Sacred Echoes in the Streets of Fez: Unveiling the City's Divine Legacy

Exploring the spiritual essence of Fez, it is crucial to examine the city's identity as a sacred place, particularly within the context of its spiritual lineage and its revered figures. Despite its pivotal role in the history of holiness, Fez is not among the three traditionally canonized holy cities of Islamic tradition—Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem. These cities were sanctified through the revelations of the Quran and the events of the prophetic mission. Fez, established later, did not witness these formative spiritual events, yet it holds a prophetic significance in Islamic eschatology, as noted by Darrās Ibn Ismā‘īl through a Prophetic saying about Fez:

"There will be a city named Fez (Fās). Its people, having the straightest qibla in the Maghreb, will be steadfast in prayer. They are united around the Sunnah, consensus, and the path of truth, constantly adhering to it without suffering from their opponents; God will keep away those they dislike until the Day of Resurrection!"

The providential nature of Fez and its sacred aura are also vividly captured in the prayers of its founder. A descendant of the founder, in the Salwa, systematically highlights Fez's distinguished "merits" from "most other countries":

"Among its merits are the central presence of Mawlay Idris [...] its establishment by a member of the Prophet’s family [...] the presence of the shurafa' families in such numbers unmatched by any other city [...] the presence of scholars in such numbers that it is said Fez pours forth knowledge as it pours water from its springs [...] the fact that it is a place of saints and virtuous people in great number, whose saints are like lions unmatched by others [...] the fact that it is called ‘zawiya’ among the men of God [...] the meeting place of saints for significant matters [...] the place where the descendants of the Prophet and scholars are revered more than in other cities; the fact that it has been since its founding a home of religion, Sunna, and the consensus of the Muslim community [...] the place of abundant blessings, thanks to the blessing of its founder's invocation, mirroring what his ancestor the Prophet did for Medina and our lord Abraham for Mecca; the fact that it is spared from the invasion of infidel enemies [...] its merit narrated in the hadith of Darrās Ibn Ismā‘īl; the fact that it is purified from sects [...] the fact that it is the hub (qa‘ida) of the Maghreb [...] well-provisioned with water; the fact that its kings were in most cases from the Prophet’s family; the fact that a large number of saints, scholars, and shurafa' are buried there..."

This passage, common in the literature of faḍā’il (sacred merits), positions Fez within a sacred geography that traces back to the foundational sources of Islam—the Quran and collections of hadiths where the significance of certain locations frequented or mentioned by the Prophet, or previous prophets, is noted.

Modern historians like A. Sebti and anthropologists like A. Moussaoui, suggest that cities are not merely products of physical logics but often result from spiritual beliefs and attitudes. This perspective reshapes our understanding of Fez's spiritual aura and its role as a city of saints and a center of spirituality in the hagiographic tradition. What emerges is not just the historical or geographical significance of Fez but its enduring spiritual essence that intertwines the city’s identity with its holy founding and the continuous presence of its saints, defining Fez’s unique status in the panorama of Islamic spiritual geography.