Zaouia of Dila

The Zaouia of Dila was a Sufi brotherhood, centered in the Middle Atlas range of Morocco. It was founded by Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad (1537–1612), a follower of the famous mystic Muhammad al-Jazuli. The ruins of the town of Dila are situated just south of Khenifra.

Under the leadership of Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr, the brotherhood was able to consolidate its power over the Berber tribes of the Middle and High Atlas ranges. From 1637 onwards, the brotherhood started with the conquest of large parts of northern Morocco. By 1641, they had conquered Rabat, Meknes and Fes. In Fes, the Saadi family was expelled and Muhammad al-Hajj (1635–1688) was proclaimed sultan. In Fes, the Dila'ites had many problems being accepted as legitimate rulers by the populace. As Berbers and non-Shurafa, they were seen as being unfit for the Moroccan sultanate. They tried to counter this sentiment by claiming descendence from the old Almoravid family.

The Dila'ites would rule over central and northern Morocco until 1668, when Dila itself was ravaged by the shurafa Alaouites and Fes was taken.