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About

Michel Pinseau

lead architect

 Hassan II

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digital graphic

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patron

 Casablanca

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place

mosque

Timeline: Sharifian (Morocco) {from 1517}

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Morocco

The main volume is 200m long, 100m large, and 65m high structure comprising the prayer room on the ground floor, and the ablution room and a public hammam in the basement, with its own entrance. Inside the mosque, the prayer room occupies 20,000m2. Titanium, bronze, and granite are featured on the exterior façades. Source: Aga Khan Trust for Culture

Timeline

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35 mm slide

IAA7884

Hassan II Mosque

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DUP2 Water and Islamic Architecture

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IAA7885

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IAA7869

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IAA7870

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IAA7886

Alexis Gewertz

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digital photograph

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Masjid Hassan II

Translated

Jami' Hassan II

Alternate

Mosquée Hassan II

See, also, <a href="https://www.archnet.org/collections/2379" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Timeline: Sharifian</a> Alternate names: ʿAlawī, Alaouite, Alawid, Filālī S̲h̲arīfs, سلالة العلويين الفيلاليينApproximate dates:1631/1041 AH - presentTerritory: Current rulers of the Kingdom of Morocco. On Archnet: ﻿Rulers:<a href="https://archnet.org/authorities/8245" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mawlay al-Sharif</a>&nbsp;(founder,&nbsp;r. 1631-1636/1041-1045 AH)<a href="https://archnet.org/authorities/2721" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mawlay Ismail Ibn Sharif</a>&nbsp;(r. 1672-1727/1083-1139 AH)<a href="https://archnet.org/authorities/2723" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sidi Muhammad ibn 'Abdallah al-Khatib</a>&nbsp;(r. 1757-1790/1170-1204 AH)<a href="https://archnet.org/authorities/2626" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Moulay Sulayman</a>&nbsp;(r. 1792-1822/1206-1238 AH)<a href="https://archnet.org/authorities/2731" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mohamed V</a>&nbsp;(r. 1927-1961/1327-1380 AH)<a href="https://archnet.org/authorities/2656" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hassan II</a>&nbsp;(r. 1961-1999/1380-1420 AH)<a href="https://archnet.org/authorities/2733" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mohammed VI</a>&nbsp;(r. 1999-present /1420 AH- present) Capital Cities:<a href="https://www.archnet.org/authorities/3828" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Meknes</a><a href="https://www.archnet.org/authorities/3900" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rabat </a>

Alawi

For more information see <a href="https://www.archnet.org/collections/2379" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Timeline: Sharifian</a> Sharifian dynasties derive their legitimacy from prophetic descent. The first Sharifian dynasty was the <a href="https://www.archnet.org/collections/2362" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Idrisid dynasty</a> in the 8th c./ 2nd c. AH, but for our purposes the term refers to the two most recent ruling dynasties in Morocco, the Sa'di and Alawi Dynasties, both of which trace their lineage back to the Prophet Muhammad. The Sa’adi dynasty first comes to prominence as a militant religious movement opposing the Portuguese presence in Agadir on the southern coast of Morocco, and the Wattasid dynasty, an offshoot of the&nbsp;<a href="http://archnet.org/timelines/48/period/Marinid/year/1310" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Maranids</a>, that had resigned itself to a policy of coexistence with Europeans in the Maghreb. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;They first occupied&nbsp;<a href="http://archnet.org/authorities/3820" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Marrakech</a>&nbsp;in 1525/931 AH, and by 1550/957 AH had taken&nbsp;<a href="http://archnet.org/authorities/3657" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Fes</a>&nbsp;from the Wattasids. The Sa’dis then consolidated their control over what is today the modern state of Morocco, and defended the territory against&nbsp;<a href="http://archnet.org/timelines/48/period/Ottoman/year/1339" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ottoman</a>&nbsp;conquest.&nbsp;<a href="http://archnet.org/authorities/2615" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ahmad al-Mansur</a>&nbsp;(1578–1603/986-1011 AH) expanded the dynasty’s territory to its greatest extent by conquering the West African state of Songhai in present-day Mali. After his death the kingdom broke into principalities, and there was a marked rise in piracy along the coastline. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The territory was once again reunited by the Alawites, the dynasty that currently rules the kingdom of Morocco. The founder of the dynasty, Mawlay al-Rashid, mobilized Arab tribes against the powerful Berber principality of the Dila marabouts in the Middle Atlas and northern Morocco. He was succeeded by his half brother,&nbsp;<a href="http://archnet.org/authorities/2721" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mawlay Ismail</a>, who used a professional army, drawn from the descendants of the many sub-Saharan Africans brought back to Morocco after the conquest of Songhai. He made the city of&nbsp;<a href="http://archnet.org/authorities/3828" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Meknes&nbsp;</a>his capital, thus pushing this small town into the foreground of Morocco’s architectural history. His death caused a 50 year period of instability and conflict, due to struggles over succession between his sons, who are said to have numbered around 500, and the intrigues and split loyalties of his army officers. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Recovery began during the reign of&nbsp;<a href="http://archnet.org/authorities/2723" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sultan&nbsp;Muhammad ibn Abd Allah</a>&nbsp;(Muhammad III, 1757–90) and&nbsp;<a href="http://archnet.org/authorities/2626" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sultan Mawlay Sulayman&nbsp;</a>(1792–1822/1206-1237 AH) who took steps to solidify central control of the government and to assert Maliki orthodoxy over maraboutic influence. Some of the most important measures he took were the foundation of the port of&nbsp;<a href="http://archnet.org/authorities/3648" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Essaouira</a>&nbsp;in 1767/1181 AH to place the foreign trade under government control and the development of patronage networks. Nonetheless, increasing dependence on foreign trade made the state vulnerable to foreign intervention and opened the doors for European meddling in the kingdom’s internal affairs. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;From 1912/1330 AH to 1956/1375 AH Morocco came under protectorate status. The Spanish occupied the northern territories along the Mediterranean coastline, thus reinforcing their existing presence in the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, while the French controlled the rest of the country. The sultans Mulay Youssef (1912 – 1927/1330-1345 AH) and Muhammad V (1927 – 1961/1345-1380 AH) maintained figurehead status, while real power was held by the French colonial administration.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In 1946&nbsp;<a href="http://archnet.org/authorities/2731" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Muhammad V</a>&nbsp;broke ranks with the French colonial powers and assumed leadership of the nationalist movement that sought independence.&nbsp;Since 1956, independent Morocco has continued to be governed by the Alawite dynasty. The present sultan,&nbsp;<a href="http://archnet.org/authorities/2733" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Muhammad VI</a>, assumed power in 1999/1420 AH upon the death of his father&nbsp;<a href="https://archnet.org/authorities/2656" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hassan II</a>. Michael A. Toler Sa'adi Patrons on Archnet&nbsp;<a href="https://archnet.org/authorities/7211" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Muhammad al-Shaykh Sâadi</a>&nbsp;(r.&nbsp;ca. 1517–1549/951-956 AH)<a href="https://archnet.org/authorities/2616" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sultan Sidi Abdallah al-Ghalib</a>&nbsp;(r. 1557-1574/ 965-982 AH)<a href="http://archnet.org/authorities/2615" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ahmad al-Mansur Dahbi</a>&nbsp;(r. 1578-1603 / 968-1012 AH) Alawi Patrons on Archnet:<a href="https://archnet.org/authorities/8245" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mawlay al-Sharif</a>&nbsp;(founder,&nbsp;r. 1631-1636/1041-1045 AH)<a href="https://archnet.org/authorities/2721" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mawlay Ismail Ibn Sharif</a>&nbsp;(r. 1672-1727/1083-1139 AH)<a href="https://archnet.org/authorities/2723" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sidi Muhammad ibn 'Abdallah al-Khatib</a>&nbsp;(r. 1757-1790/1170-1204 AH)<a href="https://archnet.org/authorities/2626" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Moulay Sulayman</a>&nbsp;(r. 1792-1822/1206-1238 AH)<a href="https://archnet.org/authorities/2731" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mohamed V</a>&nbsp;(r. 1927-1961/1327-1380 AH)<a href="https://archnet.org/authorities/2656" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hassan II</a>&nbsp;(r. 1961-1999/1380-1420 AH)<a href="https://archnet.org/authorities/2733" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mohammed VI</a>&nbsp;(r. 1999-present /1420 AH- present)

Hassan II MosqueCasablanca, Morocco

Hassan II Mosque
Casablanca, Morocco