Skip to main content

Huge crowds descend on Egyptian city to celebrate Sufi mystic

For one week, hundreds of thousands of Egyptians travel to the city of Tanta to honor Ahmed al-Badawi, the most popular Sufi mystic in the country, with ancient rituals and traditions.
tantaegyptmawlid.jpg
Read in 

TANTA, Egypt — Amid Egypt's ongoing political or economic difficulties, hundreds of thousands of people traveled to Tanta, 57 miles north of Cairo, in early October to celebrate the birth of Ahmed al-Badawi, a 13th-century mystic from Morocco who settled in Tanta and founded the Badawiyyah order of Sufism.

The birthday celebration, or “moulid” or “mawlid,” takes place over the course of six days and seven nights. This year it began Oct. 6 and ended the night of Oct. 12. The celebration includes rituals and traditions that have been practiced for thousands of years, in particular in the villages and cities of Upper Egypt and the Nile Delta, where large numbers of people are followers of Sufi orders (tariqa).

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.