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| Ramadan: Spirituality and Hypocrisy |
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| ZOUHAIR BAGHOUGH | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Friday, 27 August 2010 16:41 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Washington / Morocco Board News Service - I don’t think this month is holy any more, nor does it still bear some genuine religious significance to the people. It is, I must point out, a subjective point of view. Indeed, Moroccans (at least those I saw in Casablanca or Rabat or today in Marrakesh) are ostensibly reading the Koran in public places. I noticed the mosques were never so full of faithful as they are this time of year. But on the whole, it does not feel like Moroccans get in touch with their spirituality. It does however look like more of a parade of spirituality, and it is going out of proportions. There is this stereotype I hold on my fellow citizens as being hypocritical, but surely it was nothing like that.There is something I find quite strange, though: Every Ramadan, dissident voicesclaim their right to break it, and every time, the orthodox voices cry their shock and anger to that handful of Kuffar that have no respect for Islam or to anything thisumma holds dear to its heart. Some even get raving mad, fortunately only onFacebook walls or Hespress comments. Yet it remains so that Moroccan society is growing intolerant, or at least seems to be so. Last year MALI group tried a spectacular direct action but were prevented from doing so. Do we have some comprehensive explanation why some Moroccans feel very sensitive about this? Let me just put it in simple terms: fasting Ramadan, just like praying are two rituals part of the five pillars of Islam. However, these pillars are ranked in order of precedence and it goes like this: 1. Faith, 2. Prayers, 3. Charity, 4. Ramadan, and last 5. Pilgrimage. In other words, its is much much more serious breach of Muslim faith not to pray than not to fast Ramadan, and even more important to care about the needy than to fast during the holy month. Until now, I have never seen someone harassed by the crowd because they did not attend the Friday prayers, as far as I am concerned. There was this unfortunate occurrence when a particularly zealous member of my family tried to talk me into “mending my ways back”, but that was it (the person in question avoided me for the rest of the evening, and that was a relief). Their reaction would have been quite different if I was not fasting, I can tell you that. While the last pillar (pilgrimage) is compulsory only to those able to go to Mecqua, Ramadan remains effectively the last pillar all Muslims should observe, and yet it is, according to some surveys I am going to discuss, the most important one. The Moroccan Penal Code, Article 222, is quite clear about it: Muslim Moroccans are not prevented from not fasting Ramadan, they are forbidden to do so in public. “Celui qui, notoirement connu pour son appartenance à la religion musulmane, rompt ostensiblement le jeûne dans un lieu public pendant le temps du ramadan, sans motif admis par cette religion, est puni de l’emprisonnement d’un à six mois et d’une amende de 12 à 120 dirhams“ How could anyone -save for those of our fellow citizens with Jewish ascent- prove that they are not “notoriously known for their belonging to the Nuslim faith?” And what about a Moroccan that reverted their faith to Christianity? do they have to produce a baptism certificate? And what about the atheists or the non-believers? Do we need a paper stating our non-belief from Richard Dawkins? And why being so hypocritical about it? Why would the Moroccan judiciary punish anyone break-fasting in public, but turn the blind eye on those who do so but away from any public fuss? Doesn’t it encourage hypocrisy? or Doesn’t it simply give in to the fear ofFitna? For Fitna here would be some Muslim fanatics taking on those they consider apostate. Article 222, just like Article 489 (on homosexuality), Article 490 (on illegalsex) and 496 (female adult with a tutor authority) reminds us that Morocco, for democratic and tolerant it boasts to be, remains handicapped with a reactionary set of laws as well as state of minds, and impaled in deep contradictions that cannot be explained but in sociological terms. I must point out that nowhere in the penal code an article punishes a Moroccan national for not going to the Mosque, or giving money to the poor, or even for lacking faith in Islam. Why do we focus on Ramadan, and not on the rest? Let me be clear about it: I am a staunch supporter of secularism as a political solution for religious issues. The law of the land needs to be set up by men, and these held accountable to the nation. That also means that the His Majesty should not benefit from the extra-constitutional powers his status as “Commader of the Faithful” permits him. In other words, Islam, just like other religions, remains a private matter, thus effectively rendering the public sphere neutral to any spirituallobby. I cannot however understand the sheer contradiction of it all: it is fine not to pray (I mean, people do not necessarily see it as a blatant lack of faith) it is legal -within the boundaries of the law- to drink alcohol (bars are public places as far as I know), but jamais au grand jamais, one should break Ramadan fasting, especially not in public. At the best it is frown upon, at the worse you get caught up by the police. In the land of contradictions, one stands beyond bemusement. Let us take a leaf from the RDH 50 report. The one about society, families and youth, and especially about religious values as seen by the Moroccan youth. According to the survey, and it seems to be the general case, the youth are longing for a change, compared to the previous generation (namely their parents) either by refusing the norms (no prayers, no Ramadan) or by accepting the norms as they were, but in a different way, so that the inter-generation differences remain seen. By doing so, the Moroccan youth do no “invent” as it were, atheism or agnosticism, nor the “new wave” religious observance. They simply move within the social context they are living in, and the choice is then made accordingly. There was a time (1961) when agnosticism and atheism had the upper hand: “seuls 5% des enquêtés estimaient que la religion tenait une place plus grande que dans la génération précédente. La majorité (80 %) affirmait l’étiolement de la religion. Parmi les constatations recueillies : « les jeunes se détachent de la religion », « il y a un sur mille qui pratique », « plus de 50 % ne font ni ramadan ni prière », « autrefois un musulman était renié par sa famille s’il épousait une chrétienne, aujourd’hui non », « la religion est l’opium du peuple », « les questions économiques sont plus importantes1 ». Doit-on conclure au recul de la religion chez les élèves marocains d’après l’indépendance? En tout cas, quel que soit le rapport des élèves à la religion, les questions prioritaires de leur époque étaient politiques, économiques et sociales. La question de la sécularisation progressive des sociétés, du recul de la religion, doit être nuancée. Les processus de changement ne sont ni linéaires ni irréversibles. Les recherches récentes sur le rapport des jeunes à la religion vont dans ce sens”. I like the last sentence because it is the adequate and informed answer to any of those making speeches about the irreversable victory of Islam over the unfaithful. That happened some 50 years before. What about now? “Selon une enquête menée par M. Tozy au début des années 1980, seuls 8 % font la prière régulièrement, 26 % occasionnellement et 49 % ne la font pas. L’enquête de 1992 révèle que 54% des étudiants font la prière. Alors faut-il conclure à l’absence du religieux lorsque seuls 8 % des étudiants font régulièrement la prière et au retour du religieux lorsque la proportion des pratiquants « augmente »? Ni l’un ni l’autre. Nous avons dit que le retour du religieux (si cette expression a un sens) n’est pas un processus irréversible. S’agissant toujours de la pratique de la prière, l’enquête de 1996 enregistre une « diminution » de 10 points par rapport à celle de 1992″. That is quite odd, as pointed out later on: “Tozy remarque l’incohérence, voire le caractère contradictoire des réponses : 85 % des enquêtés avaient un rapport ambigu à la religion. Ceci montre qu’il est difficile de partir d’un seul aspect de la religion (la prière, le port du voile etc.) et d’affirmer soit la sécularisation soit le retour du religieux.“ These are the conclusions the report reached on religious values and Moroccan youth: - The present situation is neither that of secularism or mass-islamization. All that comes up from the finds is ambivalence, ambiguity and contradiction in the choice of religious symbols as well as individual and collective behaviour towards Islamic rituals. (including therefore Ramadan) - The religious references are more and more of exogenous nature. family no longer provides them, and the Youth are looking for them elsewhere (Satellite TV, Internet, University, etc….) thus proving a much more heterogeneous choice in terms of “religious apparatus” What about Ramadan then? It may be related to the kind of relationship we have with food and the ritual of eating. The HCP studies still point out that Moroccans are still devoting an important part of their income on food and edible material. Basically, Ramadan is considered to be the most visible aspect of religion one can display, and some sort of unhealthy consensus has been created on that. It seems Ramadan created itself into a taboo, and those who dare challenge it must be punished, following this newly esablished norm. I consider it to be new because the non-faster were more visible say, 30 years ago than they are now. Can the Moroccan society live with a fraction of its population deviant from that norm? of course it can, it has proven to be easily adaptive. What lacks is the basic condition of an open debate, for a taboo is not subject of such talks, and it seems to me, the blame is on both sides. Author: Zouhair Baghough is a postgraduate student in monetary economics, with areas of interest in sociology, political science, public service management and public economics. his blog is at http://moorishwanderer.wordpress.com
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Adnan
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While I agree that not all are equal in sincerity... It is intersting to point out how secular is? In arabic, Din is best translated to Muamalat, as stated in a hadith of the prophet of islam. It is any action based on a certain conviction; not a system of value as the word Religion is understood in most western cultures... Secularism is a Din and extensively a religion of its own. It simply doesn't state that it ultimately believes in Man Kind. |
TruthSeeker
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HAPPY EID happy EID to all moslems I think this issue is closed until next Ramadan :P |
4 Morocco
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Friend "If Moroccans were better Muslims, Morocco would move forward in a number of ways. Good muslims fear only God. Good Muslims show kindness. Good Muslims are honest, they do not take, nor do they give bribes. Good Muslims do not participate in gossip or rumour mongering. Good Muslims fight injustice. The real solutions to ALL of Morocco's problems, lie in Moroccans becoming better Muslims." I think this would make Morocco a better place. The sad thing is it isn't a place where this type of Muslim lives, otherwise, there wouldn't be these comments. I have yet to meet a "good" Muslim in Morocco that does these things. Keep dreaming! Only how many years left on this planet? Better get working on your morality fantasy!!! |
Apache
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... Moroccan Patriot, Thank you for these wonderful paragraph:
Al fitnato ashaddo mina al qatl We simply cannot take matters into our hands. We have to respect the rule of LAW otherwise we cause chaos. Islam stresses this very same point by presenting three different ways for those who take upon themselves to fulfill the following verse. Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right, and forbidding what wrong: they are the ones to attain felicity.(3:104) The prophet peace be upon him showed us how to go about responding to a wrong deed being done in the follwoing 1. With our Hand. Hand = force. The state with its laws and security forces is well positioned to use this option as a way to correct or eradicate the issue 2. With our Tongue Speaking or writing against the evil deed. 3. With our Hearts If we see wrong being done and we can't and we are unable to change it by force or in no position to speak about it we should at least hate it in our heart. I will say it one more time; all these various ways of how to go about affecting change in our society must take into account the preservation of peace within the society. Else, we are causing more harm than good. Islamic history is full of many horrible implementations of this concept. |
TruthSeeker
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... man en blanc : Thank you for your comments, we all are seeking right path of sucess here and hereafter together How sad it is that UnIslamic things (Pagan ) has entered in Islam and its hurting Islam and all Moslems Moslems people do not learn and follow baisc Islamic values nor they teach their children ( the basic values are same in alosmost every religion and culture and its becuase they were enforced by Islam ) Other two new article posted today regarding Morocian women are sad too these type of activities are not limited to morocco but all moslem countries By the way 9 years thingie is taken wrong and made up by Imams and Sharia makers Study proves that Aisha was not 9 years old when she got married to prophet of Islam, this how religion is minupalated by Sharia maker to get what they wants in their personal agendas Sad Serious reader of Coran and Hadith know and understand that any Hadith which conredict Coran is false and made up in time when all moslem world was Shia and they made it up to prove their points It can't be said enough that Islam is most libreal and secular and very personal religion ever |
man en blanc
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true story "Moslem can have a full Islamic country if they accept Coran as it is and reject man made/ man written Sharia law and use Fiq for ritual refrence book" A Noble Suggestion. Sadly, with the deluge of the wackiest Fatwas emanating from the thousands of the lunatic so-called Imams throughout the Arab world, and, on a weekly basis, our work is cut out for us! We are talking about the most stubborn mules(braghl) in history! From the Imam in Saudi Arabia who wants women to feed their breast milk to strange men, so they can form a "bond", as to allow the sexes to mingle. To the loony Imam (Inane?) in Morocco who Fatwed that a girl is ready to marry at NINE YEARS old. Is there a worrisome pattern here? One Friday last summer, I went to my neighborhood mosque with my younger brother who never misses a call to prayer, we went there for the Jam3a prayers. After that sacred ritual, I decided to hang around for the Hadith. I put up with that garbage for about 14 minutes. I got up, and without uttering a single word, I, theatrically, and purposely showed my disgust regarding the absurdity of the "sermon". It made no sense whatsoever! It began with something hostile about Israel, then something weird about America, France, Spain and maybe the planet Pandora from Avatar. and the sins of the Na'vis. I walked out. Barefoot. I would not search for my footwear. I went home. I only live few hundred meters from the mosque. And my sandals were from Wal-Mart. An hour later, all hell broke loose at home. My brother handed me his phone and asked me to call the Imam and apologize. I laughed. My mother informed me that I will be her prayers for eternity. I like that. Bless her. I asked my brother to go back and retrieve my sandals. He told me that he was certain that my sandals were gone. "People steal everything at the mosque" were his words. I said I will donate 300 Dirhams to the mosque if the Imam would devote the Friday after's Hadith to the sins of the devout stealing "everything" in a house of worship! Everybody got confused. The "incident" was dropped immediately. I believe I was forgiven. It's not the Koran. It's not Islam. The paradox in Morocco is incomprehensible! |
TruthSeeker
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... Moslem can have a full Islamic country if they accept Coran as it is and reject man made/ man written Sharia law and use Fiq for ritual refrence book Corannic laws has very liberal laws and options and personal insense of mostly between God and human kind Moslem country is supposed to make rules and regulation for busniess, crime and such items just like first 4 caliphs did, they made rules for busniess and such things but never wrote Sharia or Fiq (they all knew how to read and write ) Islam is most liberal religion ever Islam is not a cult like Catholic or Hindu or other religions which one have to follow a Pope or Clergy Sharia law and Wahabinism (also brand as Taliban , Salifi ) is a cancer in Islam and moslems should regonize this and fix /reform themselves before its too late and moslem will lose their Islam and religion Moslem should practics baisc morals to start, like being honest, be kind, do not take bribe/do not give bribe etc help each other to become peaceful and with good morals to become good Moslems Five Pillar of islam is personal between God and human kind and no other has any right to police it "God can forgive his rights on people but will not forgive a person rights over other person" (hadith) - this maybe a poor translation- sorry about that in advance |
Aziz El Alami
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Notes to the Author I did read your entire article. I chose to limit my rebuttal to the hypocrisy segment because that’s the one I had an issue with. This doesn’t mean I agree (or disagree) with the other topics you touch on – I simply haven’t had the time or the desire to verify them. So I will take them at their face value. It is absurd to think that one’s prayers could be monitored – Are the Habous People supposed to follow every Moroccan 24 hours a day to make sure that he or she did indeed pray 5 times? It is impossible, just like it is impossible to verify who is a good Muslim and who is not. Observing Ramadan on the other hand could be monitored and verified and that is why there is a specific law to that effect. I am not sure why you keep referring to Ramadan as one of the least important Pillars… I am not an expert on Islam and I do not know why the five pillars were listed in that particular order – I am counting on my fellow Muslims to help me out on this one. But I would think – and this is just my own analysis – they were listed in that order due to the frequency – not importance - in which they are observed. 1 = “Iman” is a constant thing, you either are “moue’min” or you are not. 2 = “Salat” is a daily affair, 3 = “Zakat” = could be done as often as one wishes, 4 = “Ramadan” = is a once a year thing and (last) 5 = “Haj” is a once in a lifetime thing for most people. All five Pillars are of equal importance to me. I do not see this issue as hypocrisy – It simply a matter of what authorities could control versus what they couldn’t. It is important in any society to have a set of rules one needs to abide by. This has nothing to do with limiting one’s freedom – for freedom without boundaries is called chaos. Morocco is not a secular country – at least not yet. It is a sovereign, moderate Muslim country. I respect your right and that of those so called left wing Moroccans to seek constitutional changes to turn Morocco into a secular country… But until you succeed in doing so, you are expected to obey the existing laws or face their consequences. |
Morcelli
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... Moroccan Patriot, I really do not care if people are fasting or not. If they do, it's good for them, if they don't, who cares? If I am in a Park sitting in a bench reading my book to frankly kill time until Iftar, and you come and sit in the same bench and started to devour your Sardines sandwich, do you expect me to be cool and democratic about it? Let's be serious here. We need to realize that Morocco is not the US or New Zealand. We are all for democracy, freedom of speech, due process but a little respect goes a long way. The law said eat in privacy. I don't even care about the Moroccan law, because you and I know that the law never gets applied to folks such as your friend Mr. Naciri. What's wrong with respecting 90% of the population? You want to challenge the law, then write to the king, post an ad in the new york times,le monde, and the Washington Post, I am sure you can get the king's attention, he might even listen to your concern that people should eat in public during Ramadan and the 90% majority should stay home as to not see people who are not fasting. Let me say it again. Morocco is not the US, New zealand, Saudi Arabia, or Iran, or Sweden. We have our laws and they have theirs, if you live in these countries, then respect their laws, when you live in Morocco, you need to respect the law in there as well. If you do not like it, then you have 2 options, leave, or contact the king who makes the law. |
Youssef SF
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Why being so rude, morceli? Morceli, It seems that your parents didn't teach you manners. I don't know why this website doesn't sensor your garbage because all you do is attack the authors and the commentators. Notice what you put forward as a reply: "dumb arguments", "kick your ass", "piss off", "spit on you", "childish argument". Not only that you don't put forward any intelligent thought, you continue to persist on disturbing the flow of civil exchange and constructive debate. If you think you know it all and therefore entitled to be arrogant and rude then please leave us alone, let us learn from each other and politely debate one another. Intellectually, you are above our level and don't belong in our league. So use the time off to learn some manners. |
Moroccan Patriot
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Morocco is NOT a muslim Country Morcelli, If you spit on people who you see eating in front of you during Ramadan in Morocco, you do realize that you are the one who is committing the greater sin? Ramadan is NOT simply about refraining from Food and Drink. In fact, refraining from food and drink is the easy part. Ramadan is a cleansing process. It is a time when muslims must show patience - not much patience shown when you spit on people who are offending your sensibilities!! Ramadan is a time when we must show kindness to others. It is a time that we must be even more generous, more understanding and most important, more forgiving. People who break fasts should not be arrested. Arresting them is UNISLAMIC. However, this is not where attention should be focussed. Instead of calling for LESS Islam in Morocco, I believe Islam needs to play a MUCH, MUCH larger role in the lives of most Moroccans. If Moroccans were better Muslims, Morocco would move forward in a number of ways. Good muslims fear only God. Good Muslims show kindness. Good Muslims are honest, they do not take, nor do they give bribes. Good Muslims do not participate in gossip or rumour mongering. Good Muslims fight injustice. The real solutions to ALL of Morocco's problems, lie in Moroccans becoming better Muslims. The first step in the process of strengthening the Ummah is to keep Mosques open 24 hours. I believe that mosques, the Jumahah was intended to be a meeting place for the Ummah, where they could sit together and Democratically discuss and decide upon solutions to the problems facing their community. I believe the Mosque is a place that could serve as a free hotel for the poor, a soup kitchen for the hungry and a place of learning for the uneducated. If you want a cause this Ramadan, a cause that will gain you rewards in this life and in the hereafter inshallah, talk to your family and friends about keeping Mosques open 24 hours. This is the first step towards taking fighting corruption and aspects of the current leadership that have nothing but contempt for the average Moroccan. |
TruthSeeker
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... man en blanc : Are you serious about what you wrote " Does anybody know that in some quartiers in Casablanca, teenage girls had their faces burned by acid, thrown at them by those bastards because their clothes were deemed too sexy? I am not talking about isolated incidents, but a regular occurrence! It's not even a secret." ? this is very serious thing and you are right this is like Taliban style in Afganistan, they are influence by wahabism of KSA and its spreading like cancer in Moslem world Moslem world should take notice of this and people like you are serious and care about Islam keep up the good work |
Redouane
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Great piece to read: it is all for a call for diversity in being moroccan nationalist (not ignorant islamist) As the saying goes: Ignorance is bliss. It is ignorance that keeps most of our compatriots stuck up to their level of authoritarian personality and rigid call for conformity under the threat of death and/or humiliation. Ignorance of the basics regarding what it means to be a citizen with rights. The idea of citizenship is foreign to the masses. Islam is only a cover for conformity and a false sense of belonging. If they only read the hadiths and the Koran with attention and critical eye we would not be here discussing why Ramadhan is futile as a spiritual endeavor for the soul. If they only imagine what was morocco before the arabian muslim invasion. I guess they call it Jahilia... I beleive that the genuine Jahilia was brought the their Arabian waring Masters. Calling all the great thinkers who lived before the birth of Islam like Aristotle, Epicuris, Plato, Seneca, and the rest Jahils is beyond me... It is the clan of Koreish and its commanders that were trully ignorance and tyranical.. |
Morcelli
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... Ramadan in Ain Diab? nariiiiiiiiiii shari3 shoufouni!!! Ramadan in the us is great too. Very peaceful, nice people all around, No one is fasting b jmil:) |
Morcelli
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... I challenge anyone here to point me to an event where a Moroccan police officer mistakenly arrested a Jew or a christian for not fasting. You can't? because Jews and Christians are very respectful of the Majority that is Muslim. All these dumb excuses that we are given to show that no one should care if one is fasting or not are just simply childish arguments. When people are fasting, and you are not, you go eat somewhere else, if you piss people off and you get your ass kicked then you deserve it. If I am fasting and you come and start eating in front of of me , i have not choice but to spit on you. Of course the location has to be Morocco. You know why i would do that?, because you do not respect me as one member of the majority. You want to be a hero then go in front of any the kings palaces and demand to see him. |
Zouhair Baghough
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... @Aziz El Alami "It is impossible to prove who is praying and who is not." I am sorry, but it is feasible in a country like Morocco. The authorities could hire some people from the Ministry of Habous and Islamic Affairs to systematically "persuade" people to go to the mosque. Or just tolerate fanatics pushing people against their will. D'you know a policeman could ask you a question that might go like: "are you a good Muslim?" what kind of modern state is that? What I am advocating here is not anarchy but merely a clarity of purpose. First, I still can't understand why the seemingly least important pillar in Islam is so much of a taboo in Morocco. The logical explanation is not religious, it's social, there is no point in denying it. And second, every non-gov left-wing Moroccan would tell you that they work for a constitutional change that seeks a secular Morocco. Did you read the whole post through? Perhaps I wasn't clear on being "a staunch supporter of secularism as a political solution for religious issues." There is no question of making Morocco a "Marocistan" whatsoever. I am pointing out the contradiction in which the law and society are. |
Jawad
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Free will Interesting perspective. Indeed, Ramadan in Morocco is no longer one of the pillars of Islam but it became a tradition and people are like Zombies practicing blindly and with no purpose. This is my first Ramadan in Morocco in 22 years and besides the food, I have yet to feel some deep connection with my faith as I always felt while practicing in the US. Moroccans are practicing Islam with no hearts but just their bodies. People are going hungry and thirsty during the day, feasting at sunset, and partying hard until fajr. Go to Ain Diab and you will see with your own eyes the kind of festivities. I was blown away when I visited the strip as it felt like there was no Ramadan. |
Aziz El Alami
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Awili, Awili, Awili Ash kat ghoul al kaffer bellah? Your whole argument is that it is hypocrite to only enforce the observance of Ramadan but none of the other pillars… I beg to differ. It is impossible to prove who is praying and who is not. One could pray in the privacy of his or her own home – which is allowed in Islam. One could pray at a later time, which is also allowed. Just by not going to Friday’s prayer, does not necessarily mean that one does not pray. Eating in public during Ramadan on the hand – without medical or religious reasons, is a blunt violation of the law. If you don’t like existing laws, you are more than welcomed to challenge or protest them. But as long as these laws are in effect. You are obligated to respect them. Would you rather see a Taliban like regime in Morocco where people are stoned and beheaded in public squares? I hope not. We don’t have to go to one extreme or another… become a radical society where one’s freedom is totally oppressed or a society where anyone can do as they please. Morocco is moderate country and I like it for what it is. There are many things Morocco could improve on but when it comes to Ramadan, it is fine the way it is. I reiterate, if you do not like penal code 222 or any other for that matter, please feel free to challenge them. But as long as these laws are in effect, you are expect you to respect them or seek asylum somewhere else where you could have your “complete freedom”. |
Moroccan Patriot
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Fighting the wrong enemy - Moroccan Govt. Hates the Moroccan People I applaud your sense of civics. Unfortunately, I think you might be mis-informed about some other items. Drinking alcohol in Morocco is illegal for Muslims. I agree with your principled stand and arresting or harassing people for NOT fasting is wrong. I also agree that Prayer is way more important than Fasting and you don't see people getting arrested for not praying. The Answer my brother is NOT in being more secular. The real answer is accountability and becoming a BETTER Muslim. A good Muslim shows others the benefits of Islam by living according to the teachings of Islam. I am a very devout Muslim (or at least try my best to be, if God accepts inshallah). Arresting people for NOT fasting or NOT praying is against Islam. However, it is in the interests of the State to do so. Why? Because the state maintains control through fear. Morocco, However, does not seem to be a Muslim state. In a muslin state, the sale and consumption of Alcohol would be illegal. In Morocco, you have what is known as an APARTHEID state. Except in Morocco, it is the Natural Born Moroccan Citizen that gets treated like a second class citizen. This is seen in the Hotel laws - Where Muslims are not allowed to share hotel rooms, and Alcohol laws, and a myriad of other ridiculous laws that differentiate in the enforcement of laws based upon Religious or National Origin. Can you imagine going to New York and marrying 4 women and expecting to be treated better in the eyes of the law than an American who did the same thing? The only conclusion I can come to is that the Moroccan Govt. hates their own people, and this is something I have heard and seen with my own eyes. How else do you explain the legislatures apartheid laws in Morocco? |
moro yankee
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why you keep on, on , about ramadan ramadan is a holly month to the hole muslim world , if you feel like moroccans they don't appreciate it , or observe it like they used to , well , the blame is on you and the moroccan media for turning the holly month of ramadan into a festival of debates and who knows what?, and who is a good muslim or not, and then that dillusion of freedom of speach and religion , i think you guys should stop fasting and go to your caffe on plain day light and have your self a sandwich, and stop bothering us , the ones who wanna fast, and clean their spirit and get a good deep and profounde obediance to god and koran and our prophet, prays be upon him, you said your free, go ahead , don't fast , stop with these lies.and let us do our ramadan in paece, thank you. |
man en blanc
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Our Dirty Big Secret it is not Hypocrisy. It is FEAR. Not the fear about what the police or/and the judges might do. Not the fear of becoming a pariah in the eyes of the society. It's the fear instilled in Moroccans by the extremists who dream of a Taliban-style Morocco. And they are nightmarishly powerful. Regardless of their number. Does anybody know that in some quartiers in Casablanca, teenage girls had their faces burned by acid, thrown at them by those bastards because their clothes were deemed too sexy? I am not talking about isolated incidents, but a regular occurrence! It's not even a secret. The cops usually turn a blind eye. And the innocent girls are disfigured for life in a country that is merciless in its treatment towards the powerless. Don't wait for MAP to report these atrocities. Let's not the do the Forest and trees cliche. Let's not try to psychoanalyze Ramadan-impaired citizens. We have cancer growing in our country. And we all know what it is. |
Secular Moroccan
said:
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Difficult to Measure Religiosity I agree with the general point about the hypocrisy of being intolerant toward those who don't fast. But it is very difficult to measure "religiosity" and even more difficult to draw general meaning when surveys find that Moroccans have become more or less "religious." What seems to be going on is increasing intolerance and social pressure and declining spirituality regardless of the cyclical change in "religiosity." That is the big problem as far as rights, freedoms, and social change are concerned. When the state, society, and the family form a bond of oppression that no one can break. |
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