Reflections of my life

Wednesday, 27 July 2022

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)

Masjid Jamek Alimsah Walley, Penang - 1811

“Every strike brings me closer to the next home run.” – Babe Ruth

(Masjid Jamek Alimsah Walley, Penang)

5.418753, 100.334578
05°25′07.51″N 100°20′04.48″E

Masjid Jamek Alimsah Walley is also known as Masjid Jamek Lebuh Chulia. This mosque is another historical old mosque located in Penang.

This mosque was opened by a scholar of Indian Muslim descent named Haji Abdul Kadir Alimsah from the Muslim Association of Tanjore District, South India. He had migrated from South India to Malaya and had settled in Lebuh Chulia.

(Also called Masjid Jamek Lebuh Chulia)

(An archway leading to the mosque)

In 1811, part of the Muslim community in Penang, under the leadership of Haji Abdul Kadir Alimsah with the help of donations fund from generous donors built a mosque on a plot of land in Lebuh Chulia. In 1842, Haji Kadir donated this land to Sahid Lebby, Muckdoom Sah and Kadir Meah to be permanently maintained as a place of worship.

(The mosque signage)

In 1853, the land inherited by Haji Abdul Kadir was entrusted to his son, Haji Mohamed Sahid Effendi who later in 1867 built a stone building to replace the wooden mosque built by his father with funds collected from the local Muslim community.

(Founded by Indian Muslims dated back to 1803

(Named after its first imam)

Since the time of Haji Abdul Kadir, this area has been known as 'Kampong Wali Alimsah'. The new mosque was built in 2004 and completed in 2007.

Haji Abdul Kadir Alimsah died in 1852 and was buried in the cemetery next to the mosque.

(The grave of Haji Abdul Kadir Alimsah)

Masjid Kapitan keling, Penang -1798

“Life is a flower of which love is the honey…” - Victor Hugo

(Masjid Kapitan Keling, Penang)

5.416953, 100.337138
05°25′01.03″N 100°20′13.7″E

Masjid Kapitan Keling is more than 220 years old and is situated along Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling, formerly Pitt Street. It is one of the well-known mosques in Penang. Its address is on Buckingham Street, but it also has entrances on Pitt Street and Chulia Street.

(Located along Pitt Street)

(No proper parking space)

(Unique onion domes)

(The beautiful minaret)

The founder of this mosque was Major Nador Khan or better known as 'Tok Nadok Berkajang Kain'. Originally, this mosque was just a small atap roofed mosque and appeared on the Penang city map in 1798. This mosque is a landmark for the Muslim community in Penang, especially the Indian Muslim community who are active in business activities, especially gold business and money changer. A madrasah was also built for the purpose of teaching religion to children living near the mosque area.

(The main entrance)

(The side view)

(The back view)

The Masjid Kapitan Keling was named after Caudeer Mohuddeen, the head of the Indian Muslim community. The name 'kapitan keling' is used to denote the headman or leader of the South Indian Muslim community. The title 'Kapitan' is from the English word 'Captain'.

(The interior of the mosque)

(Central yellow dome area)

(Arches in the mosque)

(Large roman pillars)

This mosque is also believed to be the first jamek mosque in George Town. Before the construction of the Penang State Mosque, the Kapitan Keling Mosque was used as the state mosque of Penang, since it is the largest historic mosque in George Town.

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

(One of the heritage buildings in Penang)

(Ablution kolah)

(Dining area at the back)

(Madrasatul Anwarul Ulum)

(Restoran Nasi Kandar Beratur is next to the mosque)

Masjid Nagore Dargha Sheriff, Penang - 1803

“I like criticism. It makes me strong…” - LeBron James

(Masjid Nagore Dargha Sheriff, Penang)

5.416247 100.338818
05°24′58.49″N 100°20′19.74″E

Masjid Nagore Dargha Sheriff was built in 1803 by Muslims of southern Indian origin, then known as the Chuliers by the British. Soon after Captain Francis Light landed on Penang Island in 1786, the Chuliers, who were mostly merchants and moneylenders, began to populate Malabar Street in great numbers, causing the street to be renamed Chulia Street in 1798. The mosque was constructed on the original section of Chulia Street, before its gradual extension westwards.

The mosque is the oldest of its kind on Penang Island to honour Syed Shahul Hamid, a Sufi Muslim saint who lived in Nagore, India until his death in 1579. The Nagore Durgah in Nagore was built in his memory, as is the Nagore Durgha Shrine in Singapore, which was constructed later in the 1820s.

The white-coloured mosque has a built-in arcade along its King Street side, where there are shops selling Muslim prayer paraphernalia, jewellery and songkok.

Today, it is one of the few examples of southern Indian Muslim architecture in George Town and perhaps throughout Penang Island. It still serves as the centre of religious observance for the Indian Muslims of Tamil ethnicity. Feast days are observed at this house of worship with the distribution of food and flag raising.

(A beautiful mosque at a corner)

(Built by Muslim of Southern Indian)

(Southern Indian Muslim architecture)

(The signage of the mosque)

(The main entrance of the mosque)

(The Memorial of Syed Shahul Hamid)

(The entrance of the memorial)

(The interior of the mosque)

(A built-in archade, Kedai Songkok)

Masjid Pintal Tali, Penang - 1820

“The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you got to put up with the rain...” - Dolly Parton

(Masjid Pintal Tali, Penang)

5.417333 100.334301
05°25′02.4″N 100°20′03.48″E

The old Masjid Pintal Tali is located on Jalan Pintal Tali. Masjid Pintal Tali was built in 1820 and was built along a street known as 'Rope Walk' because on this street there used to be houses that make hand-spun ropes for ships. In 1981, the mosque, better known as Masjid Melayu Pintal Tali, was renamed to Masjid An-Nur. The name Masjid An-Nur did not last long when it was changed back to its original name, Masjid Pintal Tali in 1986.

Masjid Pintal Tali used to be the base for the Malay White Flag secret society.