Marrakech, August 9, 2025 – Sheikh Moulay Jamal Eddine El Qadiri Boutchich, the spiritual guide of the Qadiriyya Boutchichiyya Sufi order, passed away on Friday afternoon at the Military Hospital in Rabat at the age of 83.
His death follows a prolonged illness that had earlier prompted King Mohammed VI to order his medical evacuation from Oujda to Rabat in April via a medically equipped Royal Gendarmerie helicopter.
Born in 1942 in the village of Madagh, Berkane province, Sheikh Jamal Eddine had led the Qadiriyya Boutchichiyya order since 2017, succeeding his father, Sheikh Sidi Hamza El Qadiri Boutchich, according to a written testament sealed in 1990. The order’s headquarters in Madagh remains a central spiritual hub for disciples worldwide.
Sheikh Jamal Eddine studied at the local zawiya before continuing his education in Fez and later in Rabat, where he earned a diploma in Islamic sciences and completed his doctorate in 2001 with a thesis titled The Institution of the Zawiya in Morocco Between Authenticity and Modernity.
Known for his discretion, he devoted his life to spiritual guidance, appearing publicly only during major celebrations such as Mawlid. In January, during the eighth anniversary of his father’s passing, he appointed his son, Moulay Mounir El Qadiri Boutchich, as his successor, reaffirming the order’s message of benevolence and closeness to God.
The Qadiriyya Boutchichiyya order, rooted in the teachings of Abdul Qadir Jilani, is among Morocco’s largest Sufi orders, with disciples from across the globe. It has played a significant role in spiritual diplomacy and intercultural dialogue while balancing fidelity to tradition with measured openness to modernity.
With his passing, Morocco has lost one of its foremost Sufi scholars and a prominent figure in the modernization and revival of zawiyas, leaving behind a lasting spiritual legacy both nationally and internationally.
