Masjid Lebuh Acheh, Penang - 1808

“The longer I live, the more beautiful life becomes…” - Frank Lloyd Wright

(Masjid Lebuh Acheh, Penang)

5.41445, 100.336173
05°24′52.02″N 100°20′10.22″E

Masjid Melayu Lebuh Acheh or Archeen Street Mosque is 213 years old and is one of the oldest mosques in Penang. Masjid Melayu Lebuh Acheh was built in 1808 by Tunku Sayyid Hussain Al-Aidid, a wealthy spice merchant of Arab descent who was also part of the Acheh royal family.

(The minaret seen in between the shophouses)

(The signage at the gate)

(Iconic octagonal minaret)

(The land was donated by an Achenese aristocrat)

This mosque was declared a National Heritage building in 2018. Before this, Friday prayers were held alternately between the Masjid Melayu Lebuh Acheh and Masjid Kapitan Keling. Nevertheless, in 2020 the two mosques started performing Friday prayers simultaneously.

The Masjid Melayu Lebuh Acheh has an Arab-style minaret with an Achehnese roof. The difference between this mosque and Masjid Kapitan Kling, is that Masjid Melayu Lebuh Acheh was built by an Achehnese, hence a Malay, whereas Masjid Kapitan Kling Mosque was built by the Indian Muslims.

(The main entrance leading to the prayer hall)

(Islamic historical and architectural heritage)

(Haj pilgrims nicknamed the mosque as 'Second Jeddah')

(Combination of Moorish, Chinese and classical architecture)

The mausoleum of the mosque founder Tengku Syed Hussain Idid is located within the compound of the Masjid Melayu Lebuh Acheh. It has simple unadorned tombstones. A shelter is built to shield the grave against the elements.

Sumber: Sejarah Masjid & Keramat di Pulau Pinang 1730-an – 2012

(The restored octagonal minaret of Masjid Lebuh Acheh)

(A beautiful 19th-century mosque built by the Achehnese)

(The layout and history of the moasque)

(The cemetery of the mosque's original benefactor)

(Tengku Syed Hussain Al-Aidid's and members of his family) 

(The houses of the original Muslim settlement)