The Great Mosque of Casablanca
The Great Mosque of Casablanca (Jamaa El Kebir), also known as the Makhzen Mosque (Mosque of the Royal Administration), is one of the oldest mosques in the city. It was built around the 1780s CE during the reign of Sultan Sidi Mohammed Ibn Abdellah, the founder of modern Casablanca (then Dār al-Bayḍāʼ). Its structure reflects the traditional Islamic architecture of the time, often featuring simple, dignified forms. It has undergone several renovations, notably by Sultan Moulay Hassan I and King Mohammed V, the latter rebuilding the minaret in the 1960s, inspired by the Koutoubia minaret in Marrakech, after it was destroyed in the 1907 French bombardment.
Timeline
Founding and construction
The mosque was founded during the early year of the the new Casablanca, during the reign of Sidi Mohammed Ibn Abdellah.
First renovation and enlarging
The mosque was renovated and enlarged by Sultan Moulay Hassan I.
Minaret Demolition (French Attack)
The mosque's Minaret was demolished during the French bombardment of Casablanca.
Second Renovation and new minaret
The mosque was renovated after the independance during the reign of king Mohammed V. The mosque got a new minaret inspired by Koutoubia's Minaret