... Hassan II Mosque
In Morocco, borders of Africa, gateway to Europe, the "imperial cities" are those which, over the successive dynasties have been the capital of the country: Rabat, Meknes, Fez, Marrakech ....
Except one of them and not the least, Casablanca.
Our visits were on November 2010, in a circuit completed at the pace of a race, at the pace of a fantasia, almost in apnea.
Anfa, "hill" in the Berber language, privateer's lair until the 15th century becomes "the white house" after being taken by the Portuguese in 1515. Name taken in "Casablanca".
Under the French protectorate, it became one of the largest ports in Africa.
It is now the largest city in the Maghreb and the 4th largest in Africa, from 20,000 hours in 1900 to more than 3.8 million in 2021 (agglomeration).
In the 40s, troubled place of passage, she inspires the directors, especially the American Michael Curtiz, in a film with Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman,
the mythical..................
But here is the modern mosque.
Built partially on the ocean, prestigious, it erects its very high and proud minaret, remarkable for majesty.
The construction site, under the project management of our national Bouygues, takes place from 1987 to 1993... while the mosque was to be delivered in 1989 for the 60th birthday of Hassan II, the Commander of the Faithful.
But the huge embankments to establish its base gained from the ocean had to be consolidated as early as 1998. because of instabilities that had to be corrected.
Facing its huge forecourt on the other side of a bay beaten by the ocean, dark bars of popular buildings do not exude luxury.
Is the sumptuous mosque for these populations a simple, playful and admirable derivative, or an easy trap, like "opium of the peoples" here in Koranic fashion?
The colossal building combines modernism, art and luxury. Third religious building in the world (not only Muslim) after Mecca, it can accommodate 25,000 people inside, Its minaret, the highest in the world, rises to 210 meters.
The green roof of 1100 tons opens in 5 minutes by ultra-modern mechanisms.
The gigantic and sumptuous interior, crossed with shoes in hand, houses two huge mezzanines reserved for women, where 5000 can be accommodated.
Heights in tribute to the weaker sex, the mother, or misogynistic distancing?
In any case, the other 20,000 possible places are on the ground floor and for men only, whose bold-eyed women laugh from their balcony.
The very high doors are clad in titanium, stainless in the sea air, the chandeliers are from Murano. Onyx, marble, cedar, everything is in excess, splendor and sumptuous. Like the cost, estimated between 400 million and 2 billion euros.
The richness and refinement of the decorations of the huge main body are incredible, especially the magnificent decorations on precious wood, in beautiful harmony of wood, green and red tones.
It is so vast that it could accommodate in its interior the entire nave of ND of Paris (after the fire because the steeple would not pass). Christianity hosted by Islam.
The huge ablution room in the basement is equipped with 41 fountains, three of which are monumental, in the shape of a lotus flower,...
then the hammam, with the purification baths and their large round "pool", never used in fact, but much visited.
A few steps away, however, are the beaches of Casablanca, which are overflown by a paraglider. A drunken seagull in the setting sun. Another magnificence, spontaneous and perfectly profane.
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A pithy summary of Morocco's history
North-south geographical crossroads at the African continental limit towards the Ocean : Morocco.
Historically, the Maghreb has been inhabited by Berbers (also called the Moors). Nothing to do with the Arabs, future invaders from the East and Arabia.
Permanent but nomadic, they rub shoulders with several waves of invaders over time, often adopting their religion, but retaining a fierce autonomy in the mosaic of still bellicose tribes. A link in the entire history of the Maghreb.
Who are the invaders?
In antiquity,
12th century BC: the Phoenicians, merchant sailors go at least to the port of Essaouira (formerly Mogador).
5th century BC: the Carthaginians are there, strong power in North Africa.
End of the 4th century BC: creation in the north of Morocco of the kingdom of Mauretania (and not "Mauritania") by the Berbers.
From the 2nd BC to the 4th AD: the Romans consolidate Mauretania Tingitane (Tangier).
The dromedaries then introduced (only the horse was used until then) increased the autonomy of the Berber tribes.
Remarkable cultural, architectural and economic development during the reign of Juba II (husband of the daughter of Cleopatra and Mark Antony).
And foundation of the Roman city of Volubilis.
Around 439, capture of Carthage in Tunisia by the Vandals, who, by driving the Romans from the West make it the capital of their kingdom, far from mauretania Tingitan.
533-534: with a powerful army under the command of his already famous general Belisarius (left), the Eastern Roman Emperor Justinian 1st the Byzantine (right) defeats the Vandals and pushes them out of North Africa.
However, the Berbers, accustomed to a certain autonomy, resisted, rebelled.
Arrival of Islam ; for a global vision of the Arab-Andalusian civilization
622: year 1 of the Hegira. Of Arabia began the conquest in 640 towards the west ; it reached the Atlantic coast around 705 with the submission of Berber tribes.
From then on, Morocco became the bridgehead of the conquest to the north and the Iberian Peninsula, via the Strait of Gibraltar.
But the huge Arab empire is mishanding itself. Strong resistance appears.
February 5, 789: Idriss ibn Abdallah, descendant of the prophet - he is the grandson of his daughter - founds, under the name of Idriss 1st the dynasty of the Idrissids and the city of Fez; he gathers together the Berbers of northern Morocco.
It is the 2nd Muslim kingdom after Andalusia to emancipate itself from the Caliphate of Baghdad. Dynasty that then erupts in successions.
1061: Nomadic Berbers from Western Sahara take possession of Morocco and found the almoravid dynasty who appropriated the Muslim religion; creating the city of Marrakech, they then conquer Andalusia.
Around 1125: another dynasty of Berbers this time Mauretanians, the Almohads,intransigent Muslims and Puritans take power, from Spain to Libya. Their most famous sultan is Yacoub el Mansour. But the Christians are trying to reconquer. The Empire is vast and distended.
1269 to 1421: the Merinid dynasty succeeds him, and remakes the unity of the Maghreb, New dissensions; the Portuguese seize some coastal sites.
1472 to 1492: the Wattassid dynasty that took over comes up against the apogee of the Christian Reconquest.
After the Reconquista
1578: The Saadians, another Arab dynasty engages in holy war against the Christians, defeats the Portuguese, takes to the south Timbuktu in 1591 and Mali ; it enriches itself by controlling salt mines, gold, and strengthening the slave trade of black Africa.
Around 1660: the Alawite dynasty (descendants of Ali, son-in-law of the prophet) whose members lead a poor, meditative and virtuous life takes power.
1672 to 1727: from the same Alawite dynasty, a contemporary of Louis XIV, King Moulay Ismail reorganizes Morocco, fighting against the rebellious Berber tribes, the Ottoman Turks, the Christians. He was nicknamed "the Bloodthirsty".
The modern era
With the plague at the beginning of the 19th century and the decline of the economy, Morocco withdrew into itself and is exposed to European expansion ambitions.
1912: French protectorate. Lyautey assumes the role of Resident General (Governor). With great respect for Islam, he vouched for the country's traditional values, including local notables in his reorganization. Still honored by Moroccans, his situation is special in the history of the French colonial period.
1925: Predicting the natural "detachment" of Morocco, he is immediately excluded by the French government.
March 2, 1956: independence of Morocco, without too much pain on either side, unlike Algeria for example; this may be explained by the attitude of Lyautey governor.
The Residents who succeeded him, less sagacious, less intelligent, try to oppose Berbers and Arabs with the complicity of the rich Glaoui Berber pasha allied with France, provoking in reaction the commitment of the UNITED STATES alongside Mohammed V for independence.
The current King Mohammed VI, his father Hassan II are the direct representatives and descendants of the Alawite dynasty, hence their title of "Commander of the Believers", which gives them a certain religious legitimacy throughout the Muslim world even today.
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