Blue Mosque of the East

One of the most prominent landmarks located in the heart of Shah Alam is The Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Mosque or better known as “the Blue Mosque of the east” owing to the bluish colour of the dome. The Mosque is located on 14.6 hectares of land and surrounded by lush greenish garden and manmade lake.

The construction of the mosque was commissioned in 1982 and completed in1988 during the reign of Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz. The mosque was pronounced as the largest mosque in Malaysia and South East Asia upon its completion. The overall structure is large enough that on clear day it can be seen from certain vantage points in the nearby city as far as the city of Kuala Lumpur.

The main dome of the mosque is also recognized as one of the biggest domes in the world, measuring 170 feet in diameter and 350 feet in height from the ground level. The computer aided design for the lighting system inside the dome creates the illusion of being in the desert on a star-filled night inside the mosque.

The four minarets surrounding the building measure up to 460 feet high and are the second tallest minarets in the world. In the earlier years, the blue mosque was listed in the Guinness World Records as having the tallest minarets in the world. The title was then taken over by the King Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca.

The interior of the building is majestically decorated with Islamic calligraphy and Moorish craftsmanship which enhances the overall beauty of the inner side of the large dome and main prayer-hall. The overall architectural design has harmoniously integrated the three types of design elements namely Traditional Malay, Moorish and contemporary design. In the middle of the prayer hall, there is a splendid chandelier which is hung from atop of the centre of the large dome. The chandelier was contributed by the late Sultan of Selangor.

The Blue Mosque is also look magnificent whenever captured during nighttimes. Spectators will be able to witness the splendor colour of the mosque under the spotlight generated by a series of lighting systems surrounding the whole structure of the building.

The main prayer hall is able to accommodate approximately 24,000 worshippers at one time. Non-Muslim visitors or tourists are only allowed to enter the mosque with proper attire at certain specific time (Please refer to Tourist Information centre).

Al-Kalam.