Here follows the full text of this message, read by Minister of Habous and Islamic Affairs, Ahmed Toufiq.

Praise be to God Peace and blessings be upon the Prophet, His Kith and Kin

Honourable participants,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It gives me great pleasure to send this message to the distinguished participants in this major religious event. This gathering is being held under my patronage to show how deeply I care for Sunni Sufism in my capacity as Amir Al-Muminin and Guardian of the Faith. Sufism is indeed one of the characteristic spiritual and ethical components of the Moroccan identity; it is fully consistent with the blessed Sunnah and the pristine Islamic Shariah.
I applaud the convening of this gathering and wish to commend the efforts that have been made to ensure its success and achieve the objectives it targets.
When I granted my patronage to the first session of the Sidi Chiker national gatherings of Sufi partisans, one of my objectives was to show how much I cared about the preservation of the lofty values and high ideals to which our worthy ancestors were so deeply committed in this land, and how keen I am to shoulder the responsibilities of the Commandership of the Faithful - a mission entrusted to me by the Almighty - particularly those concerning religious affairs.
To give practical meaning to my patronage of this event and ensure the continuity of these blessed gatherings, I have instructed the Minister of Waqf and Islamic Affairs to see to it that this national gathering is held every other year, during the spring. I have also instructed him to hold national gatherings on a regular basis so that the various Sufi tariqas and zawiyas of the Kingdom may participate effectively - both quantitatively and qualitatively - in promoting spiritual values, highlighting the blessings bestowed upon us by the Almighty and enhancing ethical standards in society, a mission Sufi orders and zawiyas have been carrying out in our country since time immemorial.
Needless to say, the international character of these gatherings will make it possible for us to preserve the bonds of communication, interaction and consultation between Sufi disciples who benefit immensely from all that mysticism has to offer, especially orders in Morocco with confirmed chains of authority. An exceptionally rich source of knowledge, these orders provide guidance and pioneering leadership. The national version of the gatherings you are launching today attests to the need to further enhance our spirituality and define ways and means for Sufi orders to promote ethical standards by revitalizing the role of mysticism in education, self-purification and spiritual fulfilment.
Thanks to this meeting, you are reviving a lofty tradition because the Sidi Chiker gathering was one of the earliest moussems (traditional festivals) celebrated by Moroccans after the arrival of Islam in this land. Its aim was to guide people and broaden their knowledge in the area of religion. The ribat (station) set up around the Sidi Chiker mosque was like a school for the greater “jihad”, which consisted in spreading Islamic science and erudition and helping shape responsible, virtuous citizens by encouraging self-criticism, abstinence and self-control, and by avoiding all forms of deviance and evil.
The early Sidi Chiker gatherings were therefore attended by many scholars and righteous people, in addition to thousands of men and women from all parts of Morocco, who came together to read the Quran, study the blessed Sunna and listen to words of wisdom and beautiful preaching. These gatherings were held during the holy month of Ramadan. Needless to say, all Sufi zawiyas which were set up in towns and villages over the centuries benefited from these distinctive gatherings and from the spiritual fulfilment characterizing them.

Honourable participants,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Following in the footsteps of my venerable ancestors, I have shown particular interest in zawiyas. Indeed I greatly value the role played by Moroccan Sufi tariqas in the areas of spiritual guidance and enlightenment, the dissemination of knowledge, development, the defence of the unity and territorial integrity of our homeland, social cohesion and the preservation of the religious identity of Moroccans.
Although mysticism is mostly about communion and spiritual refinement, it also impacts society in several ways; for example, through acts of solidarity, mutual assistance, by wanting good things for others, through forgiveness and tolerance, and by addressing the minds and the hearts to cleanse them.
It is important to stress, in this respect, that Sufi zawiyas should seek to remain true to the concept of purity upon which they are based. They should forego earthly pursuits. Sufi disciples should steer away from acts and attitudes which do not become them, give up any quest for worldly rewards and, instead, seek higher, loftier goals.
By gathering here as a single community, you are showing that your background is one and the same and that you have the same objective, namely to serve your faith as well as your nation.
As regards serving religion, your flawless approach consists in remaining steadfastly committed to the Holy Book and the Sunna, promoting the dissemination of knowledge and the pursuit of spiritual refinement - through frequent dhikr (remembrance of the Almighty) - doing good deeds, assisting those in need and performing all sorts of virtuous acts.
As for service to the nation, it is accomplished through the observance of your duties and obligations towards the ultimate Imamate, namely the Commandership of the Faithful, and the keen desire to preserve the cultural specificities of Morocco and protect them against alien trends and influences. In that way, the conditions required for serenity, peace and security are met.
The great wisdom that imbues the heritage entrusted to you can make you efficient contributors to integration and to the pursuit of the comprehensive reform I am conducting. Indeed, you can transmit the principles and values of Sufism to young generations in ways which help them understand mysticism, not reject it. This is the revival mission expected from mystics. Sufis should draw inspiration from past experiences of virtue and righteousness, and find ways to adjust those cases to present day situations and use them in optimal ways in the future. As experts and scholars know, Morocco, the birthplace of the values of worthiness that are based on a special form of Sufism, has a major responsibility to shoulder in this respect. I invite you to ponder on the implications of that responsibility.
I am convinced the exceptional heritage passed on to Sufi followers can be both sustained and regenerated. It can be sustained through the preservation of our core values, of our faith and of our rite; and it can be sustained through loyalty to the Commandership of the Faithful. Sufism can be regenerated through initiatives and the kind of behaviour which enabled zawiya disciples to stay in tune with the times and serve as model citizens, vying with each other to work good deeds. These characteristics have endowed Sufism and Sufi zawiyas with sanctity and exceptional standing and have made them a source of great goodness. Sufism is a source from which we benefited in the past. We certainly need to continue to drink from its pure fountain, not only today but also in the years to come, drawing inspiration from the Sufis who did not succumb to greed, ambition and earthly desires.
I want to welcome the theologians, pious people and murids participating in this first gathering and hope this meeting will usher in a new era for Sufi followers in Morocco. When you hold your next gathering, I hope, God willing, that you will be in a position to take stock of what has been achieved thanks to your ijtihad, the renewal of your pledge and your steadfast commitment to the righteous path whereby you uphold and confirm the unity of God and worship and exalt Him.
“Those who believe, and whose hearts find satisfaction in the remembrance of Allah. for without doubt in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find satisfaction. For those who believe and work righteousness, is (every) blessedness, and a beautiful place of (final) return.” God’s Word is Truth.

Wassalamu alikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh.

Mohammed VI
King of Morocco