TouchScreenTravels logo

TouchScreenTravels

Our Touch, your Travels…
  1. Home
  2. Marrakesh’s Best
  3. Topics
  4. INTERESTS & ACTIVITIES
  5. The Seven Saints of Marrakesh

This is a preview of the full content of our Marrakesh’s Best app.

Please consider downloading this app to support small independent publishing and because:

  • All content is designed for mobile devices and works best there.
  • Detailed in-app maps will help you find sites using your device’s GPS.
  • The app works offline (one time upgrade required on Android versions).
  • All advertising (only present on Android versions) can be removed.

The app will also allow you to:

  • Add custom locations to the app map (your hotel…).
  • Create your own list of favourites as you browse.
  • Search the entire contents using a fast and simple text-search tool.
  • Make one-click phone calls (on phones).
iOS App Store Google Play

The Seven Saints of Marrakesh

Zaouia of Sidi Abdel Aziz

Marrakesh doesn’t have a patron saint. Instead, it has seven, known as the Sabatou Rijal, literally “seven men”, but usually translated as “Seven Saints”.

Saints (awliya) in Islam are people considered holy enough to attract blessing (beraka) from God, which can rub off on those who visit their tombs. Not all Muslims approve of this idea; it is frowned on by fundamentalists, but remains prevalent in North Africa, among not only Muslims but also North African Jews.

Moroccan awliya are usually given the title Sidi (“Lord”) if male, Lalla (“Lady”) if female.

Saintly mausoleums often become zawiyas (Sufi centres). As in other mosques, non-Muslims are not allowed inside.

Read the full content in the app
iOS App Store Google Play

Zaouia of Sidi Bel Abbes

important saint's mausoleum - زاوية سيدي بلعباس

Text © Daniel Jacobs

Images by based on Project OSRM map (with additions), Bertramz (CC BY-SA 3.0), Bertramz (CC-BY-SA-3.0), Bertramz (CC BY-SA 3.0) (detail), Daniel Jacobs