Casablanca: Hassan II Mosque

Casablanca: 11^th December 2009

If you Google ‘Casablanca’, the first entries will be almost certainly be about the film of that name made in 1942, starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. We did pass ‘Rick’s Bar’ on the way out of the docks and stopped for a photo-call. We didn’t go in; it was closed … and the white-painted art-decoish exterior looked only vaguely like the one in the film, anyway. It’s a long time since I saw the film, but I rather think the ‘original’ was down an alley?

In fact … I could be wrong here … I believe the film wasn’t made in Casablanca at all. I hardly think that such a film would be highly regarded by the Vichy régime there at the time it was made.

We were bound for one of Casablanca’s landmarks, the Hassan II Mosque. It’s the largest mosque in Africa, and indeed the world outside Saudi Arabia. It’s also one only two mosques in Morocco where non-Muslims are allowed inside … ‘but, we must be out by midday: this is Friday, our Holy Day’It was funded by public subscription from all over the world, and completed in 1993. They built it on land reclaimed from the sea … part of it is built on a platform over the sea itself, for there’s a verse in the Qur’an which says ‘ … the throne of God was built on water.’

The mosque, with its tall tower, was visible from our ship as it docked; indeed, it’s visible from most parts of the city. But, for all its height, it is the actual voice of the muezzin you hear making the Call to Prayer, not a recording. Although he does use a microphone and loudspeaker, rather than climb all those stairs.

But, although it can be admired from afar, it really needs to be seen from close-up, and from inside, to admire the artwork and the architecture. My top tip here is … wear socks! You’re asked to remove your shoes on entry, and that marble floor is beautiful … but cold!

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