SHAH ALAM - Mosque is a word derived from the Arabic word Masjid which means place of worship. In Shah Alam, the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Mosque is one of the most prominent mosques due to its attractive design.
The Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Mosque's architecture mixes Malay and Modernist styles. It overlooks the Garden of Islamic Arts, a landscaped garden modeled after the Garden of Paradise in the Quran (Jannah).
According to Visit Selangor (a website that promotes Selangor’s tourism), among the achievements that this mosque has achieved are being Malaysia's largest mosque and the second largest in Southeast Asia, boasting the world's second-tallest individual minarets.
The series of four minarets, each rising 142.3 meters (460 feet) above ground, is the world's tallest group of minarets, and has the world's largest dome for a religious structure.
Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Mosque.
(Source: Official Website of Masjid Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah)
According to the Islamic Tourism Centre, there is also a 14-hectare spiritual sanctuary with nine galleries displaying various types of Islamic art, including sculpture, architecture, calligraphy, and painting.
In addition, the late Sultan of Selangor generously donated his four-month stipend to the mosque development operation.
He was gifted four crystal chandeliers and an antique clock to prove his seriousness in developing this mosque.
Speaking of the role of this mosque in developing the local community, the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Mosque certainly has its own activities or content to ensure its role will always be implemented in shaping a better society.
According to one of the Imam Besar, Mohd Luqman Hakkim Rizuan, 34, he said,
"Various types of programs and activities can be conducted here, such as marriage rooms, seminar halls, banquet halls, lecture rooms, auditorium halls, and the mosque is near to the Selangor Islamic Religious Council," said Mohd Luqman through an interview with Berita DIMENSi via Google Meet.
Selangor State Zakat Office in the mosque area.
(Source: Official Website of Masjid Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah)
Armed with the uniqueness and privileges of the mosque, it is not surprising if this mosque received a certificate of excellence recognized by the travel website TripAdvisor five years in a row from 2014 to 2018, as it is the top choice for foreign tourists to visit Islamic houses of worship in Malaysia.
This is a success from the effort to convey the message known as the "tourism mosque program" to both locals and visitors from other countries.
Mohd Luqman Hakkim stated that this mosque has its own volunteers called Masjid Negeri Selangor Guides (MNSG), who play the role of tourist guides and are responsible for explaining all the information related to Islam, including the history and architecture of the mosque.
He added that "MNSG" is also given classes to learn foreign languages to ensure that every tourist feels welcome and communication is facilitated.
Mosques that provide many facilities can attract many worshipers to come and perform worship.
“Some of our volunteers have been featured in Japanese travel magazines and received praise for the service provided,” said Mohd Luqman Hakkim.
The matter was shared by a female pilgrim, Aishah Mustaffa, 22.
She said, "Apart from the beautiful mosque design, I like to come here because there is a special lecture for women, so it makes it easier for us to understand.
"The free food initiative for everyone held at the mosque also benefits the locals," said Aishah in a Berita DIMENSi interview via WhatsApp.
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