Hassan II Mosque: Casablanca's Architectural Marvel
%20(1).png "Hassan II mosque")
The Hassan II Mosque, located in Casablanca, Morocco, stands as a monumental symbol of both Islamic and Moroccan architecture. It is the largest mosque in Morocco, the second largest in Africa, and the thirteenth largest in the world. With its towering minaret measuring 210 meters (689 feet) high, it is the second tallest minaret globally. The mosque's construction was completed in 1993, and it was designed by the French architect Michel Pinseau under the guidance of King Hassan II. Moroccan artisans from across the country also played a crucial role in its creation.
Architectural Design and Features
The mosque is perched on a promontory overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, offering the unique feature of allowing worshippers to pray above the sea on a non-glass floor. The mosque's walls are crafted from hand-carved marble, and its roof is retractable, enhancing its adaptability to different weather conditions. The mosque can accommodate up to 105,000 worshippers, with 25,000 inside the main prayer hall and an additional 80,000 in the surrounding outdoor area.
The design of the mosque exemplifies Islamic architecture with a distinct Moroccan-Andalusian flair. Half of the mosque is constructed over the Atlantic Ocean, making it the first Islamic religious structure to be built over the sea. It is one of the largest and most beautiful mosques globally, and no tour of Casablanca would be complete without a visit to this architectural and religious landmark. The mosque attracts about 300,000 foreign tourists annually and is a significant destination for worshippers during Ramadan.
Construction and Development
The construction of the Hassan II Mosque began after the death of King Mohammed V in 1961. King Hassan II envisioned the mosque as a grand monument to honor his predecessor. During his birthday celebrations in 1980, he outlined his ambitions for a monumental structure in Casablanca, stating:
"I want to build a grand edifice on the edge of the sea dedicated to the worship of Allah. A mosque whose minaret will guide all ships coming from the west towards the path of salvation, which is the path of Allah... I want the mosque to be built over water, so that those who pray, call upon Allah, and remember Him will be carried on land, yet see the sky and the sea of their Lord."
On July 11, 1986, King Hassan II laid the foundation stone in the presence of scholars, students from Quranic schools, and Moroccan dignitaries, marking the official start of construction. On July 9, 1988, the King launched a national fundraising campaign for the mosque's construction, urging Moroccans to contribute even a small amount to support the project. The public responded generously, and by the end of the campaign, around 12 million Moroccans had donated, with the total amount reaching approximately 30 million dirhams (3 million dollars).
Construction work began on July 12, 1986, and took seven years to complete. The initial plan was to finish by 1989, to celebrate King Hassan II’s sixtieth birthday. At the peak of construction, 1,400 workers labored during the day, and 1,100 worked at night. Additionally, 10,000 artisans and craftsmen contributed to the mosque's construction and decoration. Despite this effort, the completion was delayed, and the official opening was set for the 11th of Rabi' al-Awwal 1414 AH, which fell on August 30, 1993, coinciding with the anniversary of the birth of the Prophet Muhammad.
Design and Architecture
The mosque was designed by French architect Michel Pinseau, who had previously been involved in designing several royal palaces and other buildings in Morocco. Pinseau based his design on extensive studies of Moroccan Islamic architecture and lived in Casablanca for over 20 years. The mosque was built by the French construction firm Bouygues on a total area of 90,000 square meters, with the Moroccan institution Bymaro overseeing the project.
In a 1993 television interview, Pinseau mentioned that he drew inspiration from three sources: the Koutoubia Mosque in Marrakech, the old part of the Hassan Mosque in Rabat, and the Giralda in Seville.
Building and Decoration
The mosque features a prayer hall, ablution area, restrooms, a Quranic school, a library, and a museum. Its columns and walls are adorned with intricate zellij (colored ceramic mosaic tiles) and cedar wood carvings, while plasterwork is used in decorative niches and cornices.
The prayer hall, covering 20,000 square meters, can accommodate 25,000 worshippers, with an additional 80,000 in the open courtyard. The mosque incorporates modern technologies, including an automatic retractable roof and a laser beam reaching 30 kilometers towards Mecca.
The construction utilized advanced techniques to support Moroccan traditional craftsmanship, involving 2,500 workers, 10,000 artisans, and 50,000 hours of work. A crane, the tallest in the world, was specially designed to match the height of the minaret, and high-strength cement was used to support the structure.
The mosque’s design and decoration are influenced by the Qarawiyyin Mosque in Fez, which is over a thousand years old, as well as the Hassan Tower in Rabat, the Koutoubia in Marrakech, and the Giralda in Seville, all built by the Almohad Sultan Yaqub al-Mansur. The Merinid schools, like the Hassan II Mosque, also feature libraries, but the mosque’s museum extends this cultural element, enriching the building's purpose.
Minaret
The mosque’s minaret is a notable example of Moroccan-Andalusian architecture, standing at 200 meters, making it one of the tallest religious structures globally. The minaret features a beacon with three golden spheres, reaching a height of 15.5 meters, and emits a laser beam with a range of 30 kilometers, also serving as a navigation aid for ships approaching the port of Casablanca.
During a site visit, King Hassan II noted that the minaret's height did not match the mosque’s size, prompting him to request an additional 25 meters to its height. This required the use of new building materials to support the increased weight.
The minaret's façade is decorated with ornamental forms made of Rhodian limestone and green mosaic glass, crafted from titanium and mounted on stainless steel frames. The base of the minaret spans 625 square meters and includes an elevator that accommodates 12 people, reaching the top in under a minute.
Museum
The mosque’s museum, inaugurated in October 2012 during King Mohammed VI’s reign, occupies 3,160 square meters. It showcases essential materials and traditional crafts used in the mosque’s construction, along with carefully selected pieces from artisans involved in the project.
Restoration Efforts
In February 2004, ten years after the mosque’s opening, the concrete structure was damaged due to exposure to salty seawater from the Atlantic Ocean. With half of the mosque's foundations in the sea, cracks and damage appeared on the seafront sections of the mosque.
Restoration work, carried out by Bouygues Construction in four phases, was completed in August 2008 at a total cost of 10 million euros. This involved the use of 1,300 tons of stainless steel and high-quality concrete to make the structure resistant to chlorides.
Awards and Records
In 2022, the Hassan II Mosque was ranked first in the list of the most beautiful mosques in the world by the Civitas Tourism Agency. In 2014, it was ranked fourth among the world’s most beautiful mosques by the "Wonderlist" website. The mosque’s minaret entered the Guinness World Records in 2013 as the tallest minaret globally. In 2015, it was listed among the best mosques in the world, alongside others in Arab and Islamic countries, according to the British Daily Mail.
The Hassan II Mosque remains a testament to architectural brilliance and religious devotion, symbolizing Morocco's rich heritage and its place in the global Islamic community.