Religion in Morocco

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     After traveling to Morocco,  I learned that the religion is mainly Islam, and 99% of Moroccans are identified as Muslim. Muslims have a call to prayer five times a day. We were able to visit the Hassan II Mosque on the first day of our trip. Mosques are places where Muslims go to worship. I had never seen a mosque before I came to Morocco, and the architecture of them is like something I had never seen before. Everyone must take their shoes off when entering the Mosque because it is unsanitary to wear shoes. Muslims are also let off work from work on Fridays so that they are able to go pray in the middle of the day. Then they would come back to work after prayer. Our tour guide also mentioned that workers will get off work for prayer, and act like they are religious just to get off of work. Morocco’s king is a political leader and a religious leader of his country. 


In contrast, the religion in the United States has significant diversity compared to Morocco. The majority of Americans identify themselves as Christians, but there are also people who practice Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, and others. There is also a growing number of people who do not practice a religion at all. The United States has a separation between the church and the state which is in the First Amendment. The U.S. Constitution protects freedom of religion which allows anyone to practice any religion. Most Christians attend a weekly church service on Sundays. Due to the number of religions that are practiced in the United States, there are a bunch of religious holidays that are celebrated. In the United States, there is not a time during the week when anyone is able to get off of work to go pray. The president of the United States has no affiliation to being a religious leader, unlike Morocco.

Comments

  1. Jacob DavisJune 1, 2023 at 10:50 AM

    I have had a similar experience visiting Morocco given that this is my first time in a majority Muslim Country. It has been very interesting so far comparing and contrasting the culture in Morocco compared to what we are used to in the US. Going to the Hassan II Mosque has so far been one of my favorite parts of the trip and it was stunning just to see the scale of it. Being able to visit a religion that is so important to so many people is something that I will never forget.

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  2. Geovani "Geo" AyalaJune 1, 2023 at 3:12 PM

    Visiting Hassan II's Mosque has been one of the highlights of this trip. Morocco being a Muslim-majority country, has been interesting to observe. The prayer calls, respect for religion, and religious culture have all been eye-opening. In every town we visit and every medina we enter, the first thing showcased is the local mosque which is quite different than the United States. The artistry and delicate architecture in mosques has been great to see as well.

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  3. Micheline SalamaJune 1, 2023 at 4:25 PM

    I like your observation about Islam in Morocco and how Religion influences daily lives and the political system. Muslims are known for their devotion to their faith. For example, I saw a man praying at the airport while waiting for our flights in Montreal.
    I want to add to your post; one crucial point for Islam is the fasting season of Ramadhan, which is considered the season of spiritual growth and one of the five "pillars of Islam." The others are the declaration of faith, daily prayer, alms-giving, and the pilgrimage to Mecca.
    Muslims fast every day from dawn to sunset.
    Muslims celebrate EID with families and friends at the end of the fasting season.

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