Religious authority in Morocco is no longer controlled solely by traditional scholars, clerics, or official institutions, according to an academic study published in the latest issue of the quarterly journal Arab Policies by the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies.
The study says thst religious authority is increasingly shaped on social media, where influence is fluid and constantly negotiated through online interaction between religious figures and their audiences.
The study examines how platforms like Facebook are changing religious engagement in Morocco and focuses on the rise of the Moroccan religious influencer as a key actor in the digital space.
The study relied on digital ethnography, observing the Facebook page of preacher Yassine Al Omari over a three-month period. Among 80 participants included in the research, Al Omari stood out as the most followed religious influencer, named by 21 respondents.
According to the research, the relationship between religious influencers and their followers is governed by unwritten rules that emerge naturally online. These rules are shaped by daily interactions and shared expectations rather than formal religious hierarchies.
The research identifies two main models of this relationship. The first mirrors a traditional pattern based on loyalty and reverence. Followers strongly support the influencer’s positions and actively defend them in online debates. This dynamic was clear when Al Omari criticized the TV series Al Maktoub, broadcast on Morocco’s second channel during Ramadan, prompting followers to rally behind him and confront critics on social media.
Despite the modern digital setting, the study notes that this form of engagement closely resembles the classic “sheikh and disciple” relationship, with social media acting as a new space for an old structure of authority.
The second model reflects a more modern and interactive approach. In this case, authority is shared, and followers feel free to question or challenge the influencer’s views. This reduces the sense of sacredness around the religious figure and turns the exchange into an open discussion.
Based on this dynamic, the study divides followers into two groups: those who fully submit to the influencer’s authority and tend to blur the line between the individual and their message, and those who maintain a critical distance and engage selectively with the content.
Survey results show that 73 percent of respondents follow a religious influencer online, confirming that this practice has become widespread. At the same time, 90.5 percent of young people surveyed see social media as a legitimate tool to defend Islam when its symbols are attacked.
Most respondents said they express rejection of religious offense through profile picture changes, shared images, or hashtags. About 74 percent support these methods, while 26 percent oppose them.
Seeking religious rulings online remains limited, with only 7.5 percent turning to social media for fatwas. Still, the study says this signals a broader shift, as digital religious guidance follows different rules from traditional, face-to-face practices.
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