Sidi El Houari was born in 1350 in the village of Sour, 20 kilometres east of Mostaganem and near Ain Tedles, then under Marinid rule.

[citation needed] Out of Tlemcen, Fes, Tunis, Mecca, Jerusalem, Damascus and many other cities which he visited, he chose to settle in Oran and honour its inhabitants.

He was well received by Oranians, and although he was buried far away from the city, visiting of his mausoleum, which shelters his supposed tomb, resembles an irremovable daily pilgrimage.

[citation needed] At the age of ten years, he had already memorized the whole Qur'an by heart and had acquired the title of Hafiz, educated in the doctrine of Sufism.

[citation needed] He went to Kel Mitou in the meadows of Chlef to visit a Saint and acquire his favour.