Fes, cultural center / city of Morocco

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Established in the eighth century as its first Islamic town, Fes is known as the religious and Islamic cultural centre of Morocco. Blanketing several steep hillsides, it is one of the largest and most interesting living medieval cities in the world. Massive ancient city walls with imposing gates enfold a tangled web of narrow cobblestone streets and alleyways most of which have never seen four-wheeled traffic.

Dating back to the ninth century, the famous Kairaouine University and mosque sit at the centre of the old walled city and have made Fes a renowned centre of Islamic learning. This heritage has helped Islam become deeply rooted in the hearts of Fessi people and religious pride permeates their society and culture. Many Fessis hold influential positions in government and commerce throughout the country.

Folk Islam among the Fes of Morocco

Beneath the veneer of Islamic orthodoxy in Morocco lies animistic superstition that manifests in practices that are referred to as “Folk Islam”. Amulets, charms, the evil eye, divination, witchcraft and sorcery abound. Entering a taxi in Fes, one may notice the hand of Fatima, a symbol displayed as a protection against the evil eye. The cab owner and driver hope the amulet will ward off misfortune and bring good luck. Tombs of Muslim “saints” (holy men) in and around Fes are pilgrimage and festival sites for the needy. People believe such saints have a certain “baraka” (spiritual power) and visit their graves to ask for a miracle or favour. The unmarried long for spouses, barren wives seek to be pregnant, and the unemployed look for work.

Marocain Muslims are often more cognisant of the spirit world than are western Christians and most believe in these folk practices. Since they don’t have the Holy Spirit who is greater than the prince of this world, they must take what they consider necessary precautions to protect them from spiritual evil.

The City of Fes, Morocco

This city of one million people has yet to see cohesive bodies of Christ become firmly established. Over the years, groups of believers have come together for a season and then been scattered due to pressure from authorities, internal conflicts, and fear. In faith, this situation is now changing.

God is at work and doing some exciting new things in Fes. May this be the year that He establishes a Fessi church that will endure, a year in which Fes will become a renewed spiritual centre that will shine the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the rest of Morocco and to the whole world.

Prayer Guide for Fes, Morocco:

* Pray against the religious pride that binds the people of Fes (Isaiah 2:17).

* Pray that believers in Fes would grow in faith, love and unity.

* Pray God will free Marocain Christians from the fear and superstition that plagues their countrymen and will protect them spiritually.

* Pray that God will manifest His power over evil by bringing real healings wrought in and through Marocain believers living today.

* Pray to break the power of Satan and his dominion over Morocco (Ephesians 4:2).