THE GREAT MOSQUE, A PLACE OF RESPECT AND PRAYERS

Today, The Stones have visited The Great Mosque of Tétouan, a spiritual place for Muslims. They have learnt more about Muslim religion and culture. It has been an amazing interesting visit and an unforgettable experience.

The Great Mosque of Tétouan, Morocco, is the largest mosque in the medina of Tetouan and one of the city's most beautiful historical monuments.

The Great Mosque was built in the early 19th century, near the city's old Jewish quarter, which was moved to its present location at the other end of the medina.

An entire 19th-century quarter bearing the mosque's name developed around the mosque. The mosque's minaret was constructed as the highest point in the medina, and is visible from long distances.

The decoration of the minaret is a good example of the continued development of Andalusian architecture in Morocco over a period of many centuries. Located on the Mediterranean Sea east of Tangier, Tetouan served for centuries as a major point of contact between Morocco and the Arab culture of Andalusia on the Iberian Peninsula.

After the Reconquista –the retaking of Andalusia by the Christians of Spain–Tetouan was rebuilt by Andalusian refugees expelled by the Spanish.

In 1997, the medina of Tetouan was inscribed on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites as an exceptionally-well preserved historic town, displaying all the features of the high Andalusian culture.

More information: Khan Academy

A mosque is a place of worship for Muslims. Any act of worship that follows the Islamic rules of prayer can be said to create a mosque, whether or not it takes place in a special building.

Informal and open-air places of worship are called musalla, while mosques used for communal prayer on Fridays are known as jāmiʿ.

Mosque buildings typically contain an ornamental niche (mihrab) set into the wall that indicates the direction of Mecca (qiblah), ablution facilities and minarets from which calls to prayer are issued. The pulpit (minbar), from which the Friday (jumu'ah) sermon (khutba) is delivered, was in earlier times characteristic of the central city mosque, but has since become common in smaller mosques.

Mosques typically have segregated spaces for men and women. This basic pattern of organization has assumed different forms depending on the region, period and denomination.

Mosques commonly serve as locations for prayer, Ramadan vigils, funeral services, Sufi ceremonies, marriage and business agreements, alms collection and distribution, as well as homeless shelters.

Historically, mosques were also important centers of elementary education and advanced training in religious sciences. In modern times, they have preserved their role as places of religious instruction and debate, but higher learning now generally takes place in specialised institutions.

Special importance is accorded to the Great Mosque of Mecca (centre of the hajj), the Prophet's Mosque in Medina (burial place of Muhammad) and Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem (believed to be the site of Muhammad's ascent to heaven).

In the past, many mosques in the Muslim world were built over burial places of Sufi saints and other venerated figures, which has turned them into popular pilgrimage destinations.

With the spread of Islam, mosques multiplied across the Islamic world. Sometimes churches and temples were converted into mosques, which influenced Islamic architectural styles.

More information: Journey Beyond Travel

There's just really interesting facets
of culture just swirling in Morocco.
They all have slightly different colours,
so it's just an inspiring place to be.

Mark Foster