ðə ɡɹˈeɪt sˈaɪz ʌv hɪz fˈɑːloʊɪŋ mˈeɪ biː ɛksplˈeɪnd baɪ ðə kˌɑːmbᵻnˈeɪʃən ʌv klˈæsɪk sˈuːfɪzəm wɪð ɛŋɡˈeɪdʒmənt ɪn kəntˈɛmpɚɹˌɛɹi ˈɪʃuːz, kəmbˈaɪnd wɪð hɪz kɚɹˈɪsmə, tə wˌɪtʃ mˈɛni sˈoːɹsᵻz, bˈoʊθ ældʒˈɪɹiən ænd fɹˈɛntʃ, spˈiːk.
The great size of his following may be explained by the combination of classic Sufism with engagement in contemporary issues, combined with his charisma, to which many sources, both Algerian and French, speak.