New measures to reform religious sector in Morocco
2008-10-03
The Moroccan government announced new religious reforms to create more local religious councils, the second round of reforms since 2004.
By Sarah Touahri for Magharebia in Rabat – 03/10/08
 [Sarah Touahri] The reform is also aimed at strengthening the spiritual and educational role played by mosques. |
At the meeting of The Higher Council of Ulemas held in Morocco on September 27th, King Mohammed VI announced a series of measures aimed at reforming religious sector in the country.
The restructuring plan affects the council, imams and mosques in Morocco and even the Moroccan community living abroad.
According to the plan, the government will create more local councils for ulemas so that each region has its own council and representation. This measure, the government said, shows its desire to consider the specific customs and needs of those living in each region.
There will be 69 councils instead of the current 30.
According to the sovereign, the goal is to help the councils to "contribute to strengthening the nation's spiritual security, ensuring the preservation of their religious doctrine, which draws on tolerant Sunni Islam."
Ulemas will now be available everywhere, "to guide people and to combat the misleading allegations being peddled by those holding extremist views," the sovereign said.
This is the second round of reforms since the reforms of the Islamic affairs ministry and revision of the legislation concerning places of worship and the modernisation of the teaching of Islam in Morocco in 2004.
Mohamed Bouterbouch, chairman of the Kénitra regional council, said that members of his council shape the spiritual life of Muslims through healthy religious enlightenment which respects Morocco's Islamic traditions. The council holds meetings in mosques, people's homes, women's shelters and universities, "so that our voice can be heard by all Muslims," he said.
The reforms also target the role the mosques play in the spiritual and educational life of people.
The measures encourage the legal construction of these religious buildings, particularly with 50% VAT exemption, and with the consolidation of the role they are expected to fulfil as places of worship, guidance and education. There is also a desire to promote state assistance for the clergy. Therefore, the government is launching a program with a budget of 200 million dirhams to train imams and improve their doctrinal awareness and professionalism.
For Moroccans living in Europe, the government created an 18-member council of ulemas to serve as a local council.
"The council will protect the Moroccan identity and faith against integrist and extremist impulses," said Taher Tijkani, chairman of the council. Tijkani said that the council will have the same prerogatives as those in Morocco, and will adapt to the particular situation of the Moroccan community abroad.
Taj Eddine Berrada, a professor in Islamic studies, said the new reforms will give a new dynamic to the restructuring of organised religion.
"Rolling out ulema councils is aimed at halting the drift in organised religion demonstrated by the recent fatwa declared by the man calling himself Maghraoui," he said.
Bassima Nourani, a student, said that through this reform the State hopes to further institutionalise religion.
"A large part of this institutionalisation has been completed," Nourani said.
"I believe this is a good way to fight extremism. But I'm worried that the state could use this initiative to spread non-religious messages."
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nbchdnsr Posted 2008-10-04
The title and the content are not in concordance. The measures mentioned do not aim to reform religion but, rather, the administration of religion. Moreover, we must take care because, in Islam, there is no religious reform.
David James Vickery Posted 2008-10-04
Does this "reform" of Islam have anything to do with the recent visit to Morocco and other North African countries by U.S. secretary of state Condoleezza Rice? Such reforms will not be popular with the Moroccan masses if they are seen as just more interference in the internal affairs of Muslim countries by the imperialist United States of America. David/Daoud (Canada)
Moslim Posted 2008-10-09
Religious reform??? Do you call this frivolity a reform? I think that you can’t give something you don’t have. So how can a group of deadly Sufis, who pretend to be scholars to reform while they are corrupt and corruptors? Why not? If you look into the method of those who lead this alleged reform, you will just find members of Tijani, Boutchichi, Derkaoui or Chedli brotherhoods…innovators who distort the Islamic religion. Our noble prophet said : Every novelty is a misguidance…There is no doubt that these Sufi brotherhoods are one of the novelties contrary to Islam in many of heir beliefs. These Sufi brotherhoods were fought by our prominent Malikite Ulemas before colonization. For example, Youssef Ben Tachafine burnt the book of “Reviving Religious Sciences” by Al Ghazali upon the request of Malikite Ulemas at the time because the book included Sufi poisons. Colonization contributed to reviving these brotherhoods given the interests it was reaping at the time. These are the same interests reaped by the American administration now. Everyone is aware of the great efforts made by the Bush administration to encourage Sufism in Islamic countries. It suffices us to know that Sufism didn’t exist during the time of the noble prophet. He didn’t call for it either nor anyone of his companions or Imams called for it. It is one of the fabricated matters. The messenger, peace and prayer of God be upon him, said “Every novelty in religion is an innovation and every innovation is a misguidance and every misguidance is in hell”. So how can the innovators do a reform? If you want to know the innovations of these Sufis and their dangerous beliefs, read the books and statements of eminent ancient and recent Ulemas of the Umma including Malikites and others. However, those who are in charge of the alleged reform pretend to follow the doctrine of Imam Malek. This is very odd. They contradict Malik in every detail. Was Malek a Sufi? The reality is that he fought it. Read his words in the book “The Great Moudawana of Imam Malek”, version of Sahnoune, and you will understand this. Was Malek of An Asheri belief? His belief was the belief of the righteous ancestors including the companions and followers. He wasn’t an innovating Ashrai. The oddest thing is that Imam Ashari repented from the Ashari doctrine before he died and followed the belief of the righteous ancestors. He mentioned this in his book “Showing the foundations of religion”…
Moslim Posted 2008-10-09
End…Concerning the violation of these Sufis to the doctrine of Imam Malek, may God rest his soul, there are many violations. They look down on the doctrine of Imam Malek laughingly. All the novelties they call for today, were warned against by Malek in his time. He was very firm with novelties and those who introduce them as they are a threat to religion especially because every novelty is a misguidance. As an example to this, there is reading the Qur’an collectively. They want to establish it as a tradition but it is a novelty which was never done by the messenger of God, peace and prayer of God be upon him, or his companions as Imam Malek said. Imam Malek was asked about reading Qur’an collectively, as did the people of Alexandria during his time, he said: it is a novelty. While it is required when we hear Qur’an to listen. One reads and the others listen to him. Imam Chatibi, a follower of the Malikite doctrince, said in the bokk “Al Itissam”: “This is similar to what was heard by Ibn Al Kassim from Malek about people who gather and read one Surat of the Qur’an as do the people of Alexandria. But he didn’t approve that and din’t like people to do it. Ibn Al Kassim was also asked about this, he talked about the disapproval of Malek. He denied that and said that it was a novelty”. In another version about Malek: He was asked about reading Qur’an in the mosque, he replied: it is not something old. It is innovated. The last of this Umma hasn’t brought anything more worth of guidance than its first. The Qur’an is good”. Imam Malek said the truth, by God, The last of this Umma hasn’t brought anything more worth of guidance than its first. It was also him who said “The last of this Umma will be good with only what the first were good”…Add to this the collective praying they do at the end of every prayer, listening praying on Friday, imposing upon the Imam to salute once only in prayer and let down his hands instead of putting the right on the left and many other things contrary to the tradition of the messenger of God, peace and prayer of God be upon him, and the doctrine of Imam Malek but are approved by Sufists. If Imam Malek were in our time, he would have hardly beaten them. He threatened to beat anyone who doesn’t abide by the tradition of the noble prophet and their violations were even simpler than the strange violations of these “reformers”…
Moslim Posted 2008-10-10
I wonder strongly for the cause why the comments I wrote and sent to you. I have previously sent you four comments on two different topics about Underage marriage fatwa prompts official inquiry in Morocco and the topic New measures to reform religious sector in Morocco, but you haven’t published them. I still keep copies of the comments I sent you to now. I hope that justice will be your principle and nothing else. Looking forward to that.
Mahamane Harouna Posted 2008-11-01
Salam alaikoum- Congratulations on taking the initiative to create this website, which permit the brothers of the world to exchange their point of views. Peace.
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