The present-day city of Beni Mellal is historically linked to the Tadla region. The latter is mentioned in the most prominent historical and geographical sources that dealt with the history of Morocco from the Islamic conquest until the early 19th century. "Tadla is the name given to a vast region located in the heart of Morocco, consisting of the plateaus and plains extending east of the Chaouia plain and around the upper reaches of the Oum Er-Rbia River, and from the western slopes of the Middle Atlas Mountains, from the Oued El Abid in the south to the sources of the Moulouya River."1 Throughout the ages, Tadla has been home to many different tribes and population groups. The plateaus were inhabited by tribes of Arab origin, including the Wardigha, Beni Khiran, Beni Zemmour, Smaala, Beni Amer, and Beni Moussa of Wadi Zem, Abi El Jaad, and Dar Ould Zidouh. In the central region of the Oum Er-Rbia Valley (formerly Wadi Ouensifen) lived the Ait Er-Rbaa tribes, a mix of Arab and Berber origins, comprising the Kettaya, Smakt, and Beni Mellal. On the western slopes of the Middle Atlas Mountains, the Ait Serri, Ait Atta Noumalou, Ait Bouzid, Ait Ayad, and Ait Attab tribes settled. Meanwhile, the Sanhaja Berber tribes inhabited the mountains, and the Zenata Berber tribes the plains, alongside the Arab tribe of Jusham, composed primarily of the Banu Jabir and Zarara, as well as the Banu Saad tribe.



2. Abdul Aziz al-Fishtali says: “And he (al-Mansur al-Dhahabi) appointed Mawlay Zaydan, the youngest of them, over the Dala, and appointed him over the A’am (...)


3. Al-Sharif al-Idrisi, The Maghreb, from the book Nuzhat al-Mushtaq fi Ikhtiraq al-Afaq, edited and translated by Muhammad Haj Sadiq, in (...)


4. Al-Istibsar fi Aja’ib al-Amsar, by an anonymous Marrakesh author, published and annotated by Saad Zaghloul Abdul Hamid, Moroccan Publishing House (...)



2. Researchers have differed regarding the toponym “Tadla.” It is noted that the name Tadla is similar in pronunciation to another word that had historical significance in the region, namely “Tadla” or “al-Dala.” Professor Muhammad Hajji suggests that the two terms (Tadla and al-Dala) were synonymous for the same name, and he supports this by pointing out that the historian and poet Abdul Aziz al-Fishtali—a contemporary of the Dala’i zawiya—used “al-Dala” to refer to the Tadla region.2 Furthermore, the word “Tadla” in the local Berber language means a bundle of crops. Harvested with a sickle, generally meaning a bundle. This perhaps indicates the agricultural prosperity the region experienced throughout history, as attested to by many historians, such as the author of Al-Istibsar and Al-Sharif Al-Idrisi. The latter states: "...and the whole country is abundant in resources and provisions, and tribes surround it on all sides."

3. The author of Al-Istibsar confirms that the region is famous for cotton cultivation.

4. It was also known for its craft activities, and oral tradition indicates that Beni Mellal had three tanneries until the 19th century, in addition to those practiced within homes. A unified tannery was built during the French Protectorate.

5. The political and commercial importance of the Tadla region also lies in its role as a crossing point for merchants and armies between northern and southern Morocco.


6 Muhammad Al-Bashir Bouslam, History of the Beni Mellal Tribe, 1854-1916, Aspects of the History of the Middle Atlas Mountains and the Tadla Region (...)

3. The region's climate is characterized by its continental and arid nature. Its topography is diverse, encompassing plains, plateaus, and mountains. The vegetation and soil also vary, with thickets along the Deir region and the Marja area on the plateaus, followed by the Hamri and Tirs black plains. The region's location within the Deir region allows it to benefit from the waters of numerous streams and springs, such as Ain Asrdoun, Ain Tamknount, Ain Qassabi, Ain Sidi Bouyaakoub, Ain Foum Oudi, Ain Day, and Ain Oum Er-Rbia, in addition to the Oum Er-Rbia River, the most important river in the region. The importance of this water resource lies not only in its use for irrigation and drinking but also in its role in powering mills for grinding grain and pressing olives.


Undoubtedly, all these natural and geographical features contributed to human settlement in the Tadla region since ancient times. The inhabitants, of diverse origins, branches, cultures, and beliefs—Arabs, Berbers, Jews, and Christians—coexisted. All these characteristics enabled the region to play a leading role in Moroccan history, particularly during the medieval period.



From the eras of From Prehistory to the Arrival of the Idrisids


5. The Tadla region was known to have significant wildlife during geological times. Evidence of this is the dinosaur skeleton discovered in the mountainous region of Tiloukit in the Azilal province. This skeleton is on display at the Earth Sciences Museum of the Ministry of Energy and Mines in Rabat, along with many bones and teeth of animals such as elephants, pigs, bears, and others. This paleontological richness is reported by a group of mountain guides and also revealed through serendipitous discoveries.


9. The site was examined by Ibrahim Badawi, although these engravings have not yet been studied.


10. Bouchaib El Akroud, "The Writings of Jebel Rat, a Historical Monument in Need of Rescue," Tadla Files Newspaper, Issue 27/28, what (...)


6. The traveler Charles de Foucauld, in his expeditions in the Middle Atlas Mountains bordering the Tadla region, spoke of many caves and grottos, especially those extending from Beni Mellal to Foum Element 8. In addition, some mountainous areas contain rock engravings and drawings, such as those found in the territory of the Foum Oudi commune, 9 and in Demnate (Tizi n'Telghest) and Azilal (Tabant and Jbel Rat). 10 These two elements (caves, grottos, and rock engravings) can be considered strong indicators of human settlement in the region during prehistoric times. Further research, investigations, and excavations will likely reveal the remains and traces of this settlement and the lifestyles of the time in these areas.