Hassan II Mosque

The Hassan II Mosque is a very large building.

It sits right by the ocean in Morocco.

Many artists helped build it. They used wood and marble.

They made many pretty patterns on the walls.

The mosque has a very tall tower.

At night, a green laser shines from the top. It points toward a place called Mecca.

The roof can even open up. This lets people pray under the stars.

It is a special place for many people to visit.

The Hassan II Mosque is a very big building in Casablanca, Morocco.

It sits right by the Atlantic Ocean. Part of the mosque is built on land. Other parts sit over the sea.

Many people helped make this mosque. About 10,000 artists and craftsmen worked on it. They used marble, wood, and stone from across Morocco.

They made beautiful patterns on the ceilings and floors. One special part is the roof. The roof can slide open in five minutes. This lets people pray under the stars on clear nights.

The mosque has a very tall tower called a minaret.

It is 60 stories high. At night, a green laser shines from the top. This light points toward the city of Mecca.

Many people come here to pray. The main hall holds 25,000 people. The large area outside can hold 80,000 more.

The mosque also has a library and a museum. It is a very important place in Morocco.

The Hassan II Mosque is a massive place of worship in Casablanca, Morocco.

It is one of the largest mosques in the entire world. The building sits on a promontory by the Atlantic Ocean. Part of the mosque is built on land, while part of it sits over the sea. This unique location allows worshippers to pray near the water. The site stays fresh because it receives breezes from the ocean. Two large breakwaters were built to protect the mosque from big waves.

Inside the mosque, you can find many amazing features. The main prayer hall is very large and can hold 25,000 people.

Outside, the plaza can hold another 80,000 worshippers. The roof of the prayer hall is even retractable. It can slide open in just five minutes. This lets people pray under the stars on clear nights.

The hall also has windows that let in light. Some parts of the hall offer views of the ocean below. The building uses a basilical plan, which is a specific way of arranging the layout. This design is different from many other North African mosques.

Building this mosque was a huge task that took many years.

King Hassan II wanted to create an ambitious landmark for Morocco. He worked with a French architect named Michel Pinseau. Construction began on July 12, 1986. It took seven years of hard work to finish the project. The mosque was finally opened on August 30, 1993. This date was also the eve of the anniversary of Prophet Muhammad's birth. During the busiest times, 1,400 men worked during the day. Another 1,100 men worked through the night to finish the job.

Thousands of skilled people helped make the mosque beautiful. About 10,000 artists and craftsmen worked on the decorations. They used materials like marble, granite, and cedar wood from all over Morocco.

There were 3,300 craftsmen who contributed to this "precious jewel." This included experts in carpentry, plasterwork, and zellige tilework. The cost was about 585 million euros. Since the government did not have all the money, many people helped. Twelve million people donated money to the cause. Even small donations helped pay for the grand building.

One of the most famous parts is the very tall minaret.

It is 60 stories high and is the second tallest in the world. At the very top, there is an electronic laser. At night, this green laser points toward the city of Mecca.

The mosque complex is also home to many other buildings. There is a madrasa, which is an Islamic school. You can also find a museum, a library, and even bathhouses. The gardens around the mosque are very well-tended. Many families enjoy having picnics in these green spaces.

The Hassan II Mosque is a massive place of worship located in Casablanca, Morocco.

It stands as the second largest mosque in Africa and one of the largest in the entire world. The complex is situated on a promontory overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Because of its location, the building is constructed partially on land and partially over the ocean. This placement was achieved by creating a platform that links a natural rock outcrop to reclaimed land. To protect the structure from the erosive force of ocean waves, which can reach heights of 10 meters, engineers built two large breakwaters. During the construction of the pillars, a temporary pier 150 meters long was used to protect the foundations from the sea.

The architecture of the mosque is a blend of Islamic, Moroccan, and Moorish influences. It utilizes a basilical plan, which is a specific layout where the qibla wall is perpendicular to the naves. This is an unconventional choice for North Africa, where T-shaped plans are more common. Some historians suggest this design reflects a tension in King Hassan II between his identity as an ancient aristocrat and a contemporary leader. The building incorporates many historical elements, including styles from the Koutoubia Mosque in Marrakesh and the Great Mosque of Cordoba. The structure is made of reinforced cement concrete, but it is decorated with traditional Moroccan materials. These include granite from Tafraoute, marble from Agadir, and cedar wood from the middle Atlas Mountains.

Inside the main prayer hall, the scale is truly immense. The hall is large enough to accommodate a Gothic cathedral like Notre-Dame de Paris.

It can hold 25,000 devotees for prayer. A remarkable feature of this hall is its retractable roof. This roof weighs 1,100 tons and can be opened in just five minutes. It is covered with cast-aluminium tiles that are 35 percent lighter than traditional ceramic tiles. This allows worshippers to pray under the stars on clear nights. The hall also features windows and a central nave that is 40 meters wide. Some areas of the hall even provide views of the Atlantic Ocean below.

The mosque's minaret is one of its most striking technical achievements.

It stands 60 stories high and is the second tallest minaret in the world. The tower is square in shape and has a marble exterior with austere decoration. At the very top, the minaret features an electronically operated laser. At night, this laser projects a visible green line toward the city of Mecca, covering a range of 30 kilometers.

This feature helps to visually align the building with the direction of prayer. The minaret serves as a major landmark for the city of Casablanca.

The construction of the mosque was a massive undertaking that lasted seven years.

Work officially began on July 12, 1986, under the guidance of King Hassan II. The project was designed by the French architect Michel Pinseau and built by the Bouygues engineering group. During the most intense periods of building, 1,400 men worked during the day and 1,100 worked at night. The project was eventually completed and inaugurated on August 30, 1993. This date coincided with the eve of the anniversary of Prophet Muhammad’s birth. In total, the project involved 35,000 workers and over 50 million hours of labor.

Creating the intricate decorations required the skills of thousands of experts. Approximately 10,000 artists and craftsmen participated in the beautification of the mosque. Specifically, 3,300 Moroccan craftsmen contributed to the work. This included 854 experts in carpentry, 80 specialists in plasterwork, and 100 experts in zellige, which is traditional tilework.

These artisans created the complex geometric patterns and sculpted moldings seen on the walls and ceilings. The total cost was estimated at about 585 million euros. Because Morocco is a lower-middle-income country, much of this was funded through public subscription. Twelve million people donated money, with the smallest contribution being only 5 DH.

The mosque is part of a larger complex that serves many purposes. Beyond the prayer halls, the area includes a madrasa, which is an Islamic school. There are also hammams, which are traditional bathhouses, and a museum dedicated to Moroccan history. The complex contains a very large library that is described as the most comprehensive in the Islamic world. In the basement, visitors can find the ablution room and a large public hammam. The courtyard features 41 decorated fountains, and the surrounding gardens are a popular place for families to gather for picnics.