Ahmed ibn Abi Mahalli

Ahmed ibn Abi Mahalli (; 1560–1613), born in Sijilmasa, was a Moroccan Imam and the Sufi leader of a revolt (1610–13) against the reigning Saadi Sultan Zidan Abu Maali in the south of Morocco in which Ibn Abi Mahalli proclaimed himself Mahdi. He occupied the Saadi's southern capital Marrakesh in 1612 until his death.

Biography Born to a family of scholars, Ibn Abi Mahalli was trained in Fez by Sufi masters. In his early years, his teacher was Sidi Ahmed ben Aboulqacem Essoumai Ettadeli. As young teenager he went to Fez to finish his studies which lasted for 4 to 5 years. Then he went to Adjedzihara (countryside around Fez) and completed his Risala (Treaty of Law). In completing his theology education, during 18 years Ibn Abi Mahalli then became disciple of Abou Abdallah Sidi Mohammed ben Mobarek Ezzaeri, sheikh of his zaouia (institution). In the early 1590s, his master assigned him to Sijilmasa, to remain there, and gifted his disciple his stick, his burnous, and his shoes; as well as upon farewell handing him a hat and putting it on Ibn Abi Mahalli's head as a religious symbol. His party now numerically strengthened, he attacked the capital of Marrakesh and opened its gates, but the Saadi forces of Sultan Zidan Abu Maali came after him and their attack was "unrelenting and merciless". Nevertheless Ibn Abi Mahalli was victorious at the battle, while Zidan Abu Maali was forced to flee westward to Safi.

Ibn Abi Mahalli occupied the capital thus entering and installing himself as master in the Imperial El Badi Palace. There he married Dowager Princess Lalla Aisha bint Abu Bakkar al-Shabani mother of Zidan Abu Maali, consumed his marriage with her and a son was born of their union. Sultan Zidan was able to overcome Ibn Abu Mahalli only with much difficulty and resolved to ask assistance from Abu Zakaria Yahya ben Abdallah el-Daouidi, Islit Al-Khirit Fi Kalie Bouloume Al-Ifrit A'Nnefrit (en ) El-Haoudadj Al-Kostas El-Mostakim Fi Maarifat A'sahih Mina A'sakim El Ouaddah Manjanik Sokhor Lihadmi Binaa Cheikh El Ghoror Ou'Rass El-Fodjor Jaouab El-Kharoubi