Photo : José Ortiz Echagüe
Moroccan spirituality, deeply rooted in Islamic mysticism (Sufism), reflects a rich tapestry of cultural and religious influences, including Arab, Berber, Andalusian, and sub-Saharan traditions. This spiritual landscape is characterized by its pluralism, blending orthodox Islamic practices with localized rituals and the veneration of saints (awliya), creating a unique socio-religious fabric.
Central to Moroccan spirituality is Sufism, which has historically served as a bridge between formal Islamic theology and popular devotion. The 13th-century mystic Ibn Arabi, whose works profoundly influenced North African Sufism, encapsulated this universalist ethos: "The heart is capable of every form. It is a meadow for gazelles, a cloister for monks… a temple for idols, the Kaaba of the pilgrim. It is the tablets of the Torah, the book of the Qur’an. I follow the religion of Love" (Ibn Arabi, The Interpreter of Desires).
Such poetic theology underscores the Sufi emphasis on inner experience and divine love, principles that resonate in Morocco’s diverse Sufi orders (turuq), such as the Qadiriyya and Tijaniyyah. The veneration of saints and their tombs (zawiyas) remains a cornerstone of Moroccan spiritual practice, symbolizing the interplay between the sacred and the communal.
As scholar Vincent Cornell notes, "The Moroccan saint is not merely a mediator between humanity and God but a societal anchor, embodying baraka [divine blessing] that sustains communal cohesion" (Cornell, Realm of the Saint, 1998). Annual pilgrimages (moussems) to sites like Moulay Idriss Zerhoun highlight this enduring tradition, merging devotional acts with cultural celebration. Moroccan spirituality also thrives in syncretic practices. The Gnawa, descendants of sub-Saharan Africans, exemplify this through rituals blending Islamic prayer with ancestral invocations and trance-inducing music. Gnawa musician Maâlem Mahmoud Guinea articulates this fusion: "Our lila [ceremony] heals by uniting the earthly and the divine—it is where the Qur’an meets the drum" (Guinea, 2017).