In the quiet town of Nador, located on Morocco’s Mediterranean coast, sheepherder and vendor Allal has spent the past year preparing for Eid al-Adha.
The Islamic holiday, during which Muslims traditionally sacrifice livestock in honour of Prophet Ibrahim and his son Ismail, is the most profitable season.
For 50-year-old Allal, like for generations before him, the annual celebration is central to his livelihood. However, this year, climate change and economic hardship are making it increasingly difficult for many Moroccans to uphold this tradition.
Morocco, already one of the world’s most water-stressed countries, is currently experiencing its worst drought in seven years.
The past seven months have been among the driest on record, with rainfall 53% below the average of the last 30 years, according to the Ministry of Agriculture. The impact on farming and livestock has been devastating.
Since 2016, Morocco’s livestock population has plummeted by 38%, driving meat prices to record highs.
With Eid al-Adha approaching, fears of further price inflation prompted King Mohammed VI — who also serves as the country’s religious leader — to make a rare decision: exempting Moroccans from the obligation of animal sacrifice this year.
“Carrying out this tradition under such challenging circumstances would be harmful to many of our citizens, particularly those with limited incomes,” King Mohammed VI said in a speech read by the Minister of Religious Affairs on national television on Wednesday 26 February.
Reassuring the public, he added: “God willing, I will carry out the Eid sacrifice on behalf of my people.”
The announcement dashed Allal’s hopes for the annual sales he had been grooming over 200 sheep for.
“This is sad news for me,” he told The New Arab. “But it’s all about shared interest — when the King makes a call like this, it’s about solidarity between those who have and those in need, which is in line with our religion.”
“At least I have my meat shop to rely on,” he added, noting that he had already received advance orders from regular customers. “I will return the money to those who have paid. It’s all for a good cause.”
Economic and climate pressures
Agriculture, which accounts for nearly 15% of Morocco’s GDP, makes households across the country vulnerable to falling yields, as evidenced by a 43% decline in cereal production last year.
While expectations for the agricultural sector are improving slightly due to better weather conditions, the livestock sector remains under pressure and will need years to rebuild.
King Mohammed VI acknowledged these struggles in his letter, saying that while the religious ritual is important, the country’s economic and climate challenges must also be considered.
“In the past, if we had the means, we would buy a sheep as early as Ramadan and keep it at a farm or somewhere safe,” said Fatima, a café worker and mother of four. “It’s a crucial tradition — something the whole family, especially the children, eagerly awaits.”
“But as life has become more expensive, we started saving up until just days before Eid to buy one. In the last couple of years, the cost has doubled or even tripled, making it increasingly difficult,” the 49-year-old explained. “The sheep we once bought for 2,000 dirhams now costs between 4,000 and 6,000.”
For many Moroccans, already struggling with inflation and environmental crises, the King’s decision came as a relief.
“This decision felt like a breath of fresh air,” said Fatima. “I was constantly wondering how I could afford it with everything becoming so expensive. When I heard the King’s decision, I was overjoyed. He has eased our hearts in a way that makes us feel heard and cared for.”
Neighbouring Algeria, also hit by severe drought, is taking a different approach — importing one million sheep ahead of Eid al-Adha to meet demand and stabilise prices amid growing public frustration.
A religious perspective
Muhammad Abdelouahab Rafiqui, a Moroccan scholar and researcher in Islamic studies, sees the King’s decision as fully in line with Islamic principles.
“Islamic law must take into account social, economic, and climatic changes that affect society,” he told The New Arab.
He added, “Religious rulings aim to balance benefits and harms. Given the impact of droughts and food shortages, the ruler has the right to intervene to mitigate these effects.
“This intervention is not obligatory, but permissible, as it serves the public good and prevents further harm.”
Muhammad further explained that under Islamic law, a ruler can temporarily suspend certain religious practices when circumstances demand it — particularly to prevent greater harm to society.
A time to show solidarity
Eid al-Adha holds deep cultural and religious significance for Morocco’s 37.5 million people.
Families typically save for months to buy a sheep, following the example of Prophet Ibrahim, with the meat distributed among family, friends, and those in need.
But a series of economic shocks — COVID-19, the war in Ukraine, and rising living costs — have left many feeling ashamed that they can no longer afford the tradition.
A recent survey by a Moroccan research centre found that 55% of the population could not cover the costs of Eid al-Adha last year.
Lahcen Ait Said, a 32-year-old from Agadir who now works in a shop in Rabat, was among those relieved by the King’s announcement.
“I felt reassured because I had been wondering how I would manage,” he said. “We are already burdened with loans and can barely afford the basics of life these days. It’s becoming harder and harder economically.”
For Allal, the economic strain is clear. But despite his personal loss, he supports the King’s decision.
“Life is getting harder for everyone,” he said. “We should come together, help one another, and show solidarity.”
Imane Bellamine is a Moroccan journalist
This piece was published in collaboration with Egab
