Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Religion
Morocco is 99% Muslim. Christian and Jewish communities have existed here for centur-
ies, but in recent years their numbers have dwindled.
The Five Pillars of Islam
Soaring minarets, shimmering mosaics, intricate calligraphy, the muez- zin's call to prayer:
much of what thrills visitors in Morocco today is inspired by a deep faith in Islam. Islam is
built on five pillars:
shahada,
the affirmation of faith in God and God's word entrusted to
the Prophet Mohammed;
salat,
or prayer, ideally performed five times daily;
zakat,
or char-
ity, a moral obligation to give to those in need;
sawm,
the daytime fasting practised during
the month of Ramadan; and
haj,
the pilgrimage to Mecca that is the culmination of lifelong
faith for Muslims.
To avoid conlict, French Resident-Général Lyautey banned non-Muslims from mosques in Mo-
rocco. Moroccans appreciated the privacy so much that they ousted the French from Morocco,
and kept the ban.
Shiites & Sunnis
While all Muslims agree on the basic tenets received by the Prophet Mohammed, doctrinal
disagreements ensued after his death. The Umayyads challenged his son-in-law Ali's claim
to the title of caliph, or leader of the faithful. Some Muslims continued to recognise only
successors of Ali; today they are known as Shiites. But in numerical terms, the Umayyad
caliphate's Sunni Muslim practice is more common today.
Morocco is mostly Sunni, and follows the Maliki school of Sunni thought. Historically
this school has been less strict, with Maliki
qaids
(judges) applying the sharia (religious
code) according to local custom instead of absolutist rule of law.
Farida ben Lyzaid's ilm
A Door to the Sky
tells the story of an émigré's return to Morocco, and her
delicate balancing act between activism and tradition.
