Abu Al Hassan El-Shazly or Sheikh Shazlyas called now or the original name Humaithara ( ar, حميثرة ', also spelled "Humaisara," "Al Maithara") or Sheikh Shazily (Arabic. الشيخ الشاذلى) (as it is called in Egypt now) is an isolated town in the Egyptian desert located in the

Red Sea Governorate Red Sea Governorate ( ar, محافظة البحر الأحمر ) is one of the 27 governorates (States) of Egypt. Located between the Nile and the Red Sea in the southeast of the country, its southern border forms part of Egypt's border with ...

Egypt Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Medit ...

. The town is surrounded by hills. The Holy Shrine of Imām Nūr al-Dīn Abū al-Ḥasan ʻAlī al-Shādhilī is located here.

The shrine of Imam Shadhili

Humaithara is well known in the Islamic pilgrimage map for the highly venerated tomb of Imam Shadhili. It takes around 3 hours by road from Aswan, 4–5 hours from Edfu.

The core tomb

The core tomb building in which Imam Shadhili's grave is found was constructed in the year 1259 (656 Hijri), immediately after the death of Imam Shadhili.

The extended building

After the late 13th century, the number of pilgrims visiting the grave of Imam Shadhili increased and the shrine was extended in order to accommodate large numbers of people. The visitors to this shrine include

Imam Fassi Muhammad bin Muhammad al-Fassi (commonly known as ''Qutbul Ujud Imam Fassi'') (1760?–1863) was the originator of the Fassi family of Sheikhs who constitute the Fassiyatush Shadhiliyya Sufi order. Early life Fassi was born either in the year 11 ...

Makkah Mecca (; officially Makkah al-Mukarramah, commonly shortened to Makkah ()) is a city and administrative center of the Mecca Province of Saudi Arabia, and the holiest city in Islam. It is inland from Jeddah on the Red Sea, in a narrow v ...

, who is also called the second al-Shadhili and one of his important disciples, his 21st ''

khalifah Khalifa or Khalifah (Arabic: خليفة) is a name or title which means "successor", "ruler" or "leader". It most commonly refers to the leader of a Caliphate, but is also used as a title among various Islamic religious groups and others. Khalif ...

'', and the founder of the Fassiya branch of the Shadhili order. Almost all leaders (''shuyūkh'') from Bait Al Fassi, Makkah have visited the shrine of Imam Shadhili, their shaykh here in Humaithara.

The well of Humaithara

There is a well outside the shrine. Imam Shadhili's gargled water was poured into this well on the day before his death. The water in this well is located in the midst of a desert but never goes dry throughout the year. The water of this well is pure and it serves the drinking water needs of the local villages.

Transport

The airports closer to Humaithara are

Marsa Alam Airport Marsa Alam International Airport is an international airport located 60 km north of Marsa Alam in Egypt. It is an important destination for leisure flights from Europe. Overview It was built in response to the increasing needs of European ...

and

Aswan International Airport Aswan International Airport , also known as Daraw Airport, is a domestic airport (despite its name) located 16 km southwest of Aswan, Egypt. It was built in 1956 and upgraded in 1992 and 1999 by the Egyptian government. Airlines and desti ...

. Bus services are available from Cairo, Aswan, and

Marsa Alam Marsa Alam ( ar, مرسى علم ' , Classical Arabic ) is a town in south-eastern Egypt, located on the western shore of the Red Sea. It is currently seeing fast increasing popularity as a tourist destination and development following the openi ...

. Taxi and rickshaw services are not available in the locality of Humaithara.

Climate

Humaithara is one of Egypt's driest and hottest localities.

References

{{Reflist Populated places in Red Sea Governorate Sufi shrines Sufism in Egypt Mausoleums in Egypt Ziyarat