Between the Sufi and Salafi trends, he was, in addition to being the Sheikh of the Qadiriya order, as he says - and Sheikh of the Khidiriya order, which he headed for thirty-three years, Shukri - and Sheikh of the Idrisiyya order, and one of the Sheikhs of the Shadhiliyya. His difference with the scholars of Mecca in terms of jurisprudence and his journey to Mecca, in the absence of the Wahhabis, indicates his Salafi leanings. His influence by the Salafis may have stemmed from his contact with the Wahhabis during their occupation of the Hijaz.

Ibn al-Senussi spent the first part of his stay in the Hijaz with Ahmad bin Idris. While Burchard believes that Ibn al-Senussi, and historians have differed in determining this period, stayed in the Hijaz for about six years. It is understood from Shukri's account that Ibn al-Senussi stayed there for about nine years. There is doubt among some historians that he visited the Hijaz before this time for a quick visit and then returned to his country, Mostaganem. Some also doubt that he returned to Mostaganem after visiting Cairo, then returned to the Hijaz. We tend to say that he did not visit the Hijaz before this time. King Idris confirmed this. As for the duration of his first stay in the Hijaz, it is, in our opinion, about fifteen years. It seems that a strong relationship developed between Ibn al-Senussi and Idris. Ahmad al-Sharif's account clarifies this in "Al-Anwar Al-Taqdisiyya" where he says: "And the last one to take from him was Sayyidi Ibn al-Senussi (may God be pleased with him), the Qutb of the Gnostics and the Imam of the Verifiers, our Master Sayyid Ahmad Idris (may God be pleased with him). And on the fifteenth day of his taking from him, he said to him (may God be pleased with him): 'You are us, and we are you.' He said: 'My master, where is the Pleiades from the earth, and where is the star Suha from the star Al-Thurayya?' He said (may God be pleased with him): 'That is the grace of God, He gives it to whom He wills.' And he was in the presence of a group of people. Burchard p. 2 p. To be more certain, I asked the King, and he replied, 'He visited the Hijaz this time and once more after it.' -