Ancient Competencies

BENSMAÏA Abdelhalim

Profession: Scholar, Teacher, Theologian Fields of Specialization: Islamic Law, Theology, Quranic Exegesis, Rhetoric, Logic, Arabic Literature

Birth, Origins & Education

Abdelhalim Bensmaïa was born in 1866 in Algiers, in the historic district of the Casbah, into a distinguished family of Turkish origin. His father, Ali Ben Abderrahmane Khodja, served as the last Maliki mufti of Algiers, a religious position of great importance in Algerian society of that era. This erudite father, who had completed his studies at the prestigious learning center of Cairo, officiated at the Djemaâ Djedid (New Mosque) and placed paramount importance on his son's moral and religious education.

This prestigious lineage would profoundly shape Abdelhalim's intellectual and spiritual formation, as he benefited from his earliest years from a family environment conducive to the development of his intellectual capacities and religious consciousness. His father's influence would prove decisive in orienting his future career as a teacher and theologian.

Career

Abdelhalim Bensmaïa quickly established himself as one of the most remarkable figures of the Algerian reformist movement of the early 20th century. An intellectual pioneer, he distinguished himself through his courageous positions and categorical refusal of colonial assimilationism, adopting an attitude of unwavering cultural and religious resistance.

His professional journey began in 1896 when he joined the teaching staff of the Médersa Thaâlibyya (Tsalibia) in Algiers from its opening. In this institution of Islamic higher education, he taught courses in Islamic law, rhetoric, and logic—fundamental subjects of traditional Muslim intellectual formation. In 1904, the madrasa moved to a new building, which still exists today as an architectural testament to this period of intellectual ferment.

A significant turning point in his career occurred in 1916 when he exchanged his chair of rhetoric and Arabic literature for that of theology and Quranic exegesis, revealing through this choice his deepening engagement with religious sciences and his desire to educate minds in the interpretation of sacred texts.

His personality was characterized by a rebellious rather than revolutionary temperament, which explains his closeness to Emir Khaled and his particularly firm positions during the provocative commemoration of the centenary of colonization in 1930. This attitude testified to his loyalty to traditional values while expressing cultural and intellectual resistance to colonial domination.

Distinctions & Recognition

The most famous and revealing episode of Abdelhalim Bensmaïa's personality concerns his reaction to the French colonial administration's attempts at appeasement. According to reported testimonies, the administration awarded him the Legion of Honor, probably hoping to win his favor and neutralize his critical influence.

This anecdote, though it might seem merely anecdotal, actually reveals the depth of his intellectual and moral resistance to the colonial system and perfectly illustrates his irreducible character.

Productions, Impact & Influence

Abdelhalim Bensmaïa embodied the exemplary model of the scholar-teacher, brilliantly accomplishing his educational mission within the Médersa Thaâlibyya during the first three decades of the 20th century. His influence was exercised in collaboration with other renowned masters, contributing to the formation of a generation of Algerian intellectuals imbued with the values of Islamic reformism.

Beyond his role as a teacher, Bensmaïa constantly demonstrated his concern for the fate of his compatriots, particularly during critical periods such as conscription in preparation for World War I. This social dimension of his commitment testifies to his comprehensive conception of the intellectual's role in society.

His remarkably rich intellectual journey and considerable influence on his disciples make him an essential figure in Algerian intellectual history. As Lounès Aït Aoudia, president of the Association of Friends of Rampe Louni Arezki, emphasized, "this emeritus professor at the Algiers madrasa had a path commensurate with his prodigious qualities."

The impact of his teaching can also be measured through testimonies from personalities like Kadour M'hamsadji, writer and chronicler of the Casbah, who precisely describes Bensmaïa's influence on the preservation and transmission of the "customs and traditions of this impregnable citadel" that is the Casbah of Algiers.

It should be noted that his death in 1933 marked the end of an era—that of the great reformists of the first generation—leaving behind a considerable intellectual and moral legacy that continues to inspire subsequent generations.

References and Bibliographical Sources