Kembara Ramadhan 2026 – Day 03: A Night of Eclipse and Prayer...

“Some moments in life are like eclipses — rare, breathtaking, and impossible to hold.”

(After the eclipse, a bright full moon over Kuantan)

Day 03: 03 March 2026 (Tuesday)
Route: Johor Bahru - Kuantan
Hotel: Shahzan Hotel, Kuantan

We had a simple sahur with Sara and family at Nongchik Height. While the grandkids were getting ready for school, we made our way to a nearby mosque for Subuh prayers. We will be seeing them again during the eid in Kuala Lumpur.

(Masjid Kolam Air, Johor Bahru)

A well-known neighbourhood mosque in Johor Bahru, Masjid Kolam Air has long served the local community with its modest yet welcoming architecture. Its name, “Kolam Air” (water pond) reflects the area’s earlier landscape features. Over the years, it has grown alongside the surrounding residential developments, remaining a spiritual anchor for daily congregational prayers and community activities. Subuh here felt intimate and serene, a gentle beginning to the day’s journey.

(Masjid Bandar Mersing)

Masjid Bandar Mersing is located on a hill, in the coastal town of Mersing. This mosque serves as a central place of worship for locals and travellers heading to the islands. Its design is simple yet dignified, with airy prayer halls suited to the seaside climate. As a town mosque, it often becomes a gathering point for both residents and visitors, reflecting Mersing’s character as a gateway to the South China Sea.

(Masjid Sultan Ahmad Shah, Tanjung Gemok)

Masjid Sultan Ahmad Shah, Tanjung Gemok is
Named after a Pahang ruler. This mosque stands near the ferry terminal to Pulau Tioman. Its architecture carries a distinct East Coast charm, with clean lines and a prominent dome. Serving both villagers and travellers, it represents the enduring link between faith and the sea routes that have shaped the region’s history.

(Masjid Tengku Mahkota Abdullah, Rompin)

Masjid Tengku Mahkota Abdullah in Rompin is a relatively newer mosque, it is named after the present king of Pahang. The mosque features a spacious prayer hall and elegant modern-Islamic design elements. As Rompin develops, the mosque stands as both a religious and communal landmark, symbolising growth anchored in tradition.

(Masjid Tengku Panglima Perang, Pekan)

Masjid Tengku Panglima Perang Tengku Muhamad in Pekan is situated in the royal town of Pekan. This mosque is named after a distinguished Pahang noble title. The architecture reflects regal influences, grand yet refined. Pekan, being closely associated with the Pahang Sultanate, lends the mosque a dignified atmosphere. Performing Zohor and Asar jamak prayers here felt especially meaningful, as though pausing in a town steeped in royal and Islamic heritage.

(Masjid Sultan Ahmad Shah, Kuantan)

We arrived in Kuantan early. After a short rest, we walked to Masjid Sultan Ahmad Shah I, often referred to as the State Mosque of Pahang. This grand mosque is one of Kuantan’s most iconic landmarks. Officially opened in the 1990s, it features striking blue domes and four tall minarets that dominate the city skyline. The interior is expansive and luminous, designed to accommodate large congregations during major occasions.

Breaking fast here added a special warmth to the journey. The mosque’s courtyard and surrounding field provided space not only for families to break fast in the open space, but also for self reflection beneath the evening sky.

That evening in Kuantan, the experience deepened beyond the ordinary rhythm of Ramadhan. After Maghrib, the congregation performed Solat Gerhana (Eclipse Prayer) - a rare and humbling sunnah revived when the moon darkens.

(Watching the eclipse of the moon)

Stepping out to the field beside the mosque, we watched the moon gradually shadowed. There was something profoundly moving about standing shoulder to shoulder, with strangers, eyes lifted to the heavens. The celestial event felt like a quiet reminder of Allah’s grandeur, how even the moon, constant and calm, submits to His command.

We managed to witness the eclipse partially before the call to Isya echoed through the night, gently drawing us back into the mosque for Terawih prayers.

(Shahzan Hotel, Kuantan)

And as the light slowly returned, we strolled back to our hotel. A quiet reassurance that no shadow lasts forever, and that even in moments of darkness, the moon is still there with us.

What an experience! A day that began with Subuh in Johor and closed beneath an eclipsed moon in Kuantan.