Faqih

The Story of the “Faqihs” role in Morocco

Throughout the history of Islam, the mosque has played a dual role as a place of worship and learning.
Here is the story of the “faqihs” in Morocco, their main role is to lead the prayers in the mosques.
However, they also have another purpose in remote areas where access to books and educational activities are difficult to get, the “faqihs” volunteer to provide more writing and reading education to children through the Quran.
Adding that in rural schools, the pupils are usually over a number of 40 in a classroom, a schoolteacher can hardly give any special attention to each one of them.
The “faqihs” help to keep the children including the youngsters in their free time, and teach them the values of life through reading the Quran.
Traditionally, sitting on mats, the children repeat after the “faqihs” verses of the Quran, they learn the alphabet and write Quran verses with black ink on a small wooden board as shown in the photos.
In exchange for educating voluntarily the children, a classroom and a small residence usually attached to the mosques are built for the “faqihs” by the villagers or by benefactors, including also small donations like food and other commodities are offered to them.
It is a tradition for the “faqihs” to pass on their knowledge from generation to generation to continue educating the needed children.