National Mosque of Malaysia

National Mosque of Malaysia
Masjid Negara Malaysia
Religion
Affiliation	Sunni Islam
Location
Location	Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Geographic coordinates	3°8′31″N 101°41′30″E / 3.14194°N 101.69167°E / 3.14194; 101.69167
Architecture
Architect(s)	Howard Ashley, Ikmal Hisham Albakri [ms] and Dato Baharuddin Abu Kassim
Completed	1965
Specifications
Capacity	15,000
Minaret height	73 m (240 ft)
Website
www.masjidnegara.gov.my

The National Mosque of Malaysia (Malay: Masjid Negara Malaysia) is a mosque in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It has a capacity for 15,000 people and is situated among 13 acres (53,000 m²) of gardens. Its key features are a 73-metre-high (240 ft) minaret and a 16-pointed star concrete main roof. The umbrella, synonymous with the tropics, is featured conspicuously – the main roof is reminiscent of an open umbrella, the minaret's cap a folded one. The folded plates of the concrete main roof are a creative solution to achieving the larger spans required in the main gathering hall. Reflecting pools and fountains are spread throughout the compound. Completed in 1965, the mosque is a bold and modern approach in reinforced concrete, symbolic of the aspirations of a then newly independent nation.

History

Malaya gained its

, in recognition of Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman's efforts in guiding the country to gaining independence. However, Tunku refused this honour; on the contrary, he named it Masjid Negara in thanksgiving for the country's peaceful independence without bloodshed.

The mosque was built on the former site of the Venning Road Brethren Gospel Hall, which was acquired by the government in 1961. The church was offered land on Jalan Imbi as a replacement and is now known as Jalan Imbi Chapel.

.

The mosque underwent major renovations in 1987, and the once-pink concrete roof is now clad in green and blue tiles. Today, Masjid Negara continues to stand sleek and stylish against the Kuala Lumpur skyline. An underground passage leads to the National Mosque located near the

(Heroes' Mausoleum), a burial ground of several Malaysian Muslim leaders. Makam Pahlawan is a 7-pointed star concrete roofed structure.

The mosque was the largest in Malaysia until the completion in 1988 of the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Mosque in Shah Alam.^[2]

On 27 August 2015, Masjid Negara celebrated its Golden Jubilee (50th anniversary).

Imams of the National Mosque

1. Ghazali Abdullah (1965)
2. Mohs Salleh Hassan Farid
3. Sheikh Abdul Mohsein bin Salleh (1974-1975)
4. Ahmad Shahir bin Daud (1975-1980)
5. Abu Hassan bin Din Al-Hafiz (1981-1983)
6. Ahmad Shahir bin Daud (1984-1992)
7. Arifin Harun (1992-1993)
8. Taib Azamudden bin Md. Taib (1993-1999)
9. A. Jalil bin Sindring @ Prangerang (1999-Sep. 2001)
10. Wan Halim bin Wan Harun (2001-2004)
11. Kamaruddin bin Zakaria (2005-2006)
12. Tan Sri Dato' Sri Haji Ismail bin Haji Muhammad (February 2007 – 2019)
13. Haji Ehsan bin Mohd Hosni (February 2020 – present)

Transportation

The mosque is accessible within walking distance of

metro lines.

The free Go KL City Bus (Red Line) has a stop at Masjid Negara.^[3]

See also

• Timeline of Islamic history
• Islamic architecture
• Islamic art
• List of mosques
• Islam in Malaysia
• Istiqlal Mosque, Jakarta — The national mosque of Indonesia

References

External links

• National Mosque of Malaysia (Masjid Negara) website
• KL Heritage Trail: Masjid Negara−National Mosque