Rabat – Morocco’s Higher Council of Scholars announced on Tuesday that the “optional” unified Friday sermon will be available on its official website every Wednesday at 2 p.m. “for those who wish to adopt it.”
The statement comes in the wake of widespread controversy that had followed the Council’s decision to unify Friday sermons.
The decision was met with mixed reactions. Some Moroccans welcomed the measure, while others considered it to be a form of thought control.
In late June, the ministry released the “Guiding Communication for a Good Life” plan, which featured a unified sermon that was adopted in several mosques across the country.
Said Bihi, a regional President of the Council told Al Jazeera that the plan comes in the wake of the shortcomings of sermons. According to Bihi, the council observed that current communication efforts were not achieving the intended religious goal of changing people’s circumstances and elevating them to a level of religiosity that manifests positively in their lives.
Bihi pointed out that current religiosity has become superficial, characterized by hollow appearances and ideology, without achieving the true purpose of religion in creating a good life for its worshipers.
He emphasized that this led to a necessary review of the communication discourse to ensure its effectiveness.
“Efforts, time, and resources are being wasted. Approximately 9 million people attend mosques every Friday to listen to sermons that leave no impact on their lives. Deviations increase, costing individuals, families, and the state dearly,” he further explained.
Bihi concluded that this vision will be implemented through Friday sermons as well as lessons for sermon material.
In this sense, preachers will deliver a unified sermon topic every Friday, which will then be presented in preaching and guidance lessons held in mosques throughout the week.
Read Also: Morocco’s Unification of Friday Sermons Sparks Widespread Controversy
