Ahmed Pasha I ordered the construction of this building in 1267 H/1850 AD for the use of the Tijaniya Brotherhood whose Patron is Sidi Ahmed Tijani buried in Morocco. Sidi Brahim Riahi had introduced this Tariqa (sect) in Tunisia upon his return from Morocco where he had been sent by Bey Hamouda Pasha al-Husseini on a mission to the Cherifian Sultan; it was on that occasion that he had been inducted in the Tariqa by the Faqih (theology scholar) Ali Harazem in 1216 H/1801. Sidi Brahim Riahi was also to be entrusted with an important mission to another Sovereign, the Sublime Porte. It was also this great learned man and erudite who introduced a practice now quite common which consist in reading the as-Sira an-Nabaouiya (the Story of the Prophet's Life) in mosques and other place of worship as part of the

Prophet's birthday celebrations (Mouled). In 1295 H/1878 AD Bey Mohamed as-Sadok ordered the restoration of the dome of the building and had master craftsmen brought from Morocco especially to carry out the work. The new dome was considered to be one of the most beautiful of its kind.

This zaouia, where Sidi Brahim Riahi (born in the Tunisian city of Testour in 1180 H/1766 AD, died on 27 Ramadhan 1266 H/1849 AD) is buried, continues to this day to draw followers and regulars who comes to watch or participate in the Tijaniya rituals held every Friday after the prayer of al asr.