There are more than 6,300 mosques registered with the Department of Islamic Advancement of Malaysia, or Jakim, in the country (as of 2015), of which over 1,000 are located in Sabah alone.
Some of these mosques are true works of architectural art and design, while others hold great historical values worth retelling over and over again. Here are just a few of them.
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KAMPUNG LAUT MOSQUE
Jalan Kuala Krai, Kelantan
It is only fitting that the oldest surviving mosque in Malaysia, dating back to the early 18th century, has a story to tell.
It is said that centuries ago, a group of religious scholars and missionaries were sailing through nearby waters, on their way to Pattani in Thailand, when their boat sprung a leak.
They vowed that if they were to survive this and make it safely to shore, they would build a mosque where they land.
And so it happened that they made it to Tumpat in Kelantan, and erected a modest structure comprising four pillars and a rooftop made of rumbia palm leaves, on the banks of the Kelantan River.
This was said to have happened in the 1730s.
By the time the mid-19th century rolled around, the mosque had become a trading post and a popular meeting point for sultans and religious leaders. Renovation works were carried out and the four-pillared structure was upgraded to 20 support columns and a three-tiered roof, with a water tank, prayer rooms and timber flooring. The traditional leaf roof was replaced with clay tiles.
Like in some traditional Malay houses in Terengganu, not a single nail was used in this additional construction. The tebuk pasak (mortise and tenon) technique was used to join pieces of wood without the use of nails.The unique structure is similar to the Demak Mosque in Jawa, Indonesia and the Wadi Hussein Mosque in Thailand.
In the 20th century, frequent floods resulted in further damage to the mosque and weakened its foundation. Two floods stand out here: the first, known as Bah Air Merah, in 1926, and another in 1966 that swept away part of the mosque that was close to the river.
Following this incident, a decision was made to relocate the mosque.
It was dismantled and rebuilt in Nilam Puri, where it still stands today, located in the vicinity of Universiti Malaya’s Academy of Islamic Studies. It is located on Jalan Kuala Krai, the main road from Machang to Kota Baru.
After another major overhaul in the 1980s, the mosque’s built-up area was expanded to approximately 490sqm, a far cry from its original 37sqm all those centuries ago.
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MASJID JAMEK,
Jalan Tun Perak, Kuala Lumpur
You will find Masjid Jamek where the Klang and Gombak rivers meet, right next to today’s Masjid Jamek LRT station. Designed by English architect Arthur Benison Hubback, the architecture is Mughal inspired with iconic white domes - the largest of which is over 20m in height - and two main minarets with red and white stripes. Built on a Malay burial ground in 1908, this is among the best known “old mosque” in the city and was considered the main mosque until the national mosque was built in the 1960s.
CRYSTAL MOSQUE
Pulau Wan Man, Terengganu
This mosque turns heads due to its stunning exterior, which is made of steel and glass. Opened to the public in 2008 after two years of construction, its architecture is influenced by Moorish and Gothic elements. The mosque is located at the Islamic Heritage Park on the man-made island of Wan Man. It overlooks the waterfront. At night, the illumination from inside the mosque casts different colours on the domes and minarets.
SULTAN SALAHUDDIN ABDUL AZIZ MOSQUE
Persiaran Masjid St, Shah Alam, Selangor
The country’s largest mosque stands by the Raja Lumu Lake in Shah Alam.
With a maximum capacity of 24,000 people, it was commissioned by the late Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz when he declared Shah Alam the new capital of Selangor in 1974.
Locally, it is referred to as the Blue Mosque, thanks to its impressive blue and silver dome - which is the largest religious dome in the world. Detailed decorative calligraphy by Egyptian calligrapher Sheikh Abdel Moneim Mohamed Ali El Sharkawi can be seen on the inner dome and walls.
Jalan Masjid Abidin, Terengganu
Terengganu’s old state royal mosque was constructed between 1793 and 1808, with several rounds of renovations since then. Also known as the White Mosque, it was originally built of wood, but was replaced with bricks around 1852. Today, it is twice the size of the original, with new domes and minarets.
ZAHIR MOSQUE
Jalan Jalan Kampung Perak, Alor Setar, Kedah
Zahir Mosque was constructed on the gravesite of the state’s warriors who died during the Siamese invasion of Kedah in 1821. Built in 1912, its architecture is inspired by the Azizi Mosque of the Langkat Sultanate in Sumatra, Indonesia. It has a striking black and white colour scheme, with its black domes contrasting with the white of the rest of the building.
FEDERAL TERRITORY MOSQUE
Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim, Kuala Lumpur
Located near Matrade and the Federal Government Complex, this blue domed mosque boasts a blend of Ottoman and Malay architectural detailing and is heavily influenced by the Sultan Ahmed Mosque (also known as the Blue Mosque) in Istanbul, Turkey. Opened to the public in 2000, it has more than 20 turquoise domes, large and small. Set within a garden surrounded by a moat, it is a picturesque sight indeed.
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PUTRA MOSQUE
Persiaran Persekutuan, Presint 1, Putrajaya
With its distinctive dome made of rose-tinted granite, the Putra Mosque overlooks the man-made Putrajaya Lake. One of the main attractions in Putrajaya, it is located next to Perdana Putra which houses the Prime Minister’s office. Construction of this mosque was completed in 1999 and its architecture is an eclectic mix of Malay, indigenous and Middle Eastern inspired designs. This mosque has one of the tallest minarets in the region (116m), which is influenced by the Sheikh Omar Mosque in Baghdad. Its basement wall resembles that of the King Hassan Mosque in Morocco.
MELAKA STRAITS MOSQUE
Jalan Pulau Melaka 8, Melaka
Built on stilts at the shores of Melaka, this mosque is known as the state’s floating mosque and looks like a floating structure especially when the water level rises. Its 30m minaret is used as a lighthouse of sorts, guiding boats and watercrafts safely across the water. The main dome is Middle Eastern in appearance, with the four corner turrets topped with Malaysian rooflines.
The mosque, constructed with modern Islamic design and craftsmanship, was officially opened in 2006. The two intersecting arches flanking the main entrance are panelled with stained glass, making for a stunning sight when the sun rays hit.
SULTAN ABU BAKAR MOSQUE
Jalan Gertak Merah, Johor
The Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque stands on a hill along Jalan Skudai, overlooking the Straits of Johor and neighbouring Singapore. The construction of this mosque in 1892 marked the start of Johor’s modernisation process. It was commissioned by the late Sultan Abu Bakar, the Father of Modern Johor, who reigned from 1886 to 1895.
Architect Tuan Haji Mohamed Arif Punak adopted many elements of English Victorian architecture in the design of this mosque – note the minarets that take on the form of British clock towers.
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