Doha – Morocco’s King Mohammed VI will preside over the sacred Night of Destiny (Laylat al-Qadr) ceremony on Thursday, March 27, at the Royal Palace in Rabat, though he will perform the Isha (evening) and Taraweeh prayers while seated due to his recent shoulder surgery, the Royal Office announced.
“Due to certain constraints and difficulties related to certain movements and positions resulting from the surgical operation performed on His Majesty’s left shoulder,” the King will perform the prayers seated, citing the Quranic verse “Who remember Allah while standing or sitting or [lying] on their sides” (Surah Ali ‘Imran: 191), the statement elaborated.
Last month, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs announced the cancellation of the prestigious Hassanian Lectures (Dorouss El Hassaniya) for Ramadan 1446/2025, marking a significant departure from one of Morocco’s most important religious traditions.
The cancellation followed King Mohammed VI’s shoulder surgery in December 2024, where he underwent treatment for a humeral fracture sustained during routine physical activity.
“His Majesty is doing well,” declared the Royal Palace last month, adding that “the rehabilitation process imposes constraints on certain movements and positions, such as prolonged sitting and transitioning to a standing position.”
Due to these medical requirements, the King’s activities during the holy month of Ramadan were adjusted.
The Hassanian Lectures, which trace their origins to Sultan Moulay Ismail (1645-1727), were revived by the late King Hassan II in 1961 after an interruption during the French colonial period.
These lectures traditionally feature Islamic scholars delivering religious teachings in the presence of the monarch and are broadcast live to millions across Morocco, attended by government ministers, military leaders, and senior officials.
“The religious ceremony will be broadcast live on radio and television at the call for Isha prayer,” the statement concluded concerning Laylat al-Qadr, invoking traditional prayers for the King’s health and well-being alongside Crown Prince Moulay Hassan and Prince Moulay Rachid.
This sacred night, observed on the 27th night of Ramadan, holds profound significance in Islamic tradition as the night when the first verses of the Quran were revealed to Prophet Muhammad.
