The 12 Most Beautiful Mosques in Malaysia

Known as the Friday Mosque, Masjid Jamek was built in 1907 on the first Malay burial ground in Kuala Lumpur. It is the oldest mosque, providing a sense of peace and tranquillity and located nearby the Klang River and Gombak River. It is located right next to the Masjid Jamek LRT station. The mosque’s architecture has a combination of Moorish, Islam and Magul. Appreciate its ancient architecture including the three domes and two high minarets with red and white stripes at the prayer hall.

Putra Mosque faces the scenic Putrajaya Lake. It is one of the most visited landmarks in Putrajaya. The mosque has a mix of modern and traditional designs created with local craftsmanship and indigenous materials. The design is inspired by the design of Sheikh Omar Mosque in Baghdad. From there, the Putra Mosque’s design has a combination of Malaysia, Persian-Islamic and Arab-Islamic architectural details. With its 36-diameter main dome, the simple and elegant prayer hall is supported with 12 columns. The beautiful courtyard is right in front of the main hall.

Federal Territory Mosque is near the Government Office Complex. The mosque’s design is heavily influenced by the Blue Mosque Turkey – a mix of Ottomon and Malay architectural details. In the mosque, there are 22 various beautiful domes made from composite material of glass fibre and epoxy, which is light and durable. The mosque’s garden makes this holy place more stunning, surrounded by a moat. One at a time, about 17,000 worshippers visited the mosque to hold their daily prayers.

Malacca Straits Mosque is a floating mosque which is built on stilts at the shores of Melaka in Bandar Hilir. Its 30-meter minaret works as the guide for water crafts, boats and air ships to stride safely across the sea. The mosque has a Middle-Eastern dome with four corners of turrets decorated with Malaysian roof lines. The vibrant arch with blue trim represents its significance to Islam culture. The stained-glass windows at the mosque’s façade are carved with Islamic motifs. It is more breathtaking when the mosque shines brightly in the evenings.

It is Selangor’s state mosque located in Shah Alam. This mosque is known as the Blue Mosque due to its magnificent blue dome and blue-stained-glass panels on the windows. It is the biggest mosque in Southeast Asia with the biggest dome and tallest minarets. Its architecture has a magnificent combination of modern and traditional with Middle Eastern and Malay designs. Four minarets stand grandly at each corner. Detailed Arabic calligraphy, done by a well-known Egyptian calligrapher, can be seen on the main dome and walls. The wooden pulpit is carved by Kelantanese craftsmen.

Tengku Tengah Zaharah Mosque is the first floating mosque in Malaysia. The mosque is situated in Kuala Ibai, 4 kilometres away from the town centre of Kuala Terengganu. It is built on a platform surrounded by a lake. From afar, you can see the lake’s reflection of the beautiful mosque. It has traditional Malay and Moorish architecture, built with marble, ceramics, mosaic works and bomanite paving. The white facet stands out with a balance of boldness and simplicity. Catch its enchanting view in the evenings where you will be able to see a clear reflection of the mosque lit up near the lake.

The Kota Kinabalu City Mosque has its contemporary Islam architectural design similar to Nabaqi Mosque in Medina. The stunning white mosque is surrounded by a man-made lagoon. It is beautiful and serene and holds up to 12,000 worshippers where they mostly gather at the prayer hall. You can take the paddle boat rides where you will see the mosque across the water. Non-Muslims can visit the mosque except during prayers.

Sultan Abu Bakar State Mosque is Johor’s state mosque situated along Jalan Skudai. It is at the top of the hill that overlooks the city of Johor. It has two unique architectural details with a bit of Malay designs – Victorian and Moorish styles. The materials to build the mosque were imported from Turkey, Czechoslovakia and Italy. The design of the minarets is related to the 19th century British clock towers. The Victorian wooden windows are designed with English carvings. The Roman pillars support the majestic prayer hall. The mosque is listed as a protected heritage monument by the Department of Museum and Antiquities.

Kapitan Keling Mosque is built by Penang’s first Indian Muslim settlers in 1801. It is the largest mosque in Georgetown. The mosque has its large golden-yellow Mughal-design domes, crescents and stars. You can hear the Muslim prayers from the Indian-Islamic minaret. Archways and an outer passageway lead to the main prayer hall. The polished white marble floor is covered with prayer rugs, and the walls are filled with calligraphy panels. The stained-lass windows are designed with geometrical patterns and floral motifs.

Situated in Alor Setar, Kedah, Al-Bukary Mosque is within the Al-Bukhary Complex alongside various facilities including a medical centre, a community centre, an old folks’ academy, an orphanage and a learning centre. The beautiful interior and exterior are inspired by mosques in Iran and Turkey. The five-layered archway depicts the five pillars of Islam. A stunning reflecting pool with Arabesque motifs faces the front of the mosque’s entrance.

Crystal Mosque has the most unique architecture in Malaysia due its stunning exterior. It is located at the Islamic Heritage Park on a man-made island, Wan Man Island. The structure is made with steel, glass and crystal, with Moorish and Gothic elements. The cool and sleek architecture is shown by the river of Kuala Terengganu. The glass domes inside the mosque dazzle; the large crystal chandelier shines brightly in the main prayer hall. The mesmerising lights change the colours of domes and minarets to pink, green, yellow and blue at night.

The grand golden dome and octagon-shaped mosque is a sacred place for Muslims in Perak, especially in Kuala Kangsar. It is next to the residential homes and the Royal Tomb. The large dome covers the main prayer hall beside the five small domes. The walkway to the main prayer hall is surrounded with luscious nature. Visitors will feel relaxed as they are welcomed by the ornamental water feature at the mosque’s main entrance.