The transition from pre-colonial societies to modern nation-states profoundly transformed the religious landscape. Building a nation involved consolidating control over religious discourses to align them with the values of the emerging "imagined community" (Anderson 1983). Nationalist elites viewed the pluralism of Islamic beliefs and practices in the pre-colonial era as an impediment to forging a unified national "Islam" loyal to the central state. The introduction of the printing press and compulsory education in the late 19th century further promoted a shift from lived, experiential religion to a more scripturalist and legalistic interpretation. Morocco offers a revealing case, as the Sharifian monarchy, which emerged in the 17th century, was not dismantled during colonization (1912-1956) and continues to rule post-independence. This monarchy has long relied on Islam to legitimize its authority, yet it has had to continually adjust the meaning of "Islam" to suit the evolving needs of statehood. This ongoing "re-calibration of Islam" (Ahmed 2015) led in the 19th and 20th centuries to an increasing "sharīʿatization" of Islamic discourse, wherein Islamic law (sharīʿa) became the dominant framework through which Muslim religiosity was defined. Alternative religious expressions were increasingly marginalized and delegitimized as "un-Islamic." By focusing on Morocco, this article explores how the path to modernity involved not only political and institutional shifts, but also the reinvention of Islam itself. The case provides broader insights into how colonialism, nationalism, and pre-colonial state survival strategies shaped the contours of modern religious thought.