A Sufi of eighteenth-century Morocco: The life, thought and influence of ʿAlī al-Jamal (d. 1193/1779)

This thesis examines the Sufi heritage of ʿAlī al-Jamal, the shaykh of Mawlāy al-Darqāwī (d. 1239/1823), founder of the Darqāwiyya order, often linked with neo-Sufism and renewal (tajdīd). It investigates how al-Jamal acted as a source for renewal within the order and in what areas this renewal manifested. Centered on his work, Naṣīḥat al-murīd fī ṭarīq ahl al-sulūk wa-l-tajrīd, the study compares its themes with Shādhilī classics to identify points of continuity and divergence, thereby clarifying his position within the broader Shādhilī tradition. The study's axis is al-Jamal's redefinition of tajrīd with a distinct antinomian/malāmatī meaning, which diverged from earlier usage. This concept was expressed through practices opposing conventional outward and inward customs, representing a significant renewal within the Shādhiliyya, which is very antinomian meaning. The thesis also explores his stance on unity, questioning his connection to al-Shushtarī's (d. 668/1269) school of absolute unity of existence (waḥda muṭlaqa) and the extent of Akbarian influence. We conclude that although al-Jamal was influenced by both traditions, his limited use of their technical terminology prevents a formal affiliation with either school, indicating a form of continuity. In the section dealing with the etiquette and rules of the order, it has been observed that it is in complete harmony with the previous Shādhilī tradition. The study makes three contributions. First, it demonstrates that the antinomian phenomenon, often associated with al-Darqāwī, was in fact more prominently manifested in his predecessor, al-Jamal. Second, it critically re-evaluates assumptions found in neo-Sufi interpretations of the tradition of waḥdat al-wujūd. Finally, it brings to light an important transitional figure in the evolution of this spiritual orientation, revealing a distinct and self-contained development (ijtihād) within the broader Shādhiliyya tradition.