Top 5 Malaysian mosques

By Abdeladhim Bouafia

SINCE it gained independence in 1957, Malaysia has overhauled many of its mosques and even constructed many new ones as part of a nationwide campaign. In the following list are some of the most beautiful mosques in the country that you should try to visit when you’re over in Malaysia for their architectural, historic and cultural value.

If you wish to enter the mosque, women should wear suitable clothes such as head scarves – take your guide from other Malaysian women there about your clothing – and men should also dress appropriately. The most important thing is to remember to take off your shoes before you enter. Most mosque opening times are from 5am to 9 pm. If you are a non-Muslim it might not be possible to enter the

National Mosque of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur

The National Mosque of Malaysia is located among 53,000m2 of beautiful and magical gardens right in the city centre. The structure alone can hold 16000 people. Bold and modern featuring mostly concrete and with one minaret, the original mosque structure was designed and built in 1965 and later renovated in 1987. Today its rather sleek with its green/blue tiles and a minaret that looms over you at some 73 metres in height. Make sure you take a look around the grounds as well – there are some lovely fountains.
Jalan Lembbah Perdana, tel. 03-2693-7905

Masjid Negara. Pic: malmm, Flickr.

Penang State Mosque

Penang State Mosque, Masjid Negeri Pulau Pinang, dates back to the 1980s and is another modern design. It was actually designed by a Brazilian architect while the onion shaped domes are a creation courtesy of a Filipino architect – somewhat reflective of Malaysia’s very multicultural stance.

The modern design can house 5000 people, but the prayer halls are only open for Muslim visitors—those that can enter should note the magnificent chandelier inside–and is busiest on Fridays. The mosque is located towards the western end of Georgetown, at the intersection of Jalan Masjid Negeri and Jalan Air Itam.
Cnr. Jalan Masjid Negeri and Jalan Air Itam, Georgetown, Penang

Zahir Mosque, Alor Star, Kedah

If you’re on your way to Langkwai and calling through Alor Star, it’s worth stopping off at the Zahir Mosque here which is one of the grandest historic buildings in town. Its domes and minarets make it look almost straight off a movie set and it does appear on lists of the top 10 most beautiful mosques in the world.

It’s also one of the older mosques mentioned so far, dating back to 1912, and has quite a history. It owes its construction to a sultan and was also built on a site where Kedah warriors were buried. One of its further claims to fame is that every year the state’s annual Quran reading competition is held here.

Masjid Zahir Darul Aman Highway, Alor Setar, tel. +60 4 731 2322

Kampung Laut Mosque, Tumpat, Kelantan

This is Malaysia’s oldest mosque and should be on your itinerary if you come here. It actually dates as far back as the early 18^th Century and is therefore constructed in a far more traditional style with local architecture of the region. Today its local timber is considered a bit of a living museum – you’ll be hard pressed to see its like elsewhere.

Jalan Kerai, Kelantan, tel. 609 748 1512

Sultan Abu Bakar State Mosque, Johor

Another one of Malaysia’s old mosques, this one dates between 1892 and 1900 and was overseen by Sultan Abu Bakre. It has Moorish architecture but there are distinct Victorian overtones – in fact many say the minarets look a bit like British clock towers. It’s a beautiful mosque especially at night when it is illuminated on a hill overlooking the Straits of Johor. It can accommodate 2000 people.

Jalan Skudai, Johor Bahru,  tel.  +60 7-224 2000

Sultan Abu Bakar State Mosque. Pic: globetrottingrien. Flickr.

If you enjoyed this article and would like to find out more about travelling to Malaysia, please visit the Tourism Malaysia website

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About the author…

Abdeladhim Bouafia 

Abdeladhim Bouafia is a professional content writer in several domains especially in travel, nature and cultural essays. He has a bachelors degree from the university in languages studies and publishes his work online here: travel4arabs.blogspot.com