Marrakech – King Mohammed VI has sent a message of condolences to the family of Cheikh Larabass Ould Cheikh Mohamed Laghdaf Ould Cheikh Maelainine, who died Wednesday in Tan-Tan at the age of 92.
In the message, the monarch conveyed that he learned of the death “with deep emotion and profound sorrow,” and prayed that God grant the deceased His mercy and admit him to His vast paradise.
The sovereign extended his condolences to the family, relatives, and friends of the deceased, along with the members of the Cheikh Maelainine family. He prayed that they find consolation in the work the late Cheikh carried out “in the service of religion and the homeland.”
The King framed the death as a national loss. He noted that the passing does not represent a loss for the Maelainine family alone, but also for Morocco, which lost “one of the most eminent religious and social figures” of the kingdom’s southern provinces, a man known for his “noble human qualities and sincere patriotism.”
The message recalled that the late Cheikh dedicated his life to serving the interests of the southern provinces across education, religious guidance, justice, and social action. The monarch described his “unwavering attachment to the glorious Alaouite Throne,” his “sincere fidelity to the constants and sacred values of the nation,” and his devotion to defending the country’s territorial integrity.
The sovereign closed with a Quranic verse: “Among the believers are men true to what they promised God. Among them is he who has fulfilled his vow, and among them is he who awaits.”
Cheikh Larabass came from the Cheikh Maelainine family, one of the scholarly families with a long-standing presence in the Moroccan Sahara, tied to teaching, religious guidance, and the zawiya.
His career extended well beyond religious work. He rose through the judiciary, from the Sharia courts to the presidency of the court in Tan-Tan, later took on judicial responsibilities in Laayoune, and held posts within the High Council of the Judiciary.
He headed the Local Council of Ulema in Laayoune from 1981 and remained in the role for decades. He was also appointed a member of the Supreme Council of Ulema.
He was also associated with the Royal Advisory Council for Saharan Affairs and took part in seminars and meetings on the history of the Sahara, the bay’a (oath of allegiance), and national and territorial unity, alongside scholars, notables, and other figures from the region.
In 2023, the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs honored him following his departure from the Local Council of Ulema.
