Mouride Order

The Mouride order (Wolof: yoonu murit, Arabic: الطريقة المريدية, romanized: aṭ-Ṭarīqat al-Murīdiyyah) or the Mouridiyyah (Arabic: المريدية) is a Sufi order (tariqa) most prominent in Senegal and The Gambia with headquarters in the city of Touba, which is a holy city for the order. Adherents are called Mourides, from murīd (مُرِيد, 'one who seeks'), a term used generally in Sufism to designate a disciple of a spiritual guide. The beliefs and practices of the Mourides constitute Mouridism. Mouride disciples call themselves taalibé in Wolof and must undergo a ritual of allegiance called njebbel, as it is considered highly important to have a sheikh, "spiritual guide," to become a Mouride. The Mouride brotherhood was founded in 1883 in Senegal by Amadou Bamba. The Mouride order is particularly popular among the Wolof community and a significant amount of the population of Senegal follow the order, and their influence over everyday life can be seen throughout Senegal.