For a city that is the largest in Morocco and is its economic powerhouse, Casablanca lacks the interesting attractions of other major cities in the country, like Marrakech or Fes. That is, with one exception — the Hassan II Mosque.
(Hassan II Mosque, resting by the Atlantic Ocean in Casablanca)
The Hassan II Mosque is situated on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. It’s a massive, beautiful and impressive structure. Hassan II is the largest mosque in all of Africa and one of the largest in the world. Its minaret is 700 feet tall, the 2nd tallest in the world, and is capped a light shining towards Mecca. Unlike the rounded minarets in most countries, those in Morocco are typically square.
(Details of the Hassan II minaret)
The idea to build the Mosque was conceived by King Hassan II, who wanted it to be the greatest construction project ever undertaken in Morocco. He knew it would be a tourist attraction and a monument to his term as monarch, and as Casablanca needed a major attraction that’s where he decided to build it. The mosque was designed by French architect Michel Pinseau, who lived in the country. Construction began in 1986 and with a herculean effort, the mosque was completed in just 7 years. Ten thousand of the finest craftsmen were recruited from around Morocco to work on the project. Men worked in shifts around the clock to complete the mosque in a timely manner.
(Some exterior details of the Hassan II Mosque, including its extremely huge and impressive metal doors)
The completed structure is visually stunning. A beautiful modern building with Moorish and Moroccan elements sitting on 22 acres of ocean front property, inviting the faithful to come worship and tourists to take a look around. There are some unique aspects to the structure, like a retractable roof that opens the prayer room to the heavens. The mosque is built to withstand torrents from the sea and earthquakes. It has a heated floor for cool winter mornings.
(Interior of the main prayer hall, including some of its detailed finishes)
And it is uniquely Moroccan. 99.9% of the construction materials came from within Morocco, the exceptions being 57 chandeliers from Murano and two pillars made of Italian Carrara marble.
(The chandeliers were made in Murano. Most everything else in the Mosque was made by Moroccans of local materials)
The prayer hall is vast, 200 meters (660 ft) by 100 meters (330 ft). The central nave is 27 meters (89 ft) high. The main floor of the mosque is where men worship; two elevated mezzanine floors, constructed of dark wood, are reserved for women. Up to 105,000 worshippers can gather, 25,000 inside the mosque and 80,000 on the outside grounds.
(Wooden mezzanine level where women pray)
The basement of the mosque contains numerous mushroom-shaped basins of water for ablution (ritual cleansing) before praying. Last weekend’s One Clue Mystery photo featured the basement of the Hassan II Mosque (see photo below). The site was recognized by Marilyn Jones and Professor Abe. Congratulations!
Besides the main mosque, the complex contains a madrasa (Islamic school), hammams (Moroccan bathhouses), conference halls, a museum, and an Islamic library.
(some of the ancillary buildings at the Hassan II Mosque complex)
If you visit:
The Hassan II Mosque is the only mosque in Morocco non-Muslims can visit. You can’t go in by yourself — you need to be part of a guided tour; these tours running regularly and are offered in multiple languages. Knees and shoulders should be covered (no shorts or tank tops), but no head coverings are needed. You will be required to remove your shoes when you enter the mosque (you’re given a plastic bag in which to carry them and disposable booties to wear)
(some details of the Mosque’s wooden roof)
A standard adult ticket to visit the Hassan II Mosque is 130dh (about $13 USD). This is inclusive of the tour which lasts roughly 1 hour. Moroccan residents and foreign students pay half price. Tickets for children between the ages of 4-12 are 30dh. The money received from the tours pays for upkeep of the mosque allowing it to be self-supporting.
The tour is very informative and covers many details about the mosque and the Islamic religion, but there is no proselytizing. I thoroughly enjoyed my tour guide and visit, and highly recommend it!
(Interior details of some of the Hassan II Mosque’s massive doors)
