The Beginning of the Call A number of people responded to Ibn al-Senussi after he began giving lessons in Mecca. They gathered around him, becoming his devoted followers and disciples. His long stay in Mecca had a significant impact on many aspects of his thinking and shaped his reformist approach. In Mecca, he was exposed to the scholars and became acquainted with various intellectual currents. He also met with delegations of pilgrims coming from different parts of the Islamic world, learning from them about the conditions of Muslims and increasing his zeal for the call he was undertaking. These were fertile grounds where he could sow the seeds of his call and choose those who would assist him. This is indeed what happened; a number of people from Tripolitania and the Hejaz responded to him. The Zawiya of Ibn Qabees became a center for these disciples. We do not know if he established any other zawiyas in the Hejaz during that period, though we suspect he did not, and that other zawiyas were built during his subsequent stay. The first disciples gathered in the zawiya and studied knowledge. This is what Ibn al-Senussi initially taught them. Then, a significant development occurred in his thinking, clarified by the story recounted by Shukri in his account of the reasons for Ibn al-Senussi's departure from Mecca. He states that he was among those who gathered around him, along with some people from Tripolitania. He urged them to increase their worship, asceticism, and fasting, hoping this would purify their souls and spirits. However, when those with weak willpower were unable to follow this strict path, they went their own way, and the people of the Zawiya of Ibn Qabees were able to devote themselves to study and worship. Despite this, the number of these enthusiastic followers of the order continued to grow until one day, when some of them were on the verge of death from prolonged fasting, one of them went to the tomb of the noble Prophet (peace be upon him) to complain about his condition and seek guidance. After that, the noble Prophet (peace be upon him) appeared to Sayyid al-Senussi in a vision, asking him to have these ascetics and disciples engage in acts of worship.