Islam in Morocco facts for kids

A mosque in Larache

Islam in Morocco is the main religion for almost everyone living there. About 99% of people in Morocco are Muslims. The remaining 1% are Christians and Jewish people.

How Islam Arrived in Morocco

Islam first came to Morocco in the year 680. An Arab army, led by a general named Oqba ben Nafi, brought it. He rode his horse right into the Atlantic Ocean! He said that the ocean was the only thing stopping him from conquering even more lands. He called Morocco Maghreb al-Aksa, which means "the farthest west."

Early Islamic Rulers

Later, around 788, a group called the Zaydi Shia Idrisids ruled large parts of Morocco. After them, several powerful Berber groups formed their own Islamic kingdoms. These groups ruled over the country.

The Almoravid Dynasty

One of the most important groups was the Almoravids. They were the first to unite all of Morocco. They also brought together big areas in West Africa, Spain, and Algeria. The Almoravids were important because they made the Maliki school of Islam the most common one in Morocco.

How Islam is Practiced Today

Today, most Muslims in Morocco follow the Sunni branch of Islam. Within Sunni Islam, most Moroccans follow the Maliki school. This means they follow a specific way of understanding Islamic law and practices.

Images for kids

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  This map shows where different types of Islam are practiced in Africa. Morocco is mostly colored light blue, showing it's mainly Maliki Sunni.