Abu Salim al-Ayyashi

Who was Abu Salim al-Ayyashi?

Abu Salim Abdallah Ibn Mohammed al-Ayyashi was a well-known travel writer, poet and scholar from Morocco. He was born in a small village in Tafilalt. His father was the head of a zawiyya. Al-Ayyashi lived and studied in Fez and joined the Sufi order of the Nasiriyya in Tamegroute. He travelled three times to the Hijaz in 1649, 1653 and 1661 and stayed for long periods in Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem and Cairo. He wrote a two volume rihla about his journeys: Ma al-Mawaid. During his travels he also wrote poetry. He is also the author of The Gift of the Close Friends.