Mosques of Morocco
In our series, we are introducing beautiful mosques from different countries. This time, the mosques we will get to know are in Morocco.
Karawiyyin Mosque
When migrations from Andalusia to the Maghreb increased, a solution was sought for the inadequate mosques. To address this, a prominent scholar’s daughter, Fatima, had a mosque built and named it Karawiyyin Mosque. Initially used for worship, this mosque served as a meeting place during the Fatimid rule and later as a madrasa (Islamic school) during the Merinid period. Today, the mosque, which has been transformed into a state university by Morocco, is known as the world’s first university due to its historical role in providing advanced education in Islamic sciences.
Tinmel Mosque
Located in the city of Tinmel in Morocco, this mosque was built during the reign of Abd al-Mu’min. It is constructed in a vertical and rectangular shape facing the qibla (Mecca), bearing North African and Andalusian influences, made of stone and brick. The most interesting feature of the mosque is the absence of a minaret.
Koutoubia Mosque (Marrakech)
Also known as the Koutoubia Mosque, the Kutubiya Mosque, or the Kutubiyyin Mosque. Its construction was completed during the reign of Yaqub al-Mansur. It served as an inspiration for structures like the Giralda of Seville and the Hassan Tower in Rabat. The mosque features expansive gardens, marble elements, arches, curved windows, and decorative ceramic strips. The most notable feature of this reddish-brown mosque is that it can be seen from almost anywhere in the city.
Hassan II Mosque (Casablanca)
One of the largest mosques in the world, this mosque is built over the sea. It departs from conventional mosque architecture with its angular and pointed lines, making it a bit different from the round and oval motifs we are accustomed to in other mosques. This design uniqueness is due to the fact that the mosque was designed by the French architect Michel Pinseau. Not only in size but also in minaret length, the Hassan II Mosque stands out, with one minaret reaching a height of 210 meters. Named after the former Moroccan king, King Hassan II, it is one of the grand mosques in Morocco, accommodating up to 105,000 worshippers simultaneously.
