History

Built on 27 August 1965, the National Mosque is a symbol of Islam as the official religion of Malaysia with a capacity of around 15,000 worshippers at a single time. The construction of the mosque was planned pre-independence by the Majlis Pekerja Persekutuan as a homage to the then prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj. When Majlis Raja-Raja presented the project to the Tunku, he insisted that it not be named after him, but rather symbolising the nation itself as Masjid Negara, which translates literally to National Mosque.

Significance

The mosque spans around 13 acres, where its main building spans around 3 acres. The mosque is surrounded by a concrete wall with decorated gates and 7 separate entrances. Its main features include a main prayer hall that spans 22,500 square feet, several halls, a library and offices. Amneties are also provided for non-muslim visitors such as the DBKL installed public restroom especially for tourists both international and domestic.

Travel Tips

• The mosque is reachable by a leisurely 16-minute stroll from the Kuala Lumpur Tourism Bureau or via the GOKL bus service. Check here for your best route.

• The mosque also provides robes to allow ease of etiquette for those who may not follow the dress code for visits.