Built on a 7-hectare piece of land, with the inside occupying 2 hectares and its outside taking the remaining 5, the Hassan II Mosque is a monumental structure located at the outskirts of Casablanca city, a few metres away from the Atlantic Ocean.
The mosque, which is the only one in Morocco in which both Muslims and non-Muslims are allowed to visit, can accommodate 25,000 faithfuls from the inside, while its outside has a capacity of up to 80,000 congregants at any given time.
It was constructed by King Hassan, the father of the current king of Morocco, and it’s the 7th largest mosque in the world.
Its minaret rises to 200 m in height and has a 30 km laser directed towards Mecca; it is considered to be the highest religious building in the world.
The construction began way back in 1986 and was officially opened for prayers in 1993.
According to one of the officials who was taking us through during the tour, the mosque is usually full during the holy month of Ramadan.
The structure is iconic with fans who are in Morocco for the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations, as thousands of tourists flock in daily.
Over 3,000 tourists tour the mosque for leisure, while others visit for prayers daily, but since the start of AFCON, the numbers have risen tremendously.
For sure, if you have attended AFCON matches in the commercial city of Casablanca or intend to attend one, try visiting the state-of-the-art spiritual centre for prayers or just sightseeing.
