Mohammed al-Hajj is the grandson of the founder of the zaouia Abu Bakr ibn Mohammed (1526–1612), the son of Sidi Mohammed (died 1636)[6] and brother of the scholar Abu Abdallah Mohammed al-Murabit al-Dila'i (died 1678). Mohammed al-Hajj is from the Middle Atlas, where was located their seat the Zaouia of Dila. He is from the Medjath tribe (Ait Idrassen), of SanhajaAmazigh origins.[7]
Some historical chronicles confuse him to be the one who brought the doom of the Zaouia of Dila, stating Mohammed al-Hajj was overthrown in 1663 when its zawiyya lost Fes.[5] He is also confused to be the one who was defeated by the AlaouiteSultanMoulay Rachid in 1668.[8][9]
Mohammed al-Hajj died in 1662. Prior to his death, in 1660, he defeated Khadir Ghaïlan on the battlefield.[10] The two armies had clashed for delimitation of rural frontiers. While the battle was a victory for the Dilaites over Ghaïlan, the victorious party suffered considerable casualties.
The doom of the Zaouia of Dila was not caused by their own ill making, but rather due to the 1662 rebellion in Fez of Caid Abdallah Al Doraidi who took advantage of news Mohammed al-Hajj's death, and proclaimed himself Sultan of Fez.[3] The rebel, one of their troops commander, purposefully acted in an unfavorable time for the Dilaites, they were still recovering from their previous battle and thus struggled to gain back their full forces. The deceased's son Abdallah ould Mohammed al-Hajj tried to gain back Fez in 1663 but failed. He came with Berber contingents, besieged the city and camped below Fes el Bali's walls. The fighting lasted for ten days but faced with the city's fortifications, the Dilaites retreated.[3]
^Mercer, Patricia Ann (1974). Political and military developments within Morocco during the early Alawi Period (1659-1727). SOAS University of London. p. 67.
