Grand Mosque of Meknes

De **Grand Mosque of Meknes** ((Arabic: مسجد مكناس الكبير) be de historic main mosque (Friday mosque) of de old city (*medina*) of Meknes, Morocco. Ebe de largest den most important mosque insyd de old city den one of ein oldest monuments.

## Historical background

Like chaw grand mosques insyd oda Moroccan cities (e.g. Ben Youssef Mosque insyd Marrakech anaa al-Qayrawiyyin insyd Fes anaa Grand Mosque of Salé insyd Salé), de mosque dey locate for de center of de old city wey dey anchor ein most important commercial den religious district, wich dey contain de city ein main souq streets (dem sanso refer to as de *qaysariyya* anaa *kissaria*) den ein major historic madrasas, all locate near de mosque.

Na dem believe say dem build de mosque insyd de 12th century under de Almoravid dynasty. E undergo significant restoration den expansion under de Almohad caliph Muhammad al-Nasir (he rule 1199–1213), wey, among oda things, divert a new source of water to am from a source 9 kilometres south of de city. From de Almohad period de mosque sanso dey preserve a large den ornate copper chandelier similar in style to de great Almohad chandelier insyd de al-Qarawiyyin Mosque insyd Fes.

De mosque san undergo major restorations insyd de 14th century, under de Marinids. Among oda things, na dem repair de minaret after e earlier collapse den kill 7 worshipers. Na de Marinids especially be responsible for building de major madrasas of de city, wich tend make e orbit around de mosque. Dese include de nearby Bou Inania Madrasa (dem build insyd 1336) den two oda madrasas, *Madrasa al-Qadi* den *Madrasa Shuhud*, Sultan Abu el-Hassan wey build dem all. Abu el-Hassan sanso add a library to de mosque wey he arrange for a number of Islamic scholars make dem teach for de mosque.

Lastly, further restorations den modifications take place under de Alaouite sultans. Moulay Ismail (he rule 1672–1727) remodel de *mihrab* area wey he gift de mosque plus ein current *minbar*, ein *anaza*, den sam of de fountains insyd ein courtyard. Moulay Mohammed ben Abdallah (he rule 1757–1790), in turn, build de minaret wey dey stand today.
 
## Architecture

De form den layout of de mosque be typical of traditional Moroccan anaa North African mosques. E get an area of about 3500 square metres. Ebe made up of a vast interior prayer hall wey ein main area (south of de courtyard) dem divide into nine aisles by rows of arches wey dey run parallel to de southern/southeastern wall (i.e. de *qibla* wall, de wall insyd de direction of prayer). De arches den columns be plain, while de floor dem cover plus mats. Down de middle of de prayer hall, wey dey run roughly north-to-south den perpendicular to de southern wall, be central "nave" wich be slightly more prominent dan de rest of de space around am wey wich dey lead towards de *mihrab* (a niche wey dey symbolize de direction of prayer). Dem decorate de mihrab einself plus carved den painted stucco den dates from de remodeling under Moulay Ismail (he rule 1672–1727). De nearby *minbar* (mosque pulpit) dey date from dis time too.

Insyd de northern section of de mosque be a large courtyard (*sahn*) plus a central fountain make e assist for ablutions insyd. Dem pave de courtyard plus *zellij* tiles wey ebe surrounded for three sides by de prayer hall den ein arches, while for ein northern side be one of de main entrances to de mosque. From de courtyard dem fi enter de prayer hall thru any of de surrounding arches, buh de middle arch for de southern side of de courtyard, opposite de mosque entrance wey dey correspond to de archway of de central nave dey lead towards de mihrab, be surrounded by rich carved den painted stucco decoration. Dem sanso cover ein opening by an ornate wooden screen plus mihrab motifs, dem call de *anaza*, wich dey act as an outdoor anaa "summer" mihrab give prayers wey dey take place insyd de courtyard. De anaza be richly carved wey e get a similar form to de anazas of de Marinid era, such as de one for de Qarawiyyin Mosque insyd Fes dem plete insyd 1290, buh dem date am to 1715 wey na dem thus fabricate under de reign of Moulay Ismail.

De exterior of de mosque be largely obscured by de surrounding buildings den de dense urban fabric of de old city. De mosque get 11 gates, den one of de main entrances to de west, dem call *Bab al-Kutub* (Gate of de Books), be framed by rich stucco decoration den a canopy of sculpted den painted wood. From above, de mosque be distinguished by ein rows of sloped green-tiled roofs, as well as by ein large den prominent minaret. De current minaret dey date from de reign of de Alaouite sultan Moulay Mohammed ben Abdallah (he rule 1757–1790). Like oda Moroccan minarets e get a long square shaft wich dem crown by stylized merlons wey dem top by a much smaller den shorter tower, wich in turn dem top by an iron finial wey dey hold up four golden copper balls. De four facades of de minaret be covered insyd a surface of gleaming green faience tiles, wich be a distinctive trait of minarets insyd Meknes. Near de base of de minaret, wey dey overlook de courtyard of de mosque, be a *dar al-muwaqqit* anaa traditional chamber give de timekeeper of de mosque.
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