Sd B Azz al-Mahhj (d.

1277) Masters of the Shdhili Path Series Translated by Sidi Idris Watts

His name is Ab Abd Allh B Azz at-Tilimsn al-Mahhj from the tribe of Mahhjah, who originate from a region outside of Tilimsn; Algeria. He had two zwiyahs: one in Oujda in Morocco and the other in Tilimsn. He took from Moulay alArab al-Darqw. He was a man of a high spiritual station. It was related that one day he was sitting with a scholar of law when a man came asking about a very complex issue. The scholar gave his answer, quoting what he had memorised from the book of Khall (a traditional Mlik book of law). Once the scholar had given his answer, Ab Azz sat up and said, I dont think that to be the correct answer. Go back and review the issue in the commentaries of Khall. (This he said even though Ab Azz had never touched a book of law.) On reviewing the commentaries, the scholar found to his astonishment that all of them were in contrary to the position that he had given. He would always surpass the scholars in discussion and leave them speechless if they sat with him. He would say, If the angels were to descend from the heavens, I would be able to converse with them. Initially, he was a man of silence until, one day, his teacher ordered him to speak. From that day, he would talk of matters that would confound the intellects of the people. One day Sd Amad al-Ghumr was with Moulay al-Arab near his death. Sd Amed said that he had still not completed his path. Moulay al-Arab told him that Ab Azz would complete his path. He went to sit with him in Fez. When he came to him he told him he wanted to sit with him in order that he would take him to knowledge of God. Ab Azz welcomed him in. One day, Ab Azz was talking to him and Sd Amad was playing with his beard. Ab Azz told him to get up and showed him the door. Sd Amed asked him why he was treating him so. He explained to him that he was giving him his wisdom and he was distracted with his beard.1 He passed away on Friday 15th (in the middle of Rab al-Awwal) September 1277. He was buried in the Ramlah District of Fez just in front of the mosque of Sd Ab Madyan.

A story related orally to me from Shaykh Buzd Bujrf