روضة ارجال العونات | P3459, Morocco

The Aounat Men of Doukkala: The Aounat Men are five saints whose graves are located in two shrines located in Douar El Ouenazra, which belongs to the Ouled Youssef tribe, not far from Arbaa El Aounat in the far north of the Aounat tribe. They are also known as Ouled Youssef and Hamrin El Turab; as you can see, the two buildings are distinguished by their red paint. It is worth noting that the Aounat Men originated from the Levant and that they are noble descendants of the Prophet's family, hence their name: the "Free Nobles." They came to the region during the crisis following the collapse of the Saadi dynasty. Known for their piety and asceticism, they were respected and revered by the people. They may have first settled elsewhere in Doukkala, but they were brought there amidst tribal conflicts, particularly between Doukkala and the Rehamna in this area. The Aounat region is fertile and has abundant water. People built two domes over their graves, and the two shrines later became pilgrimage sites visited on religious occasions to seek blessings. Between the two shrines is a distinctive soil, both in shape and color, called the henna of Rijal al-Awnat or the henna of the sons of Yusuf. It is used by those afflicted with tonsillitis and other throat diseases. Behind the second shrine is a palm tree. Visitors suffering from toothaches or molar pain hammer a nail into its trunk or hang items of clothing from it. This is what they learned from their ancestors, who learned from those same saints. The shrines are also visited to seek relief from witchcraft. The afflicted person takes a small amount of the soil, places it in a bundle, and then hangs it above the door of their house as a blessing. Furthermore, they have devoted themselves to meeting in the shrines annually during the August season, which they consider an act of charity. They have also turned the area into a cemetery for burying the dead. These two shrines have been neglected, and several graves within the shrines have been vandalized by treasure hunters. Ahmed al-Warith (addressing)

Rida Elhajji