H.M. King Mohammed VI

Four-Hundred Year Alaouite Dynasty

The 400 year-old Alaoutie dynasty traces its lineage back to the Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h). It sees itself as a continuation of the Andalusian Golden Age of Islam, which was characterised by peaceful co-existence and intellectual and cultural exchange and development.

Control of Maliki Network

Morocco is home to the oldest university in the world, Al- Karaouine. This university is the center of the Maliki school of jurisprudence. This school bases its rulings on the Qur’an and Hadith but also predominantly derives its practices from the work of Malik ibn Anas (711-795 CE) and his texts, the Al Muwatta and Al Mudawana. Since early in his reign, King Mohammed VI has implemented the Mudawana family law code that gives rights to women in divorce and property ownership, as well as citizenship to children born from non-Moroccan fathers. He has also commissioned the Islamic Affairs Ministry to train women preachers, or Morchidat, who are now active chaplains to Moroccans across the globe.

Huge Influence over Muslims in Africa

King Mohammed VI leads the largest African monarchy, with a population of 32 million. Besides political links, Morocco maintains strong spiritual ties with Muslims all over Africa. Morocco is the site of the tomb of a highly revered Sufi sheikh, Mawlana Ahmed Ibn Mohammed Tijani Al Hassani Al Maghribi (1735- 1815 CE), the founder of the Tijaniyya Sufi order, whose shrine attracts millions from across the continent. Morocco is also recognized as a source for the spread of Islam through West Africa. Thus, King Mohammed VI exercises vast amounts of power and influence over Muslims in Morocco, throughout Africa, and the rest of the world. He leads one of the most stable constitutional monarchies in the region, which is also the center of a moderate, flourishing Muslim culture.

Support for Al-Quds

The King and indeed all Moroccans show strong support for Palestinians and for Jerusalem.   The Moroccan link with Jerusalem has been strong since Salah al-Din’s son endowed the Magharbeh Quarter, next to the Buraq Wall, to North African pilgrims in 1193. This 800 year old quarter was demolished by the Israeli authorities in 1967 after they had captured East Jerusalem.

Reform

King Mohammed VI has implemented major reforms in response to the Arab Spring protests. These have included a new constitution which has transferred many powers to a freely and fairly elected government. The  Justice and Development Party (PJD) won the elections and is the current government.

-Responding to demonstrations in the country, King Mohammed VI has changed the country’s constitution and the prime minister and the parliament now have powers that were previously the reserve of the King.

-He is the big winner of reform and evolution — not revolution — in the Arab Spring; no one was killed in Morocco.

-The post-Arab Spring formula in Morocco has proven to work successfully with an elected government and the king keeping essentially moral authority.