a good day trip from Meknes (along with nearby Volubilis).
[31]
Cradle of Islam: The Hijaz and the Quest for an Arabian Identity ...
Participation in charity organisations confers honour and respectability, and those run by wealthy Hijazis stand out in today's Saudi Arabia, their size and ...Missing: honorific | Show results with:honorific
[32]
The "Tariqa" on a Landcruiser: The Resurgence of Sufism in Yemen
honorific titles, such as habib, sidi, sharifa,33 etc. The revival of these customs, which were officially abolished by the Socialist regime, is ...
[33]
the early history of sufism in the maghrib prior to al-shadhili - jstor
The spiritual leader in Cordova ... sojourn in Tunis was Abf Sa'id Khalaf al-Baji,10' who died in 628/1231 and was buried in the Jabal al-Marsa which to this day ...
[34]
Christians in name: TheMoriscoproblem (1499–1614) (Chapter 7)
... crypto-Muslim community survived in Granada until a final Inquisitional purge of 1727. But for all intents and purposes, by 1615 Islam had disappeared ...
[35]
[PDF] Linguistic- Historical Research on the Surnames of the Sephardic ...
In Sephardic (Spanish- Jewish) Studies, the chapter about Names and their ... - Sidi (Arabic), means Master, Lord, (from Spain 13th century) a synonym to ...
[36]
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23311983.2024.2442817
[37]
sidi in English - Maltese-English Dictionary - Glosbe
my owner is the translation of "sidi" into English. Sample translated sentence: Il-profeta Isaija jbassar: “[Alla] jeqred il-mewt għal dejjem, jixxotta Sidi l- ...
[38]
[PDF] The Sufi Orders in Islam - J.Spencer Trimingham
In terms of the wider setting within the Islamic culture we are concerned with a vast movement of the spirit which spread throughout the Islamic world, ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[39]
Enslaved Muslim Sufi Saints in the Nineteenth-Century Sahara
Sep 30, 2021 · As noted by Vincent Cornell in his study of Sufism and sainthood in Morocco, saints are recognized as such because they possess both walāya ( ...
[40]
Saints and Social Justice in Morocco - jstor
Sidi Samharus of the Atlas has acquired many honorific titles such as Sidi. (honorific title bestowed on a person of holy descent), sayh (Sufi master),.
[41]
Chapter 4 Friends of God and Sainthood According to Ibn ‘Arabī
### Summary of Ibn Arabi's Concepts of Sainthood (Walaya) and Veneration of Saints in Sufism
[42]
Mahi Binebine's Horses of God (Les étoiles de Sidi Moumen)
Aug 6, 2025 · The novel describes the lives of four childhood friends growing up in a slum near Casablanca, navigating poverty and purposelessness and being ...
[43]
SiDi™ – The Yeshiva World
Sidi is a masculine title of respect, meaning “my master” in Western Arabic language and Egyptian Arabic (sayyid in other dialects) equivalent to modern ...
[44]
“Sidi” - Asharq Al-Awsat
Sep 27, 2023 · Slaves would call their “(paternal) uncle,” and in the Hijaz, grandfathers are referred to as “sidi.” The meaning varies according to context ...Missing: contemporary | Show results with:contemporary
[45]
Code-switching and diasporic identity in Susan Abulhawa's Against ...
Calling grandparents 'Sidi' and 'Sitti' expresses appreciation and respect for their status, age, and wisdom. There are other titles for grandparents like ...Missing: dialects sources
[46]
African Elites in India: Habshi Amarat - Google Books
Habshi is the Arabic for an Abyssinian or Ethiopian, and Sidi is apparently derived from the Arabic sayyidi, "my lord".
[47]
Deborah Kapchan on the Gnawa of Morocco - Afropop Worldwide
Dec 8, 2023 · There are pagan spirits. There are the red spirits, like Sidi Hamou. Sidi Hamou is the spirit of the slaughterhouse, and he's very difficult to ...
[48]
Gnawa music: From slavery to prominence - Al Jazeera
Dec 3, 2015 · Simply put, Gnawa is the music of formerly enslaved black Africans who integrated into the Moroccan cultural and social landscape, and founded ...
[49]
Cultural and Creative Industries: Gnaoua Music and Socio ...
Aug 23, 2024 · As spiritual descendants of Sidi Bilal, Gnaoua trance music ... traditions of Gnaoua music, have played significant roles in this global exposure.<|separator|>