In this blog we have already told you in detail how are some typical typologies of Moroccan architecture, such as the kasbahs, the kasbahs or the riads. But now we will explain what a marabout is, a genuine Moroccan construction that you may have the chance to discover during your trip… if you go off the beaten path. Take note.
Morabito: the saint and his wayside shrine
The word marabout refers to two different but closely related things. On the one hand, a kind of saint or holy man for Muslim believers in the Maghreb, i.e. a person to whom a certain special knowledge of the Koran is attributed or even some kind of divine blessing ( some kind of divine blessing (baraka)linked to the Sufi current. We say that this is typical of the Maghreb because in other Muslim regions of the world this idea does not exist and, in fact, the most radical Islamists consider it contrary to Islam, which only admits the veneration of Allah and does not grant any power of mediation to other people.
On the other hand, the term marabout is also used for the building where these construction where these holy men retired to live and pray, and which later often became their burial place, as a way toand which later often became their burial place, as a kind of mausoleum. mausoleum. They are usually very small and austere buildings, often cube-shaped and topped by a small dome, almost always made of adobe and/or with whitewashed walls. Therefore, both ideas are very similar to the concept of hermitage and hermit in Christianity, although the latter has a supernatural character.
Where to find marabouts in Morocco
As we said above, in order to visit a marabout in person, it is necessary to leave the pre-established routes, as these hermitages-mausoleums are usually located in uninhabited are usually located in uninhabitedOn the top of a hill, in the middle of a forest, next to a lake, etc. There are many that existed, but fewer have survived the passage of time and only a few have acquired a remarkable fame.
Perhaps the most famous is that of Moulay Abdeselamin the vicinity of Tetouan. Its fame is due to the veneration it receives from the local population, which leads to the pilgrimage of many faithful in search of the intercession of this saint, who lived between the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. In fact, it is popularly known as the ‘Mecca of the poor’, a sort of more accessible alternative for those who cannot go to the holy city of Islam for health reasons.
Further south is located the marabout of Moulay BousselhamIt is also a pilgrimage destination, especially for those who seek some kind of intercession for the intercession of the people of Kenitra. It is also a pilgrimage destination, especially for those who seek some kind of intercession for the healing of mental problems. The town, mainly made up of fishermen, has taken its name from this white construction, which has its origin in the 10th century.
Another marabout close to the sea is that of Sidi IfniThe Dariya language is spoken in the province of the same name, in the region of Guelmim-Rio Noun, much further south, in the province of the same name, in the region of Guelmim-Rio Noun. In fact, in the Moroccan dialectal variety of Arabic, Dariya, sidi means marabout. In this case it refers to the marabout Sidi Ali n’Ifni. The building itself has been modified, as a small mosque has been attached to it, but it maintains its green dome on white walls, which gives it a peculiar character.
And like these marabouts, many others scattered throughout the Moroccan geography, from the Rif and Atlas mountains to the desert valleys or the most remote coasts: Sidi Chechket, Sidi Chamarauch, marabout of the Iriki lake, the one of Ouled Yussef… to form an endless list of which Moroccan citizens are very proud, as it is a sign of identity of the country. Some, in fact, have a national flag flying at the top.
