Passing of Sheikh Moulay Jamal Eddine Al-Qadiri Boutchich… The crowning chapter of a journey of knowledge and enlightenment spanning more than half a century

ALDAR / Iman Alaoui

Sheikh Moulay Jamal Eddine Al-Qadiri Boutchich, the head of the Qadiriyya Boutchichiyya Sufi order, passed away on Friday afternoon at the age of 83, after a rich spiritual and scholarly journey that made him one of the most prominent figures of contemporary Sufism in Morocco and the Islamic world.

With his departure, a chapter of authentic Sufi tradition—combining spiritual refinement with service to human values—comes to a close, while a new one opens with his successor, who will continue carrying the torch and principles of the order.

Sheikh Moulay Jamal Eddine was born into a family of learning and piety in Madagh, near Berkane in eastern Morocco—the village that has hosted the Qadiriyya Boutchichiyya order for centuries. He grew up listening to the Qur’an, attending gatherings of remembrance (dhikr), and learning Islamic sciences from his father and other prominent scholars of the time. His upbringing was steeped in piety and openness, with the Boutchich household serving as a meeting place for scholars and disciples from across Morocco. Over the years, he advanced through the ranks of Sufi training, becoming one of the foremost disciples of his father, Sheikh Moulay Abdelkader Al-Qadiri Boutchich, before succeeding him as the head of the order upon his death, inheriting a spiritual legacy that traces back to the Qadiriyya order in the East.

Sheikh Moulay Jamal Eddine was known for his balanced approach to preaching, combining steadfast adherence to religious principles with openness to contemporary issues. He transformed the Boutchichiyya order into an international space for spiritual and cultural exchange, welcoming disciples and visitors from all continents. He oversaw the organization of global Sufism forums, which became platforms for intercultural and interfaith dialogue, as well as showcases for Morocco’s rich heritage. He also contributed to promoting the values of tolerance and moderation, using spiritual education as a means to combat extremism and fanaticism.

Over the decades, the Sheikh developed the order’s work to keep pace with social and intellectual transformations. He had a reformist vision in the educational and missionary fields, founding Qur’anic institutes, supporting academic research on Sufi thought, and paying special attention to youth and women, believing that nurturing the human soul and ethics was the key to building society.

Sheikh Moulay Jamal Eddine’s influence extended far beyond Morocco to the international stage. He participated in intellectual and Sufi conferences and gatherings in both East and West, becoming associated with the image of moderate Islam that bridges authenticity and modernity. He earned the respect of scholars and thinkers of various faiths, being regarded as a symbol of human dialogue and one of the pillars of living Sufism in the 21st century.

With his passing, the Qadiriyya Boutchichiyya order has lost a spiritual leader who was like a father to his disciples, tirelessly instilling love and goodness in their hearts. It is expected that his son and successor, Sheikh Moulay Mounir Al-Qadiri Boutchich, will assume the leadership of the order, continuing the path laid by his father and working to spread its spiritual message in Morocco and beyond, preserving its status as one of the foremost contemporary Sufi schools.

May God have mercy on the gnostic Sheikh Moulay Jamal Eddine Al-Qadiri Boutchich, grant him the highest ranks in Paradise, and place his lifelong contributions to knowledge and spiritual guidance in the scale of his good deeds. May He bless his heirs to carry on the torch of light that illuminated the hearts of thousands across the world.