This massive architectural wonder hides many secrets within its walls. Located in the Fifth Arondissement, the Mosque is constructed in the Moorish style, as seen by its arches, courtyards, intricate tiling, and lush gardens. The towering minaret reminds onlookers that the Parisian skyline boasts more than cathedral spires and the Eiffel tower. While impressive from the exterior, the true beauty of this structure lies within. The interior is linked by open-air courtyards surrounding a botanical garden and a bubbling fountain. La Grande Mosquée de Paris offers something for everyone: a school, library, restaurant, tearoom, prayer room, and bathhouse are all found within its walls. However, the Mosque’s worth extends beyond its physical features.
In the years following World War One, France wished to recognize the sacrifice of more than 100,000 French Muslims who lost their lives while fighting for the country. The Muslim Institute and its Mosque stand as a lasting symbol of Islamic culture and faith extending from Paris to the rest of Europe. It is designed to be not only a place of worship, but a haven for Muslims in need of aid. The relationship between the French government and the Muslim Institute serves as an important symbol for Franco-Muslim cooperation.
Undoubtedly, the Mosque as it stands today is the result of the efforts of many influential figures, but it benefited greatly from the vision and commitment of Si Kaddour Benghabrit. A man born in Algeria and granted citizenship in Morocco, Benghabrit worked tirelessly to forge Franco-Arabic ties through schools and as a diplomat and translator who proved to be invaluable to the French. Later in life, he worked to build the Mosque and the Institute from an idea into the structure it is today. From 1922 until 1945, Si Kaddour Benghabrit, in his capacity as founder and director, assured that it could be a place where Muslim students of Paris could interact with other Muslims. Additionally, under his guidance, La Grande Mosquée de Paris played an important role in offering protection to persecuted Jews during World War Two. Due to the Mosque’s location on La Bièvre (a waterway that extends throughout the city) and its extensive caves, the Mosque helped to save the lives of an estimated 1,700 people.
Today, La Grande Mosquée de Paris serves as an important cultural and religious site for Paris and beyond. As the French national identity struggles to incorporate Muslims and other minorities, the Mosque serves as a necessary reminder for the French public. The Mosque’s past and contemporary efforts demonstrate that, through compassion and the remembrance of history, France can reach past its divisions and create something as beautiful and powerful as La Grande Mosquée de Paris.
References
Grande Mosquée de Paris. (n.d.). Kaddour Ben Ghabrit. Retrieved 02 29, 2020, from Grande Mosquée de Paris Site Officiel: https://www.mosqueedeparis.net/linstitut-musulman/biographies/kaddour-ben-ghabrit/
La Grande Mosquée de Paris. (2020). Retrieved 03 02, 2020, from Paris Promeneurs: http://www.paris-promeneurs.com/Architecture-moderne/La-Grande-Mosquee-de-Paris
Les plus beaux lieux d’architecture mauresque à Paris. (2020). Retrieved 3 02, 2020, from Paris ZigZag: https://www.pariszigzag.fr/secret/lieux-insolites/les-plus-beaux-lieux-darchitecture-mauresque-a-paris
LPLT. (2008, 5 5). File: Patio grande mosquée de paris.jpg. Retrieved 3 9, 2020, from Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Patio_grande_mosquee_de_paris.jpg