Wiergan- "O you who believe, repent to God, repent righteously, may your Lord atone for your evil deeds and bring you into gardens under which rivers flow," with this verse of Surat Al-Tahrim, the imam of the Douar Ouergane mosque in the province of El Haouz (50 kilometers south of Marrakesh) chose to conclude the first Friday prayer after the violent earthquake.
The residents of this roundabout seem lucky to have been able to perform Friday prayers, as we passed through several villages and roundabouts along a stretch of about 100 kilometers south of Marrakesh, the oppression was evident on the faces of the residents of the stricken area, who are not used to failing to perform prayers in the Douar mosque or the village in mosques that are their most precious possessions.
They were prevented by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and the violent Hawz earthquake repeats the same scenario in 2023.
High value
Friday prayers are highly valued in the hearts of these populations known for their conservative values and adherence to Islamic values, so that a large proportion of jurists and memorizers of the Qur'an in Morocco hail from this particular region.
Friday prayers are also an opportunity for the residents of the roundabout, scattered in the surrounding mountain peaks, to meet and see each other's conditions.
Because of the earthquake, most of these mosques were demolished, or no longer safe for worshippers inside, so it was obvious that Friday prayers should not be held inside.
In addition, the surviving population is now overwhelmed with rescuing the injured, searching for aid, distributing it, or preparing to travel to Marrakech hospitals to check on the conditions of family and loved ones.
The first Friday prayer after the earthquake in the roundabout of Wergan in the province of Al-Hawz (Al-Jazeera)
Major disaster
"Not performing Friday prayers in the mosque is a major disaster, there is no power and no power except in God," says Muhammad (Mohammed) after a deep sigh that carried with it pain that will only be felt by those who lived the tragedy of the earthquake, and lost loved ones, friends and property.
Si Mohammad, a resident of the Imkdal roundabout, south of the Ouergan roundabout, spoke while he was on the side of the road, busy, with some of the residents of the roundabout, collecting the aid that arrived, including food, blankets and clothes, to be distributed later to the scattered residents in the surrounding mountain peaks.
Mohamed added to Al Jazeera Net that everyone was sad not to perform prayers in the mosque, which has always included their collection, and saw their conversations and save their faces.
The Imam and the worshippers prayed for mercy for the martyrs and healing for the wounded and afflicted (Al-Jazeera)
Friday in the open
When we arrived at the Wergan roundabout, which is located in the middle between a high mountain and a dam bearing its name, we were surprised by a small crowd of 30 people performing Friday prayers in the open, where the imam stood as a preacher, while people sat near him listening to a Friday sermon that is not like other gatherings.
Near this scene, a few tents have sprung up, which are now the "safe houses" of the roundabout residents, none of whom can return to what was previously considered a "safe house."
The Imam spoke about affliction, patience, and the need to cling to the values of the true religion to the last breath on this earth, stressing that what happens is for a purpose, and that God has everything to the extent, and this is perhaps the most important thing that people need to understand now in this afflicted region.
Most of the second sermon was a long and warm prayer for the heat of feelings that burn the hearts of the residents of the Haouz, along with all Moroccans and all those who visit or see them, where the palms rose praying to God asking him for forgiveness and wellness, mercy for the martyrs, healing for the sick, and support and shelter for the afflicted.