Foreign Affairs, National Defense, Islamic Affairs, and Moroccan Expatriates Committee Evaluates the Measures Taken by the Ministry of Religious Endowments and Islamic Affairs Regarding COVID-19

The Foreign Affairs, National Defense, Islamic Affairs, and Moroccan Expatriates Committee at the House of Representatives held a meeting on Thursday, May 28^th, 2020, chaired by the Committee's chairperson Youssef Gharbi, with Minister of Religious Endowments and Islamic Affairs Ahmed Taoufik. The meeting discussed the measures taken by the Ministry to protect the activities that fall under its responsibility, especially those related to assisting and developing the religious guidance of citizens in the light of this pandemic.

In his presentation, Minister of Religious Endowments and Islamic Affairs Ahmed Taoufik affirmed that "reopening mosques for devotees depends on the decision of the competent authorities about the restoration of the sanitary situation to its normal state.”

Mr. Taoufik highlighted that "the Ministry of Religious Endowments and Islamic Affairs has engaged earlier in monitoring committees and adopted several sanitary measures to face COVID-19 through cleaning, sterilizing, and closing mosques."

The Ministry's measures to face COVID-19 included closing 52,000 mosques, about 1,500 shrines, more than 5,000 mausoleums, about 300 traditional schools, and about 14,000 Quranic schools. The Ministry also suspended the literacy classes in 7,077 mosques, and the activities of the institutes under Al-Qarawiyyin University, and the ones under the Mohammed VI Foundation of African Scholars and Mohammed VI Foundation for the Promotion of Welfare of Religious Attendants.

The Ministry also suspended religious events, as the pandemic spreads through contact. Meanwhile, the decision to close mosques came as a result of the advisory opinion requested by the Commander of the Faithful from the Higher Council of Scholars. The Minister reassured citizens that this measure is temporary and that mosques will reopen their doors as soon as the competent authorities decide on the restoration of the sanitary situation in Morocco.

As for other measures, Mr. Ahmed Taoufik stated that the "Ministry decided to assist the distance learning technologies in favor of traditional schools, and engage in the national mobilization through the donation of the employees of the Ministry to the Fund for Managing the Coronavirus Pandemic." Another measure manifested in the decision of HM King Mohammed VI to exempt the tenants of Islamic endowment premises from rent.

As for Moroccan expatriates, the Mohammed VI Channel for Holy Quran devoted some of its programs to shows directed at this category, as imams and religious instructors cannot travel to foreign countries due to the outbreak of COVID-19.

The Committee members, representing the nation in this meeting, seized this occasion to commend the national efforts as a role model in dealing with the outbreak of COVID-19. The deputies expressed their pride in the foresight of HM King Mohammed VI, and the humanitarian decisions he took through exempting the tenants of Islamic endowments from rent.

The deputies considered the meeting an occasion to exchange ideas and suggestions on developing the religious sector in Morocco, regulating mosques, improving related training, and enhancing the Ministry's institutional and digital communication.

As for the spiritual security of Moroccans, the Committee members stressed the importance of relying on the advisory opinions issued by official institutions, noting the importance of raising the awareness of Moroccans regarding the role of these institutions in the religious sector.

In their discussion with the Minister, the participants tackled some areas that the Ministry manages, such as this year's pilgrimage season, the management of Eid Al-Adha, and the regulation of alms.

As for pilgrimage, Mr. Taoufik stated that the Ministry "has not yet received an official notice by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj concerning the developments in the next days. We have only received a correspondence in March from the Saudi Minister of Hajj requesting postponing the execution of contracts." The Minister affirmed that his department "has not signed any contracts of hosting, accommodation, and local transportation," adding that "pilgrimage is organized through several measures that require time, and this action depends on the decisions of the Saudi authorities."

As regards Eid Al-Adha, the Minister highlighted that it is still early to decide on the matter as "no one knows what could happen in the future."

Concerning the regulation of alms, the Minister first recalled the spirit of solidarity shown by Moroccans during this crisis and affirmed that "alms is similar to prayer. The individual performs it as a religious duty. However, its regulation is a competence of the Commander of the Faithful HM King Mohammed VI, who may decide on it at the time and in the way he sees fit."

Mr. Taoufik added that "The Commander of the Faithful HM King Mohammed VI previously ordered us to prepare the documents and perceptions relative to alms, and its guidebook, which are available." The Minister also stressed that HM the King "will decide about its regulation in a way that he sees suitable to the Islamic laws and their interpretations."