My Malaysian Affair - Chapter 5

'Blue Mosque' of Selangor Truly Magnificent

Just outside of KL, in the state of Selangor, lies the world famous pewter factory, Royal Selangor. Mining of tin was important to Malaysia’s early economy, and today, tin is still mined in some parts of Malaysia, though the resource is becoming limited. Pewter is a metal alloy consisting of 97% tin, with 2% antinomy and 1% copper. The factory tour is impressive, and the showroom displays many beautiful products, from mugs and plates, to the wonderful "Al-Bilali" athan clock. This clock has a computer microchip which calculates the prayer times for you, wherever you are in the world, and automatically makes the call of athan, even playing a different athan for Salat al-Subh.

Selangor Darul Ehsan is also home to the exceptional "Blue Mosque". This masjid in Shah Alam is also the state masjid of Selangor. A friend drove me out to this masjid, and our conversation was interrupted abruptly as the car came over a hill and the impressive sight of this huge masjid appeared. My heart fluttered and I was lost for words as I just stared at this beautiful and massive masjid. The sight of this masjid is one of the most beautiful in the world. Towering over 150 meters, the four minarets are the tallest in the world. And the dome at over 100 meters, is the largest religious dome ever built in the world to date. The masjid is built on a small hill, adding to its impressive height and size. As the car approached, my eyes remained fixed on this beautiful masjid, which accommodates up to 24,000 people for salat.

Inside the masjid was just as beautiful; the carpet, lighting, ventilation system, and word carvings were amazing. The inside of the dome was truly breathtaking, and I spent ten minutes lying on the floor and looking up at this beautiful sight. The intricate designs and beautiful calligraphy make this masjid one of the most magnificent that I have ever seen.

The novelty of this masjid is the wudu room, where the taps are operated on electronic sensors. Water flows automatically when both hands are brought near the sensor’s eyes and stops instantly upon withdrawal, thus eliminating unnecessary wastage of water. Perhaps it is this innovative aspect of the masjid that many will remember the most.

It was with great joy that I left KL (amidst yet another traffic jam), having had my wallet, and my enthusiasm for Malaysia stolen on my last night. I made my way through to Batu Pahat for a brief but pleasant stop, before continuing down to JB, where my journey had begun. I was about to leave Malaysia and head for Hong Kong, but would be returning later on, for Eid Ul-Fitr.

Photos - please click thumbnails to see full sized image

Clockwise, from top left:

• Masjid Shah Alam, the beautiful masjid dominating the skyline in many parts of Selangor Darul Ehsan. Nicknamed the "Blue Mosque"
• View from inside Masjid Shah Alam. The intricate detail and architecture is awe inspiring
• Brother Ahmad working on a batik cloth in Selangor
• Woman working with pewter at Royal Selangor Pewter Factory

(Click images to view in full size)

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