Ali ibn Harzihim

For the teacher of Ash-Shadhili see Abu Abdallah ibn Harzihim

Sidi Ali ibn Harzihim (Arabic: علي بن حرزهم‎) or Abul Hasan Ali ibn Ismail ibn Mohammed ibn Abdallah ibn Harzihim/Hirzihim (also: Sidi Hrazem or Sidi Harazim) was born in Fes, Morocco and died in that same city in 559/1163.[1] He was a berber[2] Sufi teacher, leader of a Ghazalian zawiya in Fes and was the spiritual master of Abu Madyan. Ibn Hirzihim was largely responsible for the propagation of the works of Al-Ghazali in northwest Africa. He taught at the Qarawiyin University of Fes and openly criticized the policies of the Almoravid dynasty. Ibn Harzihim was also responsible for the burial of Sidi Abu Hakam ibn Barrajan, which, according to some sources, was forbidden by the Almoravid sultan. Sidi Ibn Harzihim received his khirqa (the Sufi robe) from Ibn al-Arabi before Ibn al-Arabi's death in 1148.[3] He received his teachings from his uncle Abu Muhammad ibn Saalih ibn Harzihim (d. 505/1112), who took it from Al-Ghazali. He was buried at the Bab Ftouh (south-eastern gate) cemetery of Fes, in a mausoleum which also contains the tomb of the Alaouite dynasty's founder, Moulay Rashid.[4] The water source "Sidi Harazim" was called after him.