He often hesitated to attend the dhikr circles in his hometown. It is believed that Ibn al-Sanusi integrated well with the Sufi atmosphere that prevailed there, characterized by chanting and recitation, which suited his contemplative nature. Thus, we can say that the seeds of Sufism were present in him in the first phase, but they grew in the second phase thanks to his stay in Fez amidst the Sufi environment.

Their influence was strong in the Qarawiyyin Mosque. The Sufis had a strong hold over the people of Fez, as Sultan Moulay Slimane respected their men.

Among the accounts of the author of "Al-Istiqsa" in the events of the year 1190 AH, it is mentioned that the Sufi Sheikh Abu al-Abbas al-Tijani came to Fez and settled there. The Bey of Oran, Muhammad ibn Uthman, had expelled him from Tlemcen to the village of Al-Foun, where he stayed and the people flocked to him. When the aforementioned Bey died, his son Uthman ibn Muhammad succeeded him. The Sheikh al-Tijani was slandered to him, so he summoned the people of Fez and threatened them to expel him.

Therefore, the aforementioned Sheikh left with some of his disciples and children and took the desert route until he reached Fez. Upon entering it, he sent his messenger with a letter to Moulay Slimane, informing him that he had migrated to him from the oppression of the Turks and their injustice, seeking refuge with the noble Sultan. The Sultan accepted him and allowed him to enter his presence and attend his council. When he met him and saw his demeanor and participation in knowledge, he admired him, believed in him, and gave him a considerable house, having spent about twenty thousand mithqals on its construction. He arranged for his sustenance, and people flocked to him. His fame spread in Fez and Morocco, and he was the Sheikh of the Tijani order.

The Tijaniyya is one of the orders that Ibn al-Sanusi knew about during that period. It is highly probable that he met Sheikh al-Tijani and took the order from him, even though Carlo Schiaparelli mentions that Ibn al-Sanusi never mentioned his name in his index. However, Ahmad al-Sharif mentions in his introduction that his grandfather received the teachings of al-Tijani from him and read to him.

Al-Nasiri, Al-Istiqsa, p. 110.

The Sanusi Movement.