M’Sila city was established under the name al-Muhammadiya, named after the second Fatimid caliph, alQa’im, during his campaign to suppress the rebellious Berber tribes in central Algeria. The founding of the city aimed
to solidify Fatimid control over the Hodna plain, an important region of strategic significance.
The responsibility for overseeing the construction of the city was given to Ali ibn Hamdun al-Andalusi, who
also assumed the position of its first governor. This appointment ensured the efficient development and administration of the city