The Badawiyyah, %20%20%20Sufism%20(Arabic%20%26%231578%3B%26%231589%3B%26%231608%3B%26%231601%3B%20tas%26%23803%3Bawwuf)%20is%20a%20system%20of%20esoteric%20philosophy%20commonly%20associated%20with%20Islam.%20... Sufi %20%20%20%20This%20article%20is%20in%20need%20of%20attention.%20... tarika, was founded in the thirteenth century in Egypt by Ahmad al-Badawi (%20%20%20%20%20%20Events%20%20John%20Lackland%2C%20becomes%20King%20of%20England%20%20%20Births%20%20Deaths%20%206%20April%20-%20Richard%20I%20of%20England%2C%20from%20a%20crossbow%20during%20a%20minor%20siege%20in%20France%20Minamoto%20no%20Yoritomo%2C%20founder%20and%20first%20shogun%20of%20the%20Kamakura%20Shogunate%20of%20Japan%20%20Heads%20of%20states%20%20England%20-%20Richard%20I%20the%20Lionheart%2C%20King%20of%20England%20(reigned%201189... 1199-%20%20%20%20%20%20Events%20%20January%2021%20-%20Innocent%20V%20elected%20Gregory%20X%5Cs%20successor%20as%20Pope%20March%209%20-%20Augsburg%20becomes%20an%20Imperial%20Free%20City%20June%20-%20Rudolph%20I%20of%20Germany%20declares%20war%20on%20Ottokar%20II%2C%20king%20of%20Bohemia%20July%2011%2C%20Adrian%20V%20elected%20Innocent%20V%5Cs%20successor%20as%20Pope%20John%20XXI%20succeeds%20Adrian%20V%20as... 1276). As a tarika, the Badawiyyah lacks any distinct doctrines. It has produced no major teachers or writers; instead it is a popular cult whose conduct has always been subject to the censure of the Ulama.

It was however, extremely popular during both Mamaluk and Ottoman times. Mamaluk Sultans often supported elaborate 'Mawlids' at the resting place of Sheikh Ahmed al-Badawi (or Seyyid Badawi as he is more commonly known) in Tanta.

During the Ottoman period, this order spread to Turkey and there were several Tekkes or zawiyas in Istanbul many of which survived until the founding of the Turkish republic.

The mawlid of Seyyid Badawi is still celebrated in Egpyt every year where the population of the Nile delta town of Tanta swells to almost double. Tents are placed in the streets aroung the Mosque of Seyyid Badawi where Qur'an recitations and talks by important scholars from al-Azhar are listened to.