I have met Sheikh Hamza many times and I can witness that the man is very humble and radiating. There is a mafia of couscous and bendir around him like in any organisation. But I was not complaining about the couscous that I have been fed at the house of many leaders of "Communist" parties. What people see as the veneration of the sheikh is tantamount to all spiritual paths: just see what Rumi did for his sheikh Shams Tabriz and what the tijanis do for Sidi Ahmed Tijani. What I do not like is the way the makhzen is portraying the authentic Sufi culture in Morocco. At the end one can only say: w beshhaaal?

Why they scream for what?
I am surprise how can those people fight with all this new technology
we all of us we love Allah < but
do we need to improve our life < and be stronger < or just scream and wait for couscous > Allah doesn?t like that
this guy is just human been < he was talking about what we know we need to take care of our youngest smart people <

long ago the sufi scholars were so humble, so simple and desired only to glorify god... nowadays what I've seen is that the followers of a tariqa almost pseudo-worship their "sheikhs" - you are not supposed to question in any way shape or form what they say - their word is infallible, just like how catholics over-glorify the pope... this is the root of "gholouw" that the prophet warned us from doing to him or to anyone. and what do you mean harmony by "no strings attached" ? do you have any idea what kinds of social pressures the followers go through?? and it is not true that they do all these good charitable acts for nothing - they are (wether directly or indirectly) trying to attract more followers, as any other mission would do.
I'm proud to be descended from a sufi sheikh, and proud that he was a great scholar and yet still humble and leading a simple life. I find his writings inspirational, and wish I could travel back in time to meet him. But I would not call myself "sufi" today because nowadays the word connotes a whole package of bida3 and cult-like practices... not to mention you are put under enormous pressures and forced to take sides and to judge those who are not of your own tariqa - they are immediately excluded from many aspects of your life - I have seen it happen. and that's what I find very sad.
modern sufism needs a good dose of real tasawwuf..

I was actually researching the biography of the current leader of this Zawya in Morocco Sheikh Hamza, and the man is very well educated no doubt about that. Read his profile in wikipedia. But anyways, i just feel that people who follow zawiya, sufism etc, exagerrate their admiration and love of their sheikhs. yes, the sheikhs may be kind, influential and knowledgeable men, but that's about it. One ought not associate divine relations with them. I take it this is the basis of sufism and zawaya, and that this debate has been rehashed a thousands times in history. Probably, the most important thing is that zawaya keep people attached to their religion and continually working on their personal character. That can be a priceless accomplishment from the social point of view, which can impact all the aspects of society.

I went once when I was in the baccalaureat. Two of my friends dragged me there. I had a blast. Plenty of couscous and bendir. It felt like a wedding.

you have to see this live to understand how it impacts you and what it does to you. nobody is waitin for couscous to be served trust me :) Zawya Kadiria Boutchichia is one of the biggest and very orginised Zawya in morocco. that was probaby held in Madagh but they had branches all over the country and they do tonnes i mean tonnes of good work, they feed tonnes of people build houses and mosques and so on.. and NO strings attached... nobody ever asks u to join them what so ever.. i suggest u guys do some research on them. the shouting is volentary and spontanious.. its not staged or anything. thanks for the clip Adnane..

The "Cheers"...

The sheers of the audiance make me think of a Rock star entering the stage. :-)
Probably half of them are just waiting for the couscous to be served ...:-)

good one. It reminds me of fund-raising dinners :)