Sidi Bennour

Sidi Bennour is a city in Sidi Bennour Province, Casablanca-Settat, Morocco. Historically speaking, the name derives from the name of a famous sufi called Abi Yannur ; "Sidi" is a common Arabic title attributed to a male Muslim who is a descendent of the Islamic prophet, Muhammad and/or is pious. His full name was Abi Yannur Abdullah Bin Wakris, a Moroccan Berber who lived in the 12th century. He is renowned for being one of the teachers of Abu Ayyub Assariyah _ a famous Moroccan sufi _ whose mausoleum is located in the city of Azemmour.The little information about his life can be found in books about Moroccan sufism such as by Ibn Al Khatib and by Ibn Azayyat. Sayyidi/Sidi Bennour is situated some 67 kilometers south of the city of El Jadida and 120 kilometers northwest of the former imperial city, Marrakech. According to the 2004 census Sidi Bennour has a population of 39,593; however, since becoming the municipality of the newly formed Sidi Bennour province in 2011, the population has significantly increased.