Evening with Sufis in Marrakesh

I spent the evening in Marrakesh at a spiritual gathering with a group of disciples from the Habibiyya Sufi order. It was wonderful: a bit of qur'an recitation; some litanies and supplications; dhikr (invocation) of Allah and blessings on his final prophet, his family and companions; chanting; a short lesson; brownies, lemon pie and sweet mint tea... just wonderful! There were quite a few North American Muslims present, which gave the evening a nice cosmopolitan atmosphere as well.

You know, this is my fourth time in Marrakesh and, every time I visit, I marvel at what a great little town it is. Especially at this time of year when it isn't too hot yet, it's just got so many things to like: beautiful architecture, fantastic landscapes, great weather, rich history, intense spirituality, excellent

restaurants, exciting souks, haute couture, traditional crafts, street arts, and a whole range of activities for tourists, be they Muslim or not. OK, it's a bit commercial and decadent here and there, but in the end you get what you come looking for.