Visiting the Venerated Site of Marabout de Sidi Abderrahmane
Religious worship is very much a part of every day life in Morocco and most customs, ceremonies and religious sites are taken very seriously and treated with respect. Visitors unfamiliar with the local faith would do well to visit the various religious attractions, provided they take care not to be disrespectful in any way. The Marabout de Sidi Abderrahmane is one of Casablanca’s more intriguing religious sites.
The first thing a visitor should know about the Marabout de Sidi Abderrahmane in Morocco is that it is not a normal religious building or place of worship – it is a burial ground. The Marabout de Sidi Abderrahmane is located just off the coast of Casablanca on a large, rocky outcrop of land. As if that wasn’t odd enough, the actual tombs on the outcrop take the shape of a series of little white domes. The tomb belongs to Sidi Abderrhamane Thaalibi, the founder of the Thaalibiya (now Algiers). He is generally considered to be a Saint by most Moroccans, and so his burial grounds are seen as being holy ground. Because of this, many people make informal pilgrimages to the Marabout de Sidi Abderrhmane in Morocco to reflect on life or to seek spiritual enlightenment. The custom of visiting venerated tombs for such purposes dates back to ancient times and has a special place in the lives of many Moroccans. A large number of people also visit the Marabout de Sidi Abderrhmane because it is believed that Saint Abderrahmane has miraculous healing powers which might help people suffering from some sort of physical ailment. Thus, they go in search of a cure.
Whether you’re visiting the Marabout de Sidi Abderrahmane in search of physical healing, spiritual vision or great sightseeing, you will enjoy a trip to this somewhat different tourist attraction and religious site. Visitors do well to remember, however, that it is a venerated site and that it must be treated with the utmost respect. They might also want to be prepared to witness some rather unusual practices, such as the offering of animal sacrifices which is rare but which might happen as it is part of the ancient customs of some Moroccans.
