Sidi El Houari

Sidi El Houari (1350-1439) was an Algerian imam whose real name Ben-Amar El Houari. He died 12 September 1439 at the age of 89. He is the patron saint of the city of Oran in Algeria.

Biography

Sidi El Houari El Maghraoui belongs to Berber fractions of the tribe Maghrawa , Born in 1350 in the village Saure or Soure (ex: Bellevue) near Ain Tedles in the willaya of Mostaganem ( Algeria). After his death he was buried in his native village of Saure (ex: Bellevue).

Sidi El Houari El Maghraoui was a very respected scholar, and many cities would have wished whether he was their guest. Out of Tlemcen, Fes, Tunis, Mecca, Jerusalem, Damascus and many other cities which he visited, he chose Oran to settle and honour his inhabitants. Oranians in return welcomed him well and, and although he was buried far away from the city, the visit of its mausoleum, which would shelter its supposed tomb, resembles an irremovable daily pilgrimage.

At the age of ten years, he was already memorizing all the Koran by heart and had acquired the title of Hafiz, educated in the Sufism doctrine

He went to Kel Mitou, meadows of Chlef to visit a distinguished Saint and acquire his favour.Then he came to Oran searching for theology of Islam to study Koranic sciences in Zaouia " Derkaouia Mahajia ' " His known for its traditions in the field of religious studies. Having been studied in Béjaia and then Fès.

He went to the Mecca for Hajj (pilgrimage). Once he returned he settled definitely in Oran where he opened a Madrasah of Koranic education. Among the known adherents who were companions of the imam Sidi El Houari El Maghraoui, we shall name Sidi Ibrahim Tazi and Sidi Said (m'rabet of Hassi El Ghella).

Sidi El Houari died in September 12th 1439. He is buried in its natal village Saure (ex: Bellevue) near d ' Ain Tedles in the willaya of Mostaganem.