Senussi

The Senussi, also spelled Sanusi, refers to a Sufi religious-political order founded in Mecca in 1837 by Grand Senussi, Sayyid Muhammad ibn Ali al-Senussi. The order initially focused on spiritual revival and education, emphasizing a return to the teachings of the Quran and Sunnah. Its doctrines were a synthesis of orthodox Islamic beliefs with Sufi mystical practices, aiming to purify Islam from later accretions and superstitions.

From its origins in Mecca, the Senussi movement spread rapidly, establishing zawiyas (religious centers) and gaining followers across North Africa, particularly in Libya, Egypt, and Sudan. The order's structure was hierarchical, with a spiritual leader at the helm, supported by a network of disciples and a system of charitable endowments. They were known for their commitment to education and their role in providing social services to local communities.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Senussi order evolved into a significant political force, especially in Libya, which was then under Ottoman rule. They actively resisted Italian colonial expansion in the early 20th century, leading to prolonged conflicts. During World War II, the Senussi leadership, notably King Idris al-Senussi, allied with the Allied forces against the Axis powers. Following Libya's independence in 1951, King Idris became the first king of the United Kingdom of Libya. The monarchy was overthrown in a 1969 coup, and the Senussi order as a formal political entity was dissolved, though its religious and cultural influence persists.