L’Expression: Société – A secular mystique in the heart of Oran

The great waâda of Sidi El Hasni is back. After two full years of interruption, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the famous waâda of western Algeria and the city of Oran resumes its rights. Scheduled for July 21 to 23, 2022 in the zaouia of the same name, this high-quality Sufi event will include several aspects of spiritual and folk entertainment. Even if the program will experience some notable changes, it goes without saying that the waâda will keep its cachet of yesteryear, with a whole panoply of folkloric and religious activities. As usual, the first festivities will be marked by the welcome of disciples and fans of the tariqa, including an exceptional Sufi ritual. Indeed, this is the case for the reception of guests and guests, in particular the disciples in delegations, and the chouyoukh of great influence in the different regions of the country, in particular in the region of Touat and in the great South in Reggane and elsewhere. . Armed with flags and green banners singling out their respective zaouias, the faithful often belonging to the same brotherhood and others from known zaouias, come to seek the good graces of the sheikh of the tariqa. A new allegiance that is formulated towards him, giving proof of official recognition. The waâda of Sidi El Hasni, whose followers are affiliated with the tariqa Taïbya, is a great moment in the mystical life of the western capital. The space of a waâda, the saint Sidi El Hasni is resurrected by his faithful disciples, through praises and melodious chants in praise of God and His Prophet (Qsssl). The saints are, in truth, the faithful servants who have reached a threshold or degree of spiritual elevation and self-denial in the worship of God. Contrary to what Wahabi thought conveys, which goes so far as to excommunicate those servants of God who have chosen “Khelwa”, isolation, even a form of esotericism, Sufi thought advocates a tolerant and purely spiritual Islam. Hence this relentlessness on his disciples, by the savage terrorist hordes during the dark decade in Algeria. Despite this, and at the height of terrorism, the waâda never stopped until the last two years. This year, the festivities will take on a different cachet and taste. The program will take place within the zaouïa located in the district of the same name, housing the mausoleum of the holy man and all the Algerian descendants of the lineage of the chorfa of Ouazzane. The waâda will begin with the traditional bull sacrifice ceremony, including preludes with praises to God and the Prophet Mohammed (Qsssl). The feast will then begin for the benefit of the guests and people passing through and other followers. One of the most intense moments of the waâda is undoubtedly the Selka (the recitation of the 60 hizb of the Koran), which will begin from the prayer of El Asr until the prayer of Sobh, the dawn of the next day. There too, a whole ritual accompanies this impressive Koranic recital, during which the chouyoukh and the scholars recite the entire Koran, under the cover of a sleepless night, until the first light of dawn. “At that time, the wishes will be granted, because the Koran has just been recited by noble followers”, we agree to say. Hence the presence of an impressive crowd in the early hours of the morning of the next day, at the gates of the zaouia. The Hadra is also a highlight of the waâda, where troupes perform impressive frescoes and euphoric Sufi praise. This year, the Hadra risks taking more discreet forms. The last day will be marked by the organization of the white procession, a kind of pilgrimage towards the mausoleum of the patron saint of the city, in this case Sidi El Houari. Throughout the waâda, a feast of traditional couscous will garnish the course of the festivities.