Today, Morocco is one of the most beautiful countries to visit in Africa. The north African country offers tons of attractions for tourists. For instance, Morocco is famous for its abundance of beaches, mountains, deserts, ski resorts, and local dishes. That’s not all; this country is also known for its uniquely rich culture, which focuses both on its religion and tradition.
Before going ahead to visit some of the best places in Morocco, we’ll advise that you get familiar with the unique culture and ethnic groups of the country. This move will help you get along with the residents. It’ll also enable you to adapt quickly to the environment. Read on to discover everything you should know about the culture and religion in Morocco.
What are the major religions in Morocco?
Currently, there are four most popular religions in Morocco. The most dominant religion in this north African country is Islam. According to statistics, 99% of the population in this north African country are Muslims. Christianity, Judaism, and Baháʼí are the remaining three religions of Morocco. Let’s take these religions one at a time and see how they work:
- Christianity (<1%)
At the beginning of the Christian era (around the year 740), the majority of Moroccans were Christians. However, things started to change after the introduction of Islam.
Since the advent of Islam, there have been more Muslims in the country than Christians. Today, it’s hard to say exactly how many Christians are in Morocco. However, according to statistics, the number of Moroccans practicing Christianity is less than 1% of the entire country’s population. Most Christians in the country are focused on Rabat, Casablanca, and Tangier.
- Islam (>99%)
As earlier mentioned, the majority of Moroccans practice Islam. To be precise, the population of Muslim faithful in the country is roughly 99%. Today, most Muslims in this north African country are either locals or expatriates from Arab nations.
Islam became very popular in Morocco under Umayyad’s reign in the 8th century. Today, Maliki Sunni is the most practiced subset of Muslims in the country. Another popular subset of Muslims in the country is Shia.
- Judaism (<0.1%)
Today, the Jewish religion of Morocco is divided into two different groups. First, some Jews are from the Berber tribe. They have the highest population and you’ll most likely find them in Taroudant, Tinghir, or Demnate. Apart from the Berber groups, the other Jews originated from Andalusia. You’ll find them in imperial cities, such as Fez and Meknes.
- Baháʼí (<0.1%)
The Baháʼí faith is the last major religion of Morocco. This era started in the 19th century. They started their mission under the colonial rule of Morocco in 1946. After a decade of spreading words about the belief, mass arrests of the top believers were made in the early 1960s.
Today, it’s still unclear the total population of the Baháʼí faith in Morocco. However, it was estimated that the Baháʼí faith was roughly 32,598 between 2005 and 2010.
“Morocco dress code”: how to dress in the country
“Morocco dress code” is an essential part of the country’s culture. How men and women dress in this north African country is different from how people dress in other countries across the world.
In rural areas, it’s an offense to wear clothes that don’t fully cover the body parts, such as the legs, shoulders, and private parts. This is especially true for women.
- Generally, women are expected to dress modestly in the country. “Modest” means you need to put on clothes that cover you from wrist to ankle.
- As for men, modest dress means your clothes must cover from over your shoulder down to your knee.
- In rural settings, both men and women are forbidden from wearing sleeveless clothes. If you must wear shorts, it has to be long (below your knees).
Tricks on how to deal with sexual harassment
Like many countries in Europe and other continents, sex harassment is common in Morocco. This can come in different forms; a good example is when men try asking you for sex or chatting you up.
Today, there are many ways to avoid sexual harassment in Morocco:
- First, you need to be as polite and formal as possible.
- Of course, you need to stick to the standard Morocco dress code. This means you need to always dress modestly inside the country.
- Try as much as possible to avoid physical contact with men in the country. Men aren’t expected to touch you unless you give them your consent. If this happens, you have the right to shout and make a scene.
For a better understanding of the Morocco dress code, you can read our full guide on what to wear when visiting the country.
