Hassan II Mosque
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The Hassan II Mosque (Arabic مسجد الحسن الثاني) is a mosque located in Casablanca, Morocco. Designed by the French architect Michel Pinseau, it is the second largest in the world (after the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca). It stands on a promontory looking out to the Atlantic, which can be seen through a gigantic glass floor with room for 25,000 worshippers. A further 80,000 can be accommodated in the mosque's courtyard. Its minaret is the world's tallest at 210 metres (689 ft).
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[edit] Characteristics
Built on reclaimed land, almost half of the surface of the mosque lies over the Atlantic water. This was inspired by the verse of the Qur'an that states "the throne of God was built on the water". Part of floor of this facility is glass so worshippers can kneel directly over the sea; above, lasers shine at night from the top of the minaret toward Mecca.
These features were specifically requested by King Hassan II, who declared, "I want to build this mosque on the water, because God's throne is on the water. Therefore, the faithful who go there to pray, to praise the creator on firm soil, can contemplate God's sky and ocean."
It also includes a number of modern touches: it was built to withstand earthquakes and has a heated floor, electric doors, and a sliding roof.
The mosque displays strong Moorish influence and the architecture of the building is similar to that of the Alhambra and the Mezquita in Spain. This and the old Tin Mal Mosque are the only mosques in Morocco open to non-Muslims. Non-Muslims may view the interior on hour-long guided tours that depart several times daily.[1]
[edit] Works
Work on the mosque was commenced on 12 July 1986, and was intended to be completed for the 60th birthday of the former Moroccan king, Hassan II, in 1989. However, the building was not inaugurated until 30 August 1993.
All of the granite, plaster, marble, wood, and other materials used in its construction were taken from around Morocco, with the sole exceptions of the white granite columns and the glass chandeliers. Six thousand traditional Moroccan artisans worked for five years to turn these raw materials into abundant and incredibly beautiful mosaics, stone and marble floors and columns, sculpted plaster moldings, and carved and painted wood ceilings.
[edit] Criticism
Many Moroccans have mixed feelings about Hassan II Mosque. On one hand, they are very proud that this beautiful monument dominates their city. On the other, they are aware that the expense (estimates range from $500 to 800 million) could have been put to better use and they resent the fact that the building of the mosque necessitated the destruction of a large, run-down section of Casablanca, whose residents did not receive any compensation.
Officially the Mosque was a present by the people to its King. But in protest at the considerable cost, and blood and sweat of the builders in constructing it, in the first weeks after opening ceremony the official inscription "Hassan II Mosque" ("Mesdjid Hassan II.")was repeately overpainted with the oppositional graffiti "Mosque of the people" ("Mesdjid asch-Schab").
[edit] References
- ^ The Rough Guide to Morocco
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Casablanca location map
- Pictures of Hassan II Mosque December 2003
- Pictures of Hassan II Mosque April 2001
- The Hassan II Mosque by Frederic Mitterrand
- Hassan II Mosque Article from Sacred Destinations, with photos and satellite view
