Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque was founded in the 9th century, but its present form is the result of a long historical evolution over the course of more than 1,000 years. Successive dynasties expanded the mosque until it became the largest in Africa, with a capacity of 22,000 worshipers. The present-day mosque covers an extensive area of about half a hectare. Broadly speaking, it consists of a large hypostyle interior space for prayers (the prayer hall), a courtyard with fountains (the sahn), a minaret at the courtyard’s western end, and a number of annexes around the mosque itself.

A simple oratory of about 100 m2, the original mosque was made up of four naves parallel to the qibla wall, a courtyard, a mihrab and a minaret.