🙏 Moulay Idriss Zerhoun
Morocco
About This Sacred Site
Moulay Idriss Zerhoun is Morocco's holiest town, perched dramatically on two hills overlooking the Roman ruins of Volubilis. It is named after Moulay Idriss I, a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad who founded the Idrisid dynasty — Morocco's first Islamic dynasty — in 789 CE. His tomb, contained within an ornate green-roofed sanctuary in the heart of the town, is the most important pilgrimage destination in Morocco. For centuries, five visits to Moulay Idriss were considered the equivalent of one Hajj to Mecca for Moroccans who could not afford the journey. Until 2005, non-Muslims were not allowed to stay overnight in the town. The annual moussem (festival) draws tens of thousands of pilgrims.
Key Facts
- •Morocco's holiest town, containing the tomb of the founder of its first Islamic dynasty
- •Five pilgrimages here were considered equivalent to one Hajj to Mecca
- •Non-Muslims were not permitted to stay overnight until 2005
- •Moulay Idriss I was a great-grandson of Prophet Muhammad
- •The annual moussem (festival) is one of Morocco's largest religious gatherings
Location
Coordinates: 34.0556, -5.5228
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