More than 300 million Sufis in the world

SHEIKH KHALED BENTOUNES

Sheikh Khaled Bentounes was born in 1949 in Mostaganem, Algeria, in a Sufi family whose ancestors have been leading the Alāwiyya Brotherhood for three generations. Under the direction of his father, Sheikh Hajj al-Mahdi, Khaled Bentounes received religious training as well as an initiatory teaching at the Zawiya, a place of Sufi teaching. At the end of the 1960s, he continued his training in Europe where he studied law and history.

On April 24, 1975, Sheikh Khaled Bentounes became the 44th spiritual guide of the Sufi Brotherhood Alāwiyya-Darqāwiya-Shādhiliyya and part of the initiatory chain (silsila) that goes back to the Prophet Muhammad.

The headquarters of the Sufi Path Alāwiyya, heir to Shādhiliyya-Darqāwiya lineage, whose founder is Sheikh al-‘Alāwī, is based in Mostaganem, an open port city steeped in history and spirituality. Sheikh Bentounes is the great-grandson of Sheikh Ahmad al-‘Alāwī (1869-1934), recognized as one of the greatest sages of the 20th century and whose tribute was paid to him by UNESCO in September 2015 at the symposium “Spiritual Islam and Contemporary Challenges”.

Spiritual leader, writer, educator and lecturer, Sheikh Bentounes travels the world as a messenger of peace in order to transmit the traditional teaching of Sufism, called tasawwuf in Arabic. He emphasizes that “if Islam is a body, Sufism is its heart”. His teaching is universal, non-denominational. It tends to encourage awakening of the inner consciousness.

A man of dialogue, his opinions are sought by political decision-makers and spiritual leaders, as at the Summit of Conscience in Paris. A man of action, he is the initiator of the International Day of Living Together. He bears witness to the Culture of Peace and Fraternity to unite the efforts of all, in order to bring out a common denominator,
nourished by shared universal values.

Since he assumes the position of guide of the ‘Alāwiyya Sufi Path, he has helped to create a significant number of organizations dedicated to youth, peace, the environment and the establishment of a reflection for a better living together. He has participated in hundreds of international meetings to provide concrete proposals on major societal issues.

In 1991, he founded the Muslim Scouts of France (SMF) as well as the Muslim Scouts of Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Spain.

Sheikh Bentounes shares the conviction of all those who believe in a better world. To achieve this vision, the human being must move towards greater humanity by seeking reconciliation with himself and with his environment.

He therefore invites women and men from all backgrounds to become universal beings, bearers of an extraordinary heritage: that of the wisdom of mankind given by the Divine Mercy in all times and among all peoples.

For many years, he has been involved in interreligious dialogue in Algeria, Germany, Belgium, France, Canada, Switzerland and other countries. He has also participated in several editions of the World Congress of Imams and Rabbis for Peace. His spiritual commitment has led him to support actions for sustainable development, such as the reintroduction of the culture of the argan tree in Algeria.

Sheikh Bentounes works for an altruistic world, sowing hope around him, convinced that “the energy of the world is the authentic universal brotherhood”

Sheikh Bentounes invites everyone to “the Doing of Good” through the circle of Virtues and Qualities. He works to transmit the Culture of Peace and Living Together through a living spirituality.

For his commitment to a world of peace, he received several awards and distinctions in 2017, including

  • the Prize “Concorde M.diterran.e” by UNESCO in Valencia (Spain)

  • the Prize “Lysistrata for the peaceful resolution of conflicts through mediation” by the Center of Arab Women for Training and Research (CAWTAR) and the MED Program 21 network to promote excellence and cooperation in the Mediterranean.

  • Chevalier de l’Ordre du M.rite (National Medal of Honor) by Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic

Key dates

Born in Mostaganem, Algeria.
44th Spiritual Leader Alāwiyya Sufi Order.
Creation of the Muslims Scouts of France.
Creation of the Sheikh al-Alāwī Association for Education and Sufi Culture, Algeria.
Creation of Sheikh al-Alāwī Association for the Renaissance of Sufi Heritage, Morocco.
Creation of the Association of Lands in Europe.
Organization of the Symposium at UNESCO in Paris “For an Islam of Peace”.
Creation of AISA, International Association Sufi Alāwiyya.
Founding member of the French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM).
Creation of the Djanatu-al-Arif Foundation (The Garden of Knowing), Mediterranean Centre for Sustainable Development in Mostaganem.
Creation of the Therapy of the Soul Association.
100th Celebration of the Anniversary of the Alāwiyya Sufi Order “Sowing Hope” Mostaganem (Algeria). 6500 participants.
Organisation of the Congress “Spiritual Islam, free and responsible” at the Palexpo in Geneva.
International Forum Presidency of Soest (Germany).
1er Festival Vivre Ensemble à Cannes.
Organization of the Citizen Flame of Hope, a non-partisan initiative to encourage the French youth to vote during the elections in 26 French cities.
Launch of the AISA Federation.
Organization of the International Feminine Congress for a Culture of Peace “Women’s Turn to Speak” Oran/Mostaganem (Algeria). 3200 participants.
AISA International becomes an NGO recognized by the UN with ECOSOC status. Honorary President of AISA International NGO.
Launching the collection of signatures for the International Day of Living Together (JMVE).
UN New York : Participation at the 59th “the Status of Women” of ECOSOC.
Launch of the 1st Festival of the International Day of Living Together in Algeria, Mostaganem, Oran, and Algiers.
UNESCO Paris: Organization of a Symposium “Spiritual Islam and Contemporary Challenges” in tribute to Sheikh al-'Alāwī for his school of tolerance and conviviality. 1600 participants.
Participation in 24 hours of meditation for the Earth, Paris
Participation at the “World Humanitarian Summit” in Istanbul.
Organization of the first “Emir Abd el-Kader Prize for Living Together and Peaceful Coexistence” in Algeria.
1st Conference of the French-speaking Muslim intellectuals organized by the French Academy for Islamic Thought, Paris
Geneva Centre for Human Rights Advancement and Global Dialogue, Panel discussion at UN on Islamophobia
Workshop at UNESCO House in Paris to adopt a declaration to promote the<br/>“International Day of Living Together”.
UN New York: Speech at the “Launch of the Fez Action Plan for Religious Leaders on the prevention of incitement to violence”.
Conference entitled “The responsibility of religions with regard to peace”, Berlin.
International Conference entitled “Why is humanity not at peace?”, Almere, The Netherlands.
The 72nd UN General Assembly unanimously adopts the International Day of Living Together in Peace on 8 December by 193 Member States.