The modern mosque of Casablanca is an unreal place. You wouldn’t expect such a vast building in a city like Casablanca which isn’t even one of the former capital cities of Morocco. When standing in front of this giant house of prayer made for 25,000 worshippers directly at the sea you can’t be anything else then impressed: it is one of the largest mosques in the world and its minaret is the second highest ever built.
The idea for this church goes back to the year 1980 when king Hassan II stated in a speach that he wishes to have a large mosque by the sea at Casablanca, one that every inhabitant can be proud of. It was built until 1993 but already inaugurated at the 60th birthday of Hassan II in 1989. The building includes some special features like a roof that can be opened automatically (giving it the name of the cabrio mosque) and a green laser pointing 30 kilometers towards Mecca. It is a building that really puts Casablanca onto maps, especially of those of tourists (as there are not so many outstanding highlights left).
Fortunately, the Mosquée Hassan-II is one of those places that also non-Muslims are allowed to enter and discover – but only in the morning hours. The mosque is built from local Moroccan material: cedar wood from the Atlas mountains, granite and marble gathered inside the country. I was impressed by the massive decorations which the all-in-all 35,000 craftsmen produced. Have a look at the giant kings gate, the hanging sections for women and especially at the vast underground washing area. By the way: no muezzin has to climb the 200 meters high minaret to call for prayer; the call is not pre-recorded, but transmitted via loudspeakers at the top of the tower.
Mosquée Hassan-II
Casablanca
Morocco
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