Can Single Mothers Pursue Hijrah to Morocco?

“How possible it is for a single mother from the West to pursue hijrah to Morocco?“

This question came up when I was conducting a Q&A session on Instagram story the other day.

Hijrah is already a big HUMONGOUS decision. (My 4 years old son love using that word).

For single mothers, it can feel even bigger.

You are thinking about your own life, of course, but also the little people depending on you.

Their schooling. Their stability. Their safety. Their emotions. Their snacks. (Because snacks is a full-time department in itself, and it’s always somehow underfunded)

And I want to reassure those mothers who are carrying a lot as it is that,

Yes, hijrah is possible for single mothers, alhamdulilllaah.

Throughout my life here, and through meeting many families who have moved to Morocco in different circumstances, I have seen sisters make it work, despite the many odds against them.

In this post, I’m going to lay out the key challenges single mother face when deciding to move to Morocco, and how they navigate through it.

1. Financial stability

This is many concern many sisters have when they move country, as hijrah does, unfortunately require funding.

Some sisters I know either have income coming in from a responsible ex or from their home government.

Sadly, some mothers receive little to no financial support from their children’s father, and whatever does come through may not be enough to cover the essentials.

For that reason, many single mothers choose to work. I’ve met an online teacher and I also knew a sister who worked in customer service. My own mother used to work as a freelance translator at one point.

Some mothers also choose to build a small business on the side for that extra cushion.

From what I have seen, though, it is rare for someone to arrive with an established business unless it was already working well back home and they are able to continue it from Morocco.

If you are looking for a reliable income and you are unsure where to begin, I would suggest starting with remote work.

Look for roles that allow you to work from home, and apply for positions that match your existing skills, even if they feel quite ordinary to you.

Some of the popular ones are teaching and admin.

2. Children’s adjustment

This may feel easier with younger children, especially if they are still at the age where home is wherever mum is and snacks are within reach.

Older children may need more time. (I’m talking of 9 years old and up)

They may already have friendships, routines, hobbies, school attachments, and a whole little world they feel settled in. So when you bring up moving to Morocco, their first reaction may be resistance, sadness, or even resentment.

And that’s okay.

I know it is hard when your own children resent a decision you made for their good.

But, that is just part of motherhood.

They resent you as toddlers because you will not give them juice before bedtime. They resent you when they are older because you made a life decision they cannot fully understand yet.

Different age, different protest, same emotional invoice.

When my parents moved us when we were younger, I did not fully understand their reasons at the time. There were moments where I resented it, especially when I missed my friends and the usual convenience.

Over time, though, I adjusted. Morocco grew on me. Now, as an adult, I can appreciate the decision they made in a way I could not see back then.

I have friends who moved to Morocco for hijrah with teenagers, and yes, there were struggles in the beginning. Over time, though, their children adjusted, settled, and began to find their footing. Some of their teens still preferred their old life, but they don’t mind being here as much as they were in the beginning.

So if your children struggle at first, it does not mean the move was wrong. They are human, and possibly like you, they are grieving the life they knew.

There are plenty of things for children to do in Morocco, and with time, they can begin to build new routines, friendships, memories, and a sense of belonging. The adjustment period may require patience, gentleness, and realistic expectations.

And above all, make plenty of du’a that Allah softens their hearts, settles them in goodness, and guides them to see the wisdom in your decision.

Give it a year or two, insha’Allah.

3. Schooling and childcare

Schooling is another big area to think through, especially when you are moving as the main parent responsible for everything.

There are several options you can explore depending on your children’s ages, your budget, your work situation, and what kind of education you want for them.

If you were already homeschooling, you may decide to continue with that in Morocco. For some mothers, this works beautifully, especially if they have a routine, resources, and enough time in the day to manage it.

For others, school may make more sense.

Many mothers I know choose to put their children into school because they simply do not have the time or capacity to homeschool while also working, managing the home, handling errands, and being the only adult in charge.

For younger children especially, school can also help with settling in. They get regular structure, make friends, and often pick up the local language much faster than we do, and in return, they can become your mini interpreter.

You may also decide to use an online school, especially if you want your children to continue with a British, American, or international curriculum.

Childcare is another part of the picture. If you have younger children and you plan to work from home, you will need to be realistic about how much focused work you can actually do.

Some nurseries take children from three years old, and I’m sure there are some daycares that take much younger. You can usually find expat-recommended nannys or even expat teen that offer it as their side hustle.

So before moving, it helps to think about what your days will look like. Will your children go to school? Will you homeschool? Will you use online school? Will you need nursery, or a trusted babysitter?

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4. Legalities and paperwork

Some sisters, and some brothers too, are unable to pursue hijrah because of custody arrangements, travel permission, or court orders.

I really sympathise with anyone in that situation. May Allah make it easy for them, ameen.

If this applies to you, handle the legal side properly before making plans. Check what permission you need, what documents are required, and whether you are legally able to take your children abroad.

This may include custody papers, written consent, passports, birth certificates, school records, and any court documents connected to your children.

You may want to get a solicitor involved.

By Allah’s permission, a way forward may still open. It may simply require more time, patience, advice, and paperwork than you hoped.

5. Homesickness and loneliness

I think one of the hardest parts, after all the logistics, is the loneliness that can kick in once you have actually moved.

You may miss your mother, your father, your siblings, your nieces and nephews, your friends, and the sisters from your old community. Even when you know you made the right decision, missing people and the norms you’re used to can still sting.

And if you are moving as a single mother, that can feel even more painful. You are trying to settle the children (and THEIR emotions), sort the house, manage the circus of daily life, and silently carry your own emotions at the same time.

Alhamdulillaah, today we have video calls, voice notes, WhatsApp groups, and all the little ways of staying connected. Back in the day, we had a few expensive minutes on the phone and a tiny text message allowance, so we really had to make those “I miss you” messages efficient.

It does get better, insha’Allah.

Over time, you begin to recognise familiar faces. You meet other mothers. You find little joys, comfort food, a school community, a neighbour, or a sister who becomes part of your new normal.

It may not feel the same as the community and the place you left behind, and that is okay.

Many sisters who moved to Morocco did so while leaving behind the comfort of familiarity, and that is a noble and lofty sacrifice.

Occasionally, their family visits them here. At times, they’d visit back.

As long as we are still alive, there is always a chance to visit again, to call, to reconnect, and to keep those bonds alive, even from a distance.

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6. Support system

As a single mother, back home, you probably have an existing support system you rely on.

Your sister may come to visit you at times during hard days. Your mother may babysit the children while you have an errand to run. You may have friends, neighbours, relatives, or sisters in the community who can step in here and there.

You are not meant to do everything yourself as a parent, so having to start from scratch can feel overwhelming.

Who do you trust?

Where do you even start?

It is possible, though.

My advice is to tap into the community. Join get-togethers. Attend classes. Participate when you can. Say yes to invitations sometimes, even when staying home feels easier. You may even decide to start something yourself if you see a gap.

And one thing I have learnt is this: when you approach community with the intention to give more than you take, you often receive more than you expected.

It sounds a bit contradictory, but that has been my experience.

Be kind to people. Be curious. Be interested in what they have to say. Offer help when you can. Build those bonds. Let people get to know you, and take your time getting to know them too.

A village don’t get built overnight, but it can be built overtime.

7. Practical overwhelm

There are many steps towards making hijrah a reality.

There is the research, the asking around, the housing search, the financial side, the paperwork, the schools, the areas to consider, and then all the smaller questions about how things actually work in Morocco once you arrive.

Where do you live? Which city?

How do you find a house?

What should you prepare before moving?

What needs to be sorted first?

It can feel like a lot, especially when all of those thoughts are just floating around in your head.

My advice is: write everything down.

Start journaling about your hijrah dreams. Write what you want, what you need to do, what you are worried about, what needs researching, and how you might go about each step.

Get it out of your head and onto paper.

Sometimes the overwhelm feels bigger because everything is sitting in one big mental pile.

Once you write it down, you can begin to separate things properly: housing, income, schooling, documents, travel, settling in, and emotional preparation.

You also have my blog, where I try to break these things down from real experience and everyday life in Morocco. Start with one topic at a time. Read, take notes, make du’a, ask questions, and move forward, elegantly. Without rush, and without panic.

Use the search bar to find what you want to know about. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, drop me a comment and I’ll work on tackling that topic, insha’Allah.

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Is it possible for single mothers to pursue hijrah to Morocco?

Very possible.

And I’m a witness to many single mothers who’ve done it.

They’re not free from struggle. Yes, I am a witness to that, too.

But for them, as it is for you now, is it not better to struggle in a place where you are not fighting against the very environment you are trying to protect your children from?

A place where the adhan is normal, Islam is visible, and your children are growing up around other Muslims.

It is still a struggle.

But for many mothers, it is a struggle that feels more aligned with what they are trying to build.

Alhamdulillaah, compared to many other Muslim countries, Morocco is more affordable, relatively safe, and often more straightforward for foreigners to settle in.

The single mothers who manage best are usually the ones who plan carefully, take the step despite the fear, and remain open to Morocco being different than what they’re used to.

They come prepared to learn, adjust, ask questions, build community, and figure things out one stage at a time.

So yes, it can be done, insha’Allah.

It may take courage, patience, du’a, and a good amount of practical planning, but the door is not closed.