Kasbah Mosque, Rabat

The Kasbah Mosque stands as the oldest surviving structure within the Kasbah of the Udayas in Rabat. Built in 1150 under the rule of Abd al-Mu’min, the mosque exemplifies the architectural principles of the Almohad Caliphate. It underwent significant restorations in the 18th century, notably under Sultan Mohammed bin Abdallah, with the involvement of an English corsair known as Ahmed el-Inglizi. The minaret, which is part of this later restoration, was originally separate from the mosque and positioned behind the qibla wall. It was only connected to the mosque in 1940.

The prayer hall is structured with seven naves and three bays, forming the characteristic T-shaped plan seen in Almohad mosques, with a dominant axial nave leading to the mihrab. A notable marble plaque on the mosque’s façade records its construction by Al-Moumen bin Ali in 544 AH and highlights an unusual qibla orientation, aligned towards the north due to an Almohad interpretation of a Hadith. The mihrab, though minimal in decoration, features an inscription of a Qur’anic verse: "So exalt [Allah] with praise of your Lord and be of those who prostrate [to Him]. And worship your Lord until there comes to you the certainty (of death)."

While the mosque remains a functioning place of worship, it is only open to Muslims. Despite its restorations over the centuries, it retains its historical and architectural significance, standing as a remarkable testament to Almohad-era religious architecture within Rabat’s historic citadel.