July 2024

To Help you Pray this month for your Local Mosque Community. 

**The facts and prayer points below were provided by Pray For the Nations https://www.p4n.ca/**

Moroccan Arab Muslims in Montreal

Religion strongly influences the Moroccan culture. Most Moroccan Arabs are Muslim and follow the Maliki rite of Sunni Islam. There are a small minority of Shia followers and small numbers of followers of the Christian or Jewish faiths. 

The Moroccan government has tried to help Moroccans living in the diaspora maintain their cultural and religious identity through associations that reach out to communities in other countries. Therefore, much of the Moroccan Arab population in North America continues continues to identify closely with Islam.

The members of  Montreal’s vibrant Moroccan expat community come from Rabat, Fez, Casablanca and many others places in Morocco and reflect those cities’ cultural influences in Montreal. 

What Do Moroccan Muslims Believe?

The primary religion practiced by Moroccan Arabs is Sunni Islam, the largest branch of Islam. Sunni Muslims follow the teachings of the Qur'an and consider the first four caliphs to be the rightful successors of Muhammad.

Less than 2% of Moroccan Arabic Muslims are followers of Jesus globally and this number is likely lower in Montreal.

In Morocco, ninety-nine percent of the population is Muslim. Unlike in many other Muslim nations, Christians and Jews are tolerated, though some freedoms have deteriorated in recent years. Despite this tolerance, Christians are monitored by authorities, and some have been imprisoned. Dozens of Christian workers were expelled in 2010. 

The meaning of the Moroccan Flag

(from the website https://www.daysmoroccotours.com/the-meaning-of-the-moroccan-flag/)

Red Background: The colour red stands for bravery and honor. It is a color that is linked to Morocco and a lot of other Arab countries. In Morocco, the color red also has historical meaning. It stands for the death of those who fought for the country’s freedom.

Green Pentagram: An important part of the Moroccan flag is the green pentagram, which looks like a five-pointed star. Each spot on the star represents one of the five pillars of Islam. The five pillars are the most important ways that Muslims pray and show their loyalty. The statement of faith, prayer, charity, fasting during Ramadan, and the journey to Mecca are some of these bases. Green is a color that is often linked to Islam and stands for hope and wealth.

Prayer Points

• Pray for gospel laborers among Montreal’s Moroccan Arabs. Luke 10:2 says “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” 
• Pray for God’s laborers to share Christ’s love through hospitality to this people group. Pray for Montreal laborers among this community to establish loving relationships and proclaim the gospel. Pray for Christians to emerge from within this people group who will reach their friends and family members.
• Most members of a least-reached people group community like Moroccan Arab Muslims remain unreached because they have failed to hear the gospel in ways they can understand. Others have heard the gospel but have many barriers to overcome before receiving the gospel. Pray that this community will understand the gospel. Pray for God to draw them to Jesus and remove the barriers that keep them from salvation in Christ.
• Pray for widespread distribution of evangelistic materials among Montreal’s Moroccan Arabic Muslims.
• Pray for those troubled by increasing tensions between Islamists and moderates to be open to the Good News of Jesus.
• Pray for fellowship and freedom from fear for any Moroccan-background followers of Jesus who might feel  isolated within the wider Moroccan community in Montreal.