Religion in Morocco

Religion in Morocco

Morocco is a religious country, and according to the CIA World Factbook, 99% of Moroccans are Muslim. Christianity is the second largest religion and has been in Morocco since before the arrival of Islam. There are few Jews in the country as most of them have returned to surrounding countries, with Israel receiving the most Jewish returnees. In recent years the number of non-religious has been increasing in Morocco. 

Religion in ancient Morocco

Religion in Morocco

The country, once inhabited primarily by Berbers, was invaded first by the Phoenicians, followed by the Carthaginians, and later the Romans. Judaism has the longest history of religions in Morocco.

Its presence dates back to Carthaginian times in 500 AD. Large numbers of Jews came to Morocco after the destruction of its second temple by the Babylonians. The Christianity took during Roman times, and Jews faced discrimination from state-backed Christendom during this time.

In 680 AD, the Arabs invaded the country, and its inhabitants are they converted to Islam. A second influx of Jews arrived in Morocco after the Alhambra Decree of 1492, which expelled them from Spain.

An islamic society

Qur'an reading

In 680 AD, the Umayyads, a group of Arabs from Damascus, invaded northwestern Africa, bringing Islam with them. Over time the native Berbers converted to Islam increased, being in 788 AD, when Idris I of the Zaydi of the Shiite faith founded the first Islamic dynasty in Morocco.

In the XNUMXth century, the Almoravids established an empire comprising most of modern Morocco and made the school Maliki of jurisprudence, a school of the Sunni denomination, which is predominant in Morocco.

In modern Morocco

Islam has prevailed in Morocco since the XNUMXth century, and the Alawite dynasty affirms the Prophet Muhammad as an ancestor. Two-thirds of Muslims in Morocco belong to the Sunni denomination while 30% are non-denominational Muslims. Sunnis believe that the political father was Muhammad Abu Bakr he was its first caliph.

By contrast, that shiites they think it was ali bin Abi Taliban, his son-in-law and his cousin. The predominant Sunni school in Morocco is the Maliki school of jurisprudence, which relies on the Qur'an and hadith as primary sources of instruction.

Religions and atheistic minorities

mosque in morocco

The number of Jews in Morocco has been significantly reduced compared to the numbers recorded in earlier times. A great majority emigrated to the state of Israel which was established in 1948. Some moved to France and Canada.

Faith Baha'i has between 150 and 500 followers in Morocco. The religion, which was founded in the 19th century, is monotheistic and believes in the spiritual unity of all human beings. Some Moroccans identify as non-religious, although there could be many more than they say, however, since many believe that they are keeping their atheism a secret for fear of being ostracized, which consists of what is known as political exile. .

Religious rights and freedoms in Morocco

King of Morocco

Although its constitution gives the Moroccans the freedom to practice religion they want, since the country's penal code contains several laws that discriminate against non-Muslims, for example: it is a crime in Morocco to possess a Christian Bible written in Arabic.

This law is intended ban proselytism from Arab Muslims to any other religion. Morocco is notable among Arab countries for its tolerant brand of Islam. The tolerant attitude may explain the attractiveness of the country for tourists from all over the world. It also accounts for the country's perceived immunity to religious fundamentalism.

Islam: the state religion

woman entering mosque

Nowadays Islam is the state religion Constitutionally established and the king asserts his legitimacy as head of state and religion - in part, his legitimacy rests on the claim that he is a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad. About ⅔ of the population are Sunni and 30% are non-denominational Muslims. The constitution gives rights and protections to Islam unlike other religions, including making it illegal to try to convert a Muslim to another religion.

The Kingdom of Morocco is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy with an elected government. The current king, King Mohammed VI, occupies a position of political secular leader and "Prince of Believers" (part of his official title) - therefore he has some executive powers of the legislative branches of government and and is the religious head of the state with all religious leaders being subordinate to the.


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