By electing Tlemcen as Capital of the Islamic culture 2011, the Islamic Organization for Education, Culture and Sciences has made the right choice, based on the city’s rich cultural inheritance and historical monuments whose symbol and reputation show the Algerian creativity and proves the magnificence of the Islamic civilization.
Definitely, this event is of a great importance for Algeria which will apply itself to highlight its contribution and its role in the enrichment of the Islamic culture; it will be an open book where we will recall its bright pages and teachings, that give us strength, determination and self-confidence; and reveal the prestige of this ancient city and its contribution to thinking, inspiration and valiance throughout different eras.
This, to renew the generations’ conscience about their history and to bring them together to the quintessence of noble values; to preserve our uniqueness and identity ,on the one hand, and to show the cultural dimension of our nation ,on the other one. Hence; to appreciate the common human glories and to synchronize them with the contemporary time and its growing challenges, because the world will leave us behind and surpass us, unless we participate effectively in the shaping of its new traits with our past and present, the ingenuity of our generations and confident aspirations for the future .
Agadir, Pomaria, Tagrart, Mansourah, Tlemcen… under various names, these areas were inhabited by civilizations witnessing its history and exhalation, embracing time and space. Its leading way is an awakening full of accomplishments and morals.
Agadir, Pomaria, Tagrart, Mansourah, Tlemcen… under various names, these areas were inhabited by civilizations witnessing its history and exhalation, embracing time and space. Its leading way is an awakening full of accomplishments and morals.
Through time, Tlemcen was a forum of interactions between different nations. Wherever we look we find ourselves surrounded by time in all its density and accumulations; through many vestiges which constitute the general morphology of the city, its dominant presence form a unique architectural tissue depicted in its districts, mosques, zaouïas(fraternal societies), medersas and all the characteristics of the spiritual fulfillment that culminated with knowledge, hardship and devotion to reach the fountain of truth.
The history of Tlemcen goes back to prehistory; it did not begin with the Roman invasion in the 3rd century AD, but it took place with its Amazigh inhabitants.
The city experienced harsh campaigns of invasions; that situation enabled its habitants to acquire courage, resistance and the capacity to endure hardship. Since then, Tlemcen has always resisted, stood up and sculpted its days with the chisel of time and man’s will.
The city experienced harsh campaigns of invasions; that situation enabled its habitants to acquire courage, resistance and the capacity to endure hardship. Since then, Tlemcen has always resisted, stood up and sculpted its days with the chisel of time and man’s will.
Tlemcen has undergone many phases since its invasion by Abû Al Mouhâjir, Okba Ibn Nâfa and their followers. The city had played many roles; it was the capital of the Bani Abd Al Wâd’s whose domination lasted for three centuries, the Idrissides, the Fatimides, the Morabitines, the Almohades and the Merinides. Its geographical position and its economical resources are at the origin of this historical clutter. According to the accounts of old historians like Al Bakri and Ibn Khaldûn, Tlemcen was, indeed, a halt for passing caravans and a market place to trade the African gold.
During the Islamic era, Tlemcen was marked by an exceptional intellectual life as well as the development of sciences and knowledge whose lights has reached the great Islamic cities of the Orient « Machreq » and the Maghreb.
Following the fall of Andalusia, Tlemcen had benefited from the immigration of scholars coming from Cordoba and Granada. Moreover, with the broadening of knowledge and the uprising of philosophical and Soufist movements came the emergence of Al Ach’arî’s thought in the beliefs and the Malekite rite in the jurisprudence.
Tlemcen was, deservedly, a political as well as a scientific base in the central Maghreb.
Among the scholars whose knowledge enlightened the intellectual life of this region; Ahmed Abû Al A’bâss, Ahmed Ben Yahia, Ali Al Wancharîssî, the notable Sidi Boumediene Al Ghouth, Al Hassan Abû Ali Aberkân, Choâïb Ben Al Hassen Al Andalussi, Afif A’dîn A’tilimçâni, Ahmed Al Moqri A’tilimçâni, Mohamed Ben Ibrâhîm Al Abdari, Mohamed Ben Omar Al Houâri, Mohamed Al Imâm Al Senoûci, Mohamed Benmarzoûq, Mohamed Ben Abdelkrim Al M’ghîli, Mohamed Ben Mériem A’tilimçâni and many others.
The presence of this great number of savants, writers and legists is no coincidence, it is the result of emirs’ and sultans’ actions who were devoted to belles-lettres and knowledge, they supported various sciences and arts, like sultan Abou Hamou A’ziyâni II, the author of a book entitled “bonds of conducts in monarchs’ policy “, sultan Ighmûrâcen who made of Tlemcen the Mecca of disciples coming from different regions.
These rulers gratified the savants, encouraged literary production and the acquisition of books; they conscientiously attended circles and scientific meetings which were full of lively discussions and confrontations of ideas. Consequently; that led to the shining of knowledge such as: jurisprudence, logic, Sufism, geometry, arithmetic, astronomy, music, agronomy…etc.
Following the fall of Andalusia, Tlemcen had benefited from the immigration of scholars coming from Cordoba and Granada. Moreover, with the broadening of knowledge and the uprising of philosophical and Soufist movements came the emergence of Al Ach’arî’s thought in the beliefs and the Malekite rite in the jurisprudence.
Tlemcen was, deservedly, a political as well as a scientific base in the central Maghreb.
Among the scholars whose knowledge enlightened the intellectual life of this region; Ahmed Abû Al A’bâss, Ahmed Ben Yahia, Ali Al Wancharîssî, the notable Sidi Boumediene Al Ghouth, Al Hassan Abû Ali Aberkân, Choâïb Ben Al Hassen Al Andalussi, Afif A’dîn A’tilimçâni, Ahmed Al Moqri A’tilimçâni, Mohamed Ben Ibrâhîm Al Abdari, Mohamed Ben Omar Al Houâri, Mohamed Al Imâm Al Senoûci, Mohamed Benmarzoûq, Mohamed Ben Abdelkrim Al M’ghîli, Mohamed Ben Mériem A’tilimçâni and many others.
The presence of this great number of savants, writers and legists is no coincidence, it is the result of emirs’ and sultans’ actions who were devoted to belles-lettres and knowledge, they supported various sciences and arts, like sultan Abou Hamou A’ziyâni II, the author of a book entitled “bonds of conducts in monarchs’ policy “, sultan Ighmûrâcen who made of Tlemcen the Mecca of disciples coming from different regions.
These rulers gratified the savants, encouraged literary production and the acquisition of books; they conscientiously attended circles and scientific meetings which were full of lively discussions and confrontations of ideas. Consequently; that led to the shining of knowledge such as: jurisprudence, logic, Sufism, geometry, arithmetic, astronomy, music, agronomy…etc.
This socioeconomic prosperity had a positive impact on people’s lives as they excelled in crafts, music and architecture. They created promenades, erected castles, forts and bridges; as a result of a peaceful coexistence, between different races and religions, full of understanding and tolerance. Muslims, Jewish and Christians took refuge in Tlemcen where they settled, melted in its indulgent and tolerant project of civilization, and altogether got integrated in its traditions and culture.
Among the numerous vestiges which are still standing up to the hazards of time with grandness and solemnity, we will name; Al Jamaâ Al Aâdham (the great mosque), the mosque of Sidi Boumediene, Al Machouar, The suburb of Agadir, Al Mansourah, Al Jamaâ Al Kabîr (the big mosque) in Nedroma, the mosques of Sidi Al Halwâ, Sidi Ibrahim, Sidi Belahcen and many other monuments.…
Let’s ask ourselves: Is the recalling of some names of renowned figures and constructions fair enough to reveal all that’s hidden inside Tlemcen?
Definitely no, the accumulation of time is too great to be contained in few letters or words. As we are standing in front of these accomplishments which appear overflowing above these reliefs and plains, we can only but melt in its entity and boldly walk towards the renew of its chronicles , since the historical consciousness starts by rooting the identity elements far from unfruitful alienation and isolation.
Here is the face of the city taking back its charm thanks to the restoration of many old constructions of apparent modest features but shine through their shape and deepness; nowadays, as they are standing next to new buildings, they join the past to the present in an enchanting harmony.
This exhibition is another appointment with history and man, so that Muslim nations would reconcile with themselves, and drive the locomotive of the cultural development which should be transformed to effective, non superficial exchanges. On the contrary, this event should be an enlightened way our endeavor which is overwhelmed with hope and optimism, in order to strengthen our culture.
Furthermore, this event will be an opportunity to contemplate decisive historical details in order to adopt the values of liberty, love and tolerance and raise them to the ways of citizenship which are shaped by our eternal Islamic culture.
Let’s ask ourselves: Is the recalling of some names of renowned figures and constructions fair enough to reveal all that’s hidden inside Tlemcen?
Definitely no, the accumulation of time is too great to be contained in few letters or words. As we are standing in front of these accomplishments which appear overflowing above these reliefs and plains, we can only but melt in its entity and boldly walk towards the renew of its chronicles , since the historical consciousness starts by rooting the identity elements far from unfruitful alienation and isolation.
Here is the face of the city taking back its charm thanks to the restoration of many old constructions of apparent modest features but shine through their shape and deepness; nowadays, as they are standing next to new buildings, they join the past to the present in an enchanting harmony.
This exhibition is another appointment with history and man, so that Muslim nations would reconcile with themselves, and drive the locomotive of the cultural development which should be transformed to effective, non superficial exchanges. On the contrary, this event should be an enlightened way our endeavor which is overwhelmed with hope and optimism, in order to strengthen our culture.
Furthermore, this event will be an opportunity to contemplate decisive historical details in order to adopt the values of liberty, love and tolerance and raise them to the ways of citizenship which are shaped by our eternal Islamic culture.
Abdelaziz Bouteflika
In Algiers
On Di El Hija, 29th, 1431 Hijri year
December, 5th, 2010 AD
