Ouezzane
Encyclopedia
Ouezzane is a town in northern Morocco
, with a population of approximately 57,972 (2004).
The city is well known in Morocco and throughout the Islamic world by being a spiritual capital for it was home for many of the pillars of Sufism
. It has been known also as “Dar Dmana”.
Many Jews of Morocco consider Ouezzane to be a holy city and make pilgrimage
s there to venerate the tomb of several marabout
s (Moroccan saint
s), particularly moul Anrhaz, the local name for Rabbi
Amram ben Diwan
, an eighteenth-century rabbi who lived in the city and whose burial site is associated with a number of miracle
s.
During the Rif rebellion (leader Abd el Krim) in 1925 -1926 Ouezzane was an important supply base for French Army. Ouezzine was connected by an 600 mm gauge narrow gauge
railway via Ain Dfali, Mechra Bel Ksiri
to Port Lauatey, now Kenitra
, forming part of the 1912 - 1914 French built extensive narrow gauge network of Chemins de fer Militaires du Maroc, the largest 600 mm gauge network ever existed in Africa
with total length of more than 1700 kilometres.
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
, with a population of approximately 57,972 (2004).
The city is well known in Morocco and throughout the Islamic world by being a spiritual capital for it was home for many of the pillars of Sufism
Sufism
Sufism or ' is defined by its adherents as the inner, mystical dimension of Islam. A practitioner of this tradition is generally known as a '...
. It has been known also as “Dar Dmana”.
Many Jews of Morocco consider Ouezzane to be a holy city and make pilgrimage
Pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a journey or search of great moral or spiritual significance. Typically, it is a journey to a shrine or other location of importance to a person's beliefs and faith...
s there to venerate the tomb of several marabout
Marabout
A marabout is a Muslim religious leader and teacher in West Africa, and in the Maghreb. The marabout is often a scholar of the Qur'an, or religious teacher. Others may be wandering holy men who survive on alms, Sufi Murshids , or leaders of religious communities...
s (Moroccan saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
s), particularly moul Anrhaz, the local name for Rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
Amram ben Diwan
Amram ben Diwan
Amram ben Diwan was a venerated 18th-century rabbi whose tomb has become the site of an annual pilgrimage.Born in Jerusalem, he soon moved to Hebron in 1743 and was sent to Morocco in order to collect donations for the Holy land from the Jewish community there. He took residence in Ouazzane where...
, an eighteenth-century rabbi who lived in the city and whose burial site is associated with a number of miracle
Miracle
A miracle often denotes an event attributed to divine intervention. Alternatively, it may be an event attributed to a miracle worker, saint, or religious leader. A miracle is sometimes thought of as a perceptible interruption of the laws of nature. Others suggest that a god may work with the laws...
s.
During the Rif rebellion (leader Abd el Krim) in 1925 -1926 Ouezzane was an important supply base for French Army. Ouezzine was connected by an 600 mm gauge narrow gauge
Narrow gauge
A narrow gauge railway is a railway that has a track gauge narrower than the of standard gauge railways. Most existing narrow gauge railways have gauges of between and .- Overview :...
railway via Ain Dfali, Mechra Bel Ksiri
Mechra Bel Ksiri
Mechra Bel Ksiri is a town in Sidi Kacem Province, Gharb-Chrarda-Béni Hssen, Morocco. According to the 2004 census it has a population of 27,630....
to Port Lauatey, now Kenitra
Kenitra
Kenitra is a city in Morocco, formerly known as Port Lyautey. It is a port on the Sebou River, has a population in 2004 of 359,142 and is the capital of the Gharb-Chrarda-Béni Hssen region. During the Cold War Kenitra's U.S...
, forming part of the 1912 - 1914 French built extensive narrow gauge network of Chemins de fer Militaires du Maroc, the largest 600 mm gauge network ever existed in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
with total length of more than 1700 kilometres.