859 AH) in the small city of Zliten, Libya, which is located roughly 100 mi (161 km) east of Tripoli near Leptis Magna.
[2] He received his early mystical training from Abd al-Wahid al-Dukali, a khalifa of the Shadhili 'Arusi order who initiated him into the tariqa.
Al-Asmar lived as a zahid (ascetic), alone in Libya's vast desert performing various types of miracles for those in need.
He died in 1575 aged 120 and his tomb became a place of pilgrimage, a large masjid was constructed in his remembrance at the location surrounding his grave.
A small archaeological museum contains various frescoes from the villa of Dar Buc Ammera and a collection of ceramic Roman artifacts belonging to the various tombs found on the peripheries.