Abdesslam Yassine

Abdesslam Yassine (عبد السلام ياسين; 1928 – December 13, 2012) was the leader of the Moroccan Islamist organisation Al Adl Wa Al Ihssane (Justice and Spirituality).

Biography
Yassine was born in Marrakesh. He worked as a teacher and a school inspector for the Ministry of Education, and from 1965 on, was a member of one of the most famous Moroccan Sufi brotherhoods, the Boutchichiyya. Yassine reportedly fell out with the leadership of the brotherhood over its refusal to engage more directly in political matters, and founded his own organisation.

Yassine was jailed in a mental asylum for three years for publishing an open letter to King Hassan II denouncing his rule as un-Islamic. Following his release he was kept under house arrest for many years, before eventually being released in the early years of the rule of King Mohammed VI.

Yassine's many publications include L'Islam ou le Deluge (Islam or the Flood), probably the best known of his works.

Yassine died on 13 December 2012. He was married to Khadija Al Malki who died in late March 2015 and is the father of Nadia Yassine who leads the women's branch of Al Adl Wa Al Ihssane. Abdassalam Yassine dedicated much of his life to establishing a moderate and peaceful Islamic organization through his founding of Al-Adl wa al-Ihsan (Justice and Spirituality). Here are some key aspects of his efforts:

Founding Principles Yassine founded Al-Adl wa al-Ihsan in 1981, emphasizing principles of justice, spirituality, non-violence, and social justice. He believed that these principles were essential for creating a fair and harmonious society.

Spiritual and Ethical Foundations The organization places a strong emphasis on spiritual development and ethical behavior. Yassine's teachings encouraged followers to cultivate personal piety and moral integrity as a foundation for broader social and political engagement.

Non-Violent Approach Yassine consistently advocated for non-violence and peaceful activism. He believed that social and political change could be achieved through non-violent means, such as education, dialogue, and community service. This approach helped differentiate Al-Adl wa al-Ihsan from more militant Islamist groups.

Education and Community Development The organization has focused on educational and community development initiatives. It runs schools, provides social services, and engages in various forms of community outreach to improve the lives of ordinary Moroccans. These activities help to build social cohesion and address socio-economic inequalities.

Political Advocacy While Al-Adl wa al-Ihsan has been critical of the Moroccan monarchy and the political system, it has largely pursued its goals through peaceful political advocacy. The organization has called for democratic reforms, greater transparency, and respect for human rights in Morocco.

Publications and Writings Yassine was a prolific writer, authoring numerous books and articles on Islam, spirituality, and social justice. His works have been influential in shaping the organization's ideology and guiding its activities. His writings emphasize the importance of inner spiritual transformation as a basis for societal change.

Building a Broad Coalition Under Yassine's leadership, Al-Adl wa al-Ihsan sought to build a broad coalition of supporters from various segments of Moroccan society, including students, professionals, and the urban poor. This inclusive approach helped to broaden the organization's appeal and strengthen its social base.

Advocacy for Human Rights The organization has also been involved in human rights advocacy, highlighting issues such as political repression, corruption, and social injustice. By promoting human rights and social justice, Yassine aimed to create a more just and equitable society.

Overall, Abdassalam Yassine's efforts to establish a moderate and peaceful organization were rooted in his commitment to non-violence, spiritual development, and social justice. Through Al-Adl wa al-Ihsan, he sought to promote a vision of Islam that was both ethically grounded and socially relevant.

originally written in Arabic

 * 1) Islam between the Appeal and the State, 1972
 * 2) Tomorrow Islam!, 1973
 * 3) Islam—or the Flood (An Open Letter to the Late King of Morocco), 1974
 * 4) The Royal Century Missive in the Balance of Islam, 1980
 * 5) The Prophetic Method [al-Minhāj an-Nabawi], 1982
 * 6) Islam and the Challenge of Marxism-Leninism, 1987
 * 7) Exemplary Men (1st in the series Al-Ihssān), 1988
 * 8) Introductions to the Method, 1989
 * 9) Islam and the Challenge of Secular Nationalism, 1989
 * 10) Reflections on Islamic Jurisprudence and History, 1990
 * 11) Spiritual Gems (A Collection of Poems), 1992
 * 12) The Muslim Mind on Trial: Divine Revelation versus Secular Rationalism, 1994
 * 13) A Dialogue with Honorable Democrats, 1994
 * 14) Letter of Reminder (1st in the series Rasa’il Al-Ihsān), 1995
 * 15) On the Economy, 1995
 * 16) Letter to Students and to all Muslims (2nd in the series Rassa’il Al-Ihssân), 1995
 * 17) Guide to Believing Women, 1996
 * 18) Shūra and Democracy, 1996
 * 19) Poetic Exhortations (3rd in the series Rasa’il Al- Ihsān), 1996
 * 20) Dialogue of the Past and the Future, 1997
 * 21) Dialogue with an Amazighit Friend, 1997
 * 22) Spirituality [Al-Ihssān] V1, 1998
 * 23) How Shall We Renew Our Iman? How Do We Advise For God’s Sake And His Messenger? (1st in the series “The Prophetic Method Discourses”), 1998
 * 24) Al-Fitra And The Remedial Treatment Of Prophecy For Hearts (2nd in the series “The Prophetic Method Discourses”), 1998
 * 25) Spirituality [Al-Ihssān] V2, 1999
 * 26) Hearts Sincerity (3rd in the series “The Prophetic Method Discourses”), 1999
 * 27) Braving the Obstacles (4th in the series “The Prophetic Method Discourses”), 1999
 * 28) Justice: Islamists and Governance, 2000
 * 29) Bunches of Grapes (A Collection of Poems), 2000
 * 30) The Scholarly Treatise, 2001
 * 31) Caliphate and Monarchy, 2001
 * 32) Exemplary Men of Uprising and Reform, 2001
 * 33) Day and Night Schedule of the Believer, 2002
 * 34) The Price (5th in the series “The Prophetic Method Discourses”), 2004
 * 35) God’s Custom, 2005
 * 36) Introductions to the future of Islam, 2005
 * 37) Day and Night Schedule of the Believer (a book in Arabic and English), 2007
 * 38) Leadership of the Umma, 2009
 * 39) Qur’ān and Prophecy, 2010
 * 40) The Muslim Community and its Bond, 2012

originally written in French

 * 1) The Islamic Method of Revolution, 1980
 * 2) Toward a Dialog with our Westernized Elite, 1980
 * 3) Winning the Modern World for Islam, 1998
 * 4) Memorandum: To Him Who Is Concerned (an open letter in French to the country's new king, Mohamed VI), 1999

translated into English

 * Memorandum: To Him Who Is Concerned (Traslation of an open letter in French to the country’s new king, Mohamed VI), 1999
 * Winning the Modern World for Islam, 2000
 * The MuslimMind on Trial: Divine Revelation versus SecularRationalism, 2003
 * Day and Night Schedule of the Believer (A book in Arabic and English), 2007
 * The Last Testament of Imam Abdessalam Yassine 2013