Is it OK to give money to beggars in Morocco?

This comes up a lot, and I think the honest, culturally-grounded answer is more nuanced than a simple yes or no. Charitable giving — sadaqa — is genuinely embedded in Moroccan and Islamic culture; helping the poor is considered a virtue, and you will see locals routinely hand a coin to an elderly person or someone visibly in need outside a mosque, particularly on Fridays. So giving is normal and welcomed here, and there is nothing wrong or illegal about a tourist quietly doing the same.

Where I gently steer guests is around who and how. Giving small change to the genuinely vulnerable — the elderly, people with visible disabilities, women with children sitting quietly — is a kind gesture and locally accepted. The strong piece of advice from people who know the country, though, is to avoid giving money directly to begging children. It is well-meant but counterproductive: it incentivises families to send kids onto the streets to beg rather than to school, and it sustains a cycle that does the children no long-term good. If you want to help children, give to an established charity instead.

It is also worth separating real need from the hustle, because they are different things. A persistent tout, a "guide" who attached himself to you uninvited, or someone demanding payment after a service you did not ask for is not the same as a quiet person asking for alms, and you are under no obligation there — a firm, friendly "la, shukran" and walking on is completely fine and expected. Moroccans themselves decline constantly without drama; you are allowed to as well.

My practical approach for guests: keep a pocket of small coins separate from your wallet so you can give modestly and discreetly without flashing larger notes or fumbling. Give if and when it feels right to you, lean toward the visibly elderly and disabled rather than children, do not feel guilted into anything by aggressive persistence, and consider that a donation to a reputable Moroccan charity stretches further than scattered coins. There is no single "correct" answer — it is your conscience and your call, made with a bit of local context.