Sultan Sulaiman Mosque

Sultan Sulaiman Royal Mosque Masjid Diraja Sultan Sulaiman مسجد دراج سلطان سليمان
Basic information
Location	Selangor, Malaysia
Affiliation	Shafi'i
Architectural style	Western Art Deco Neoclassical English architecture Moorish
Minaret(s)	1

Sultan Sulaiman Mosque (Malay: Masjid Diraja Sultan Sulaiman) is Selangor's royal mosque, which is located in Klang, Selangor, Malaysia. It was constructed by the British in the early 1932 and was officially opened in 1934 by the late Almarhum Sultan Sir Alaeddin Sulaiman Shah and the British's Federated Malay States High Commissioner, Sir Lawrence Nuuns Guillemard.

The mosque's architecture is a combination of Western Art Deco and Neoclassical cathedral styles. It was designed by the British architect Leofric Kesteven (1882-1974). Design credits go to the architect, Leofric Kesteven (Chairman of the Malayan Institute of Architects from 1931 to 1933); John Thomas Chester, the reinforced concrete specialist attached to United Engineers Ltd; and Rodolfo Nolli, the Singapore based Italian sculptor who worked on the ornaments of the building.

Its interesting features include the Tangga Diraja (royal stairs) from Istana Alam Shah and a royal mausoleum. The late Sultan Salahuddin was buried in the mosque's grounds.

Architecture

The concept design of the Sultan Sulaiman Mosque in Klang is quite different from any of the existing mosque in the state as well as in Malaysia. From the results of reading history books Malaysia, some say Sultan Sulaiman Mosque influence of Islamic architecture blends Moorish, Neoclassical and English architecture. Others say that the mosque's Art Deco concept for minimal decorative elements used here. Use simple geometry in plan mosque also lead to Western Art Deco. There are still elements of classical, especially on the pole, but it is quite minimal. Semicircular shaped dome of the mosque (partially hemisphere) egg yellow (not golden). Large dome of the main prayer space surrounded by several smaller domes.

There are eight small towers around the mosque and a large tower in the middle and higher entrance from the main porch. The tower is also decorated with yellow dome at the summit. Architect who designed the mosque is Leofric Kesteven. The mosque can accommodate about 1,000 pilgrims at a time. The present mosque has been through a number of processes and internal modifications in the 'courtyard' building. Original design is like a cross bar when viewed from above, as is so often used in church plans in Europe. But now form the Sultan Suleiman Mosque already looks like a square customisation of the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS).

The main prayer room Sultan Sulaiman Mosque octagon shaped (octagonal) at the bottom and start to turn into a circular shape at the level of 10 meters. Side of the main dome can be picked up because it has two levels as balconies. Second level can be accessed with 'catladder'. There was a layer of decorative iron frame under the dome used to support the 'glass color' compiled pattern.

Royal Mausoleum

See also

• Islam in Malaysia