The Political and Religious Importance of the Jaghbub Zawiya and Its Role in the Spread of the Senussi Movement (1843–1920 AD)

Abstract

This study examines the political and religious role of Al-Jaghbub Zawiya in Libya from its establishment in 1843 by Imam Muhammad bin Ali Al-Sanusi until the early twentieth century, with a focus on its role in spreading the Sanusi movement within Libya and across the Sahara Desert. The research addresses various functions of the Zawiya, including religious education, social and political mobilization of tribes, resistance against French, British, and Italian colonial influence, and the strategic relocation of the Sanusi leadership to Kufra to ensure the continuity of the movement.
The study concludes that Al-Jaghbub was more than a religious center; it served as a comprehensive hub combining religious, educational, military, and political leadership functions, significantly contributing to the consolidation and dissemination of the Sanusi ideology across Libya and the greater Sahara region.