Ahmed ibn Abi Mahalli

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).

[4] 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.

[4] Al-Yusi recounts in the Al-Muhāharāt, his best known text, that:[4]"Abu Mahalli had followed the path laid out for him by Ibn Mobarek Ezzaeri and had come to possess grace to a certain degree.

[5] After the surrender of Larache to the Spanish in 1610, Ibn Abu Mahalli saw a loss of legitimacy from the Saadians and became determined of their failure to protect the people against a foreign nation of unbelievers.

Despite few adherents initially, his generally assumed baraka was so great that soon enough it was sufficient to defeat Saadi troops and conquer Tafilalt and Draa after which he marched on to Marrakesh.

[7] Ibn Abi Mahalli went to meet Yahya's troops in combat, but was killed in the outbreak of the fight by a bullet in the chest from which he immediately succumbed.