As usual, every year the Kingdom of Morocco sends out religious missions in the run-up to the holy month of Ramadan, specialized in overseeing the religious affairs of Moroccans living abroad, in an attempt to keep pace with the religious affairs of this group.
And, according to what was announced by the “Hassan II Foundation for Moroccans Living Abroad”, in the month of Ramadan 1444 AH, which corresponds to 2023 AD, “a mission of 144 people was sent to a number of countries including university professors. , preachers and readers, as well as readers in charge of tarawih prayers. Mufid that “their duties will be extended until April 22, 2023.”
The Foundation placed this process within the framework of “organizing a religious education program to accompany members of the Moroccan community abroad and for the benefit of its children.”
And the aforementioned institution confirmed in a communiqué seen by Hespress that “this Ramadan religious education program will accompany members of the community during the holy month of Ramadan” in European countries, namely Germany, Belgium, Spain, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and Norway. , as well as Canada and the United States of America in North America, which have been visited by an increasing number of Moroccans around the world in the past few years.
And compared to last year 2022, according to the data presented in the message, a clear decrease in the number of members of the religious mission of Ramadan and its host countries was recorded.
During the past year, according to the same source, “252 members were sent and accompanied members of the Moroccan community abroad during the month of Ramadan 1443 AH, in the countries of France, Germany, Belgium, Spain, the Netherlands, Italy, Sweden. , United Kingdom, Gibraltar, Denmark, Switzerland, Austria, Iceland, Hungary, Canada and the United States of America.”
long tradition
Mohamed Moussawi, head of the French Council of the Islamic Religion, said: “The sending of religious missions in the holy month for all Muslims is a long tradition in the Kingdom of Morocco, which is characterized by a religious and scientific movement from all over the world, as Morocco sends scholars and preachers, and receives their”.
Mousavi added: “These missions have not stopped since the citizens of Morocco settled in large numbers in a number of countries, which confirms that this is a kingdom that does not forget about its community.”
Mousavi explained in a statement to the electronic newspaper Hespress that “the roles of preachers and delegated reciters are distributed between leading taraweeh prayers and preaching and consulting activities through a group of lessons that correspond to the interests and issues of members of the Moroccan and Muslim community as a whole”, noting that “these missions are in the form of regiments that move between mosques.” morning prayer).
The Moroccan mission “remembers the great Islamic values and everything related to the month of Ramadan, in terms of jurisprudence related to both acts of worship and transactions,” the head of the Federation of Mosques of France said, noting that they are “topics which unite Muslims, unite their ranks and remind them by raising awareness of great values and warning of some shortcomings in their lives in their countries of residence.
And the most beautiful saying: “They generally constitute lessons and sermons relating to everything that relates to the correction of the individual and the correction of his moral and spiritual affairs.” For this reason, the month of Ramadan was chosen for their sending.
The largest number in France
When asked by Hespress about the reduction in the number of religious superintendents this year and their geographical distribution, the head of the French Council of the Islamic Religion distinguished between “religious missions of Ramadan to observe the community, sent by the Moroccan Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, and their counterparts are under the control of the Foundation Hassan II for Moroccans living abroad”.
In this regard, he pointed out that “the release of the latter’s communiqué, which included only 144 people, was made before the initial approval by the French authorities of the entry of 50 to 60 preachers and readers, which constitute the largest number compared to other European countries,” according to Mousavi’s testimony. .
“Spiritual care” of society
The Minister for Awqaf and Islamic Affairs had earlier confirmed at a session of oral questions in the Council of Advisors last February that “the structure of the religious life of the Moroccans of the world is present and continues in the ministry, which seeks to achieve religious and spiritual care for the members of the community.”
Al-Tawfiq mentioned the creation of the “Moroccan Scientific Council of Europe, which is engaged in the protection and preservation of the religious and cultural identity of the Moroccans, as well as the opening of channels of communication and cooperation with official bodies represented in embassies and consulates, as well as with associations of representatives of mosques, which are led by Moroccans , as addressees of the authorities responsible for the management of religious affairs, and the creation of partnerships “with her to implement projects for the benefit of society.”
And he stated that the number of imams and preachers to be sent during Ramadan 2023 will exceed 400 distributed in nine countries, stressing: “Providing organizations working in mosques with the Quran, since 150,000 in addition to stepping up field visits in some Islamic centers to ascertain the needs of citizens”.
He also warned that “the third generation of Moroccan immigrants needs more efforts at the media level and to address them in a new language that will convince them that religion is on their side.”
The Ministry of Will annually allocates funds to help associations interested in religious supervision of the community, in building and equipping mosques and supporting religious supervision in the amount of 104 million dirhams in 2022, of which 18 associations have benefited.
