Kota Kinabalu City Mosque Explained

Kota Kinabalu City Mosque
Native Name:Masjid Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu
Native Name Lang:ms
Map Type:Malaysia Sabah Kota Kinabalu
Map Size:220px
Religious Affiliation:Islam
Location:Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Tradition:Sunni
Festivals:-->
Organizational Status:-->
Construction Cost:MYR34 million
Date Destroyed:-->
Capacity:12,000 worshippers
Minaret Quantity:4
Elevation Ft:-->

The Kota Kinabalu City Mosque (Malay: Masjid Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu) is the second main mosque for the city of Kota Kinabalu in Likas, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia, after the State Mosque in Sembulan. The head imam is Hafiz Bin Hamzah.[1]

History

Preparations for the mosque began in 1989, and the installation of foundation piles began in 1992. Construction was delayed between 1993 and 1994 owing to a lack of funds.[2] The mosque was officially opened on 2 February 2000 following a proclamation of the city status of Kota Kinabalu.[3] Construction of the mosque cost 34 million Malaysian ringgits. The architectural design is based on the Nabawi Mosque, the second holiest site in Islam, in Medina, Saudi Arabia.[3] The dome is blue and gold, inspired by similar Arabic architecture.

Features

The mosque sits on a 14.83acres site at Pasir Road on the shores of Likas Bay, on the South China Sea. It is partially surrounded by a human-made lagoon;[1] [3] this has given rise to the nickname "The Floating Mosque". It has a maximum capacity of 12,000 worshipers.[3] The mosque features an ATM, three madrasas, a palliative care clinic, and  - in a joint project with Universiti Malaysia Sabah  - a fish farm.[3] [4] In 2008, the mosque introduced paddle boat rides, from which visitors could see the mosque from the water; a mosque committee member stated that this was to "mak[e] the mosque more relevant to the community's life encompassing religion, economy and social aspects".[5]

The mosque is a common tourist destination and included in several tours; it is also a common destination for photographers.[5] The mosque may be visited by non-Muslims, except during prayers. Visitors are required to wear modest clothing; Lonely Planet recommends long trousers and covered arms.[6]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Alamat dan Perhubungan . Address and Contact . Official Website . ms . 29 May 2014 . 23 February 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140223222155/http://www.mbr.sabah.org.my/alamat%20dan%20perhubungan.html . dead .
  2. Web site: Pengenalan . Introduction . Official Website . ms . 29 May 2014 . 17 July 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140717064114/http://www.mbr.sabah.org.my/pengenalan.html . dead .
  3. Suara Masjid . ms . Masjid Bandaraya, Kota Kinabalu . City Mosque, Kota Kinabalu . October 2008 . 1511-9149 . 59 . 7 . 7. 23 March 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120323075435/http://www.islamgrid.gov.my/majalah/suaramasjid/SM59.pdf.
  4. Web site: Masjid Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu (Kota Kinabalu State Mosque) . Islamic Tourism Centre of Malaysia . 29 May 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140529134011/http://itc.gov.my/mosque/masjid-bandaraya-kota-kinabalu-kota-kinabalu-state-mosque/ . 29 May 2014 . dead .
  5. Web site: Mosque Introduces Paddle Boat Rides . New Straits Times . 4 June 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140629120659/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-205840336.html . dead . 29 June 2014 .
  6. Web site: City Mosque . Lonely Planet . https://web.archive.org/web/20140529123924/http://www.lonelyplanet.com/malaysia/malaysian-borneo-sabah/kota-kinabalu/sights/religious/city-mosque . 29 May 2014 . 29 May 2014 . dead .