Coming from Africa, the Arab world, Asia, Europe, and even Latin America, the 1,000 followers of the Tariqa Tijania met from May 14 to 16, 2014, on the occasion of their 3rd international forum. Sufi masters, scholars, researchers, or simple disciples came from 47 countries around the world to honour the memory of the venerated Sheikh Sidi Ahmed Tijani, founder of this brotherhood in the 18th century. They came to meditate, recite verses from the Quran, declaim panegyrics of the Prophet Sidna Mohammed, and participate in conferences, notably on the future of the brotherhood. "The followers came from the four continents of Africa, Asia, Europe, and America to meet in Fes to pay tribute to Sheikh Sidi Ahmed Tijani. It is also an occasion to strengthen their belonging to the Tariqa Tijania and to reflect, collectively, on the future of the brotherhood and the promotion of a tolerant Islam," indicated to the press, Mohammed Al Kabir Tijani, sheikh of the brotherhood. For his part, Mohamed Youness Abdelhamid, from Indonesia, told us: "I am in Morocco because it is the country where our Sheikh Sidi Ahmed Tijani rests and from this country he learned and founded his Tariqa that we follow today. Hence the place that this country occupies in our hearts and in the heart of all Tijani Sufis of the world." Malek Haj Barou from Senegal indicates for his part that extremism today gives an erroneous image of Islam which is arbitrarily associated with violence. And to add that the Zaouia (brotherhood) can play a very important role to dispel this amalgam and correct the image of this religion based on tolerance and openness and peace as recommended by Sheikh Ahmed Tijani to his disciples. In Fes, this brotherhood which claims some 300 million followers around the world, particularly in West Africa, intends today to strengthen its role as a bulwark against obscurantism and aspires to face the rise of religious extremism and terrorism. The brotherhood indeed wants to inaugurate a new stage, by coordinating the actions of its Zaouias around the world in close coordination with the Machiakha of the Tariqa based in Fes, this secular city, where all Tijanes dream of praying at least once in their life. Indeed, the proliferation of sectarian violence fuelled by radical currents that seek to spread their destructive theses among populations, by taking advantage of the lack of education and religious supervision, makes it necessary "to dynamise the role of Sufism in the dissemination of spiritual security and the diffusion of values of love and concord, far from fanaticism and hatred," as stressed by HM King Mohammed VI, Amir Al Mouminine, in his message addressed, on Wednesday, to the participants in the third assembly of the followers of the Tariqa Tijania in Fes (May 14-16 current).

This conclave will allow, among other things, to discuss how the Tariqa Tijania, one of the most influential Sufi brotherhoods, will be able to accomplish this educational and spiritual mission, important as much for the preservation of the stability of societies as for the well-being and tranquillity of individuals. In this regard, HM the King insists on the fact that "there is no other choice than to proceed to a collective mobilisation of all those who call for a median Islam in its Sunni approach in the land of Islam," in order to "bar the road to the chanters of radicalism, terrorism, dissension, dismemberment, and mystifying doctrines," "meet the challenge of blind extremism and thwart the demons of separatism and division."

Sufism, for a tolerant Islam opposed to extremism. Sufism has always played a primary role in the promotion of a "moderate Islam." In the message addressed to the disciples of the Tariqa Tijania at the opening of their third international forum, HM King Mohammed VI, in his capacity as "Commander of the Faithful," emphasised the major role that the Tariqa Tijania has played throughout the sub-Saharan region and the Sahel by promoting an authentic Islam. The Sovereign praised the "role of Sufism in the dissemination of spiritual security and the diffusion of values of love and concord." "It is a question of barring the road to the chanters of radicalism, terrorism, dissension, dismemberment, and mystifying doctrines." For the researcher and specialist in Sufism Mountassir Hamada, this royal letter reflects the place that Sufism occupies in Morocco and the role that Morocco, a country renowned for its tolerant and open Islam, can play in the preservation of peace, notably in African countries that are experiencing a significant rise in extremism and terrorism. "Since 2006, Morocco has proceeded to a global upgrading of its political field. Whatever one thinks of it, this upgrading remains unique and serves as a model for several African and Arab countries. The actions carried out contribute to fighting against extremism and terrorist movements that are rampant in the Sahel-Saharan region and to promoting a tolerant Islam. Moreover, the religious dimension was very present during the last African tour of His Majesty which led him to Mali, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, and Gabon. A tour marked by the signing of numerous agreements in several fields and especially by the very warm welcome that was reserved for His Majesty. Which demonstrates the religious and spiritual ties uniting the peoples of the visited countries to the commandery of the faithful that King Mohammed VI embodies," he explains. Mountassir Hamada specifies that the Tijania brotherhood strengthens these spiritual ties all the more so as it counts a very important number of its followers in West Africa, including very influential religious leaders. "I have a president as a citizen and a king as a believer," this phrase pronounced by a young Tijane says a lot about the nature and strength of these ties. Secular solicitude. Sheikh Sidi Ahmed Tijani, the founder of the Tariqa Tijania, is one of those great men whose quest for religious knowledge and Sufi knowledge led him to many lands, before settling in Fes in 1798. Once there, Sultan Moulay Slimane reserved for him a warm welcome worthy of his person and surrounded him with his benevolence and esteem, faithful in this to the Moroccan tradition and the duty of respect to a scholar, with a view to allowing him to fulfil the noble mission of promoting spiritual education and the values of Islam. This tireless fighter of the faith, as his disciples affectionately describe him, will pass away in Fes a few years later (in 1815), making the spiritual capital of the Kingdom a high place of pilgrimage for the followers of the Tariqa, at a time when the treasure of profound teachings, sublime virtues, and spiritual wisdom that he bequeathed continues to inspire millions of people around the world. It is in recognition of this Sufi heritage that the spiritual city of Fes, guardian of his mausoleum, hosts the third international forum of the followers of the Tariqa Tijania to reflect on the means to strengthen the ties of solidarity, fraternity, understanding, and mutual aid between Muslims, consolidate the spirit of tolerance and peace in the world, and trace the paths capable of guaranteeing the Tariqa Tijania greatness and renown.