Mozabite people

The Mozabiten, also Mzabiten or Beni Mzab (Arabic بني ميزاب, DMG Banī Mīzāb ) called, are a devout Ibadis community by Berbers in the Algerian Sahara. They live in the district Mzab and the oasis of the same name, and speak their own Berber language, Mzab - Wargla. Its center is Ghardaia.

The Mozabiten are one of the few remaining communities of the Kharijites in the Maghreb. The members of the community separated strictly from other groups of Islam and are in turn seen by others as heretics. As the head they recognize only a chosen Caliph, which is given to recognize Allah as the best Muslim.

History

After the fall of the Emirate of Rustamiden of Tahert and the settlements around Sedrata in the 11th century, the Ibadis moved back to the area of Wadi Mzab. There they built at great expense from the oases with the help of irrigation systems and planted in large palm groves. Economic importance came the Mozabiten by controlling the caravan trade in the central Sahara (see: trans-Saharan trade ), which mainly trade in slaves, ivory and gold threw off substantial profits. The work in the oasis gardens was for the slaves. The craft was in the hands of the Jews and the nomads were protected the trade caravans and cities.

Every small town of Mozabiten was organized as a theocratic republic, with a council of twelve religious notables was in charge of the case-law, while a council of laymen led the administration. In the 19th century there were several legal reforms in the Mozabiten. That is how Sheikh Abd al - Aziz ibn Ibrahim al - Musabi († 1808) the right of Ibadis in Kitab at - Nile together.

1853 Mozabiten were placed under the French protectorate, and in 1882 the French administration and since 1962 part of independent Algeria. The most important places of mozabitischen Pentapolis are Ghardaia and the holy city of Beni Isguen. There are also the villages of Melika, Bou Noura and Atteuf.

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