Geography & context
The Rehamna (الرحامنة) is a steppe plain north of Marrakech, in the Marrakech-Safi region, of which Sidi Bou Othmane is one of the main towns. Located at roughly 31.91° north latitude and 7.95° west longitude, in a semi-arid zone, it has a hot continental climate: scorching summers, mild winters. The land of the Rehamna tribe, this plain of livestock and cereal farming sees its latitude give its prayer times a moderate seasonal swing.
History & religious heritage
The Rehamna is the territory of the tribe of the same name, a vast steppe plain between Marrakech and Casablanca. Its town of Sidi Bou Othmane is remembered in history for a 1912 battle. The region lives from livestock, cereals and, more recently, phosphates. Religious practice here follows the Maliki rite.
Religious life in Rehamna
Religious life in the Rehamna sits within the Maliki Islamic tradition, carried by the mosques of Sidi Bou Othmane and the plain's douars. The Friday prayer brings together herders and residents. Ramadan is lived with a strong communal dimension. One mosque bears the name of Imam al-Bukhari, the famous compiler of hadith.
Hijri calendar & local specifics
As everywhere in Morocco, the Hijri calendar in the Rehamna follows rukyat, the official sighting of the crescent moon announced by the Ministry of Habous. This method can produce a one-day difference from the Saudi calendar, notably for Ramadan and the two Eids. During Ramadan, Morocco suspends summer time, shifting all prayer times by about an hour for the duration of the month.
Climate & effect on prayer times
The latitude (~31.9° N) gives the Rehamna prayer times with a moderate seasonal swing, under strong summer heat. In winter, Fajr is observed around 06:30 and Maghrib around 17:50; in summer, Fajr falls around 04:35 and Isha around 21:55–22:20 depending on the method. The steppe plain offers a largely open horizon. The published times follow the Ministry of Habous method.
Notable mosques
In the Rehamna's main town, Sidi Bou Othmane, several mosques set the rhythm of religious life. Here are the most notable.
1. Mosquée centrale de Sidi Bou Othmane
مسجد سيدي بوعثمان المركزي
View on Maps ↗The main mosque of Sidi Bou Othmane, the religious heart of the Rehamna.
'An-Nour' ('the light') is one of the names of God. A busy mosque in the town.
A mosque dedicated to Imam al-Bukhari (died 870), author of the 'Sahih al-Bukhari', the most authentic of the hadith collections.
Content verified on 18 September 2026.