Rabat – King Mohammed VI of Morocco led a religious ceremony Monday evening commemorating Laylat Al-Qadr, or the Night of Destiny, a night considered sacred by Muslims. The observance, held at the Royal Palace in Rabat, underscores the importance of religious tradition for the North African nation.
The King presided over the vigil accompanied by Prince Moulay El Hassan, Prince Moulay Rachid, and Prince Moulay Ahmed, according to reports from Le Matin and Morocco World News. The date observed was the 26th of Ramadan, 1447 of the Hijri calendar, corresponding to March 16, 2026.
The ceremony included the completion of Sahih Al-Boukhari, a foundational text in Islamic tradition, led by Idriss Ben Daouia, President of the local council of scholars in Larache. Mustapha Zamehna, President of the regional council of scholars of Béni Mellal-Khénifra, recited “Hadith Al Khatm,” marking the conclusion of the text.
Ten-year-old Zaid El Bakkali, from Salé, recited verses from the Quran and was awarded the King Mohammed VI Prize for Quran memorization. This recognition highlights the King’s support for young people engaging with the Quran, according to Le Matin.
The King also presented the Mohammed VI “Ahl Al-Qur’an” and “Ahl Al-Hadith” awards to Ahmed Talha of Fès and Adnane Zhar of El Jadida, respectively. Additional prizes were awarded to individuals and schools for excellence in Quranic studies, including awards for methodology, performance, and management, as reported by Le Matin.
Laylat Al-Qadr is observed by Muslims as the night when the first verses of the Quran were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. MSN reports that the ceremony marks “a night better than a thousand months” for Muslims.
