Putrajaya

MUSLIMS working and living in Putrajaya can now perform their prayers at another awe-inspiring landmark, the newly-opened Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin Mosque in Precinct 3.

Named after the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, the mosque is expected to be officially opened in September.

In a symbolic but low-key ceremony on Thursday, the mosque was handed over by Perbadanan Putrajaya (PPj), represented by its president, Tan Sri Samsudin Osman, to Islamic Religious Development Department of Malaysia (Jakim) director-general Datuk Wan Mohamad Sheikh Abd Aziz.

Pedestrian access: A view of the Kiblat Walk heading towards
Perbadanan Putrajaya and the Palace of Justice from the mosque.

The ceremony was held at the mosque’s multi-purpose hall.Samsudin said the RM208mil mosque catered to 20,000 worshippers and was completed on time.

“We were often asked why build another mosque when the Putra Mosque in Precinct 1 is deemed big enough. We estimate the future working population on the Core Island to number 28,000 so the Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin Mosque will cater for this,” he said at a press conference.

Impressive entrance: Internal Iwan is the gateway to
the main prayer hall within the mosque.

According to Wan Mohamad, 565,408 tourists visited the Putra Mosque last year.

“Besides catering to worshippers, the Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin Mosque will also draw tourists. Therefore, I urge the mosque management not to run things military-style by restricting access to Muslims alone.

“This amazing mosque has many features. Yes, there are places where non-Muslims are not allowed but at the same time, we can be more welcoming so as to tell others about the religion and answer any queries they may have,” he added.

Impressive:This is office building area nearly to the mosque

The entire structure built on 4.04ha comprises the mosque (3.32ha) and the soon-to-be opened Kiblat Walk (0.72ha). Funds from the Eighth Malaysia Plan (RM8) were used for the overall construction, undertaken by KLCC Projeks Bhd.

The main prayer hall houses the Mihrab Wall that directs worshippers towards the “kiblat” (the direction of Mecca). The Mihrab Wall is inscribed with Quranic verses in the Nasakh calligraphic-style.

The khat is inscribed onto the back of the anti-reflective glass, giving a sense of verses floating down from the sky. The Sahn is the overflow prayer area outside the main prayer hall and the entrance to this is via a gateway called the Internal Iwan. It features stainless steel grilles, based on Islamic motifs and mirrors traditional Islamic architecture in a contemporary manner.