The state mosque
Opened in 1977, it holds five thousand.
CEphoto, Uwe Aranas — CC BY-SA 3.0 · CEphoto, Uwe Aranas — CC BY-SA 3.0 · CEphoto, Uwe Aranas — CC BY-SA 3.0
The official mosque of the state of Sabah and one of modern Kota Kinabalu's landmarks, standing at the Sembulan roundabout on the main road between the city centre and the airport. Work began in 1970 and finished in 1975, it was officially opened in 1977, and its design was led by the architect Baharuddin Abu Kassim, one of the designers of the National Mosque in Kuala Lumpur. It holds about five thousand worshippers, with a women's gallery for five hundred. The architecture is 1970s modern, clean geometric lines carrying an Islamic spirit, and its great dome can be seen from afar. It is less famous with tourists than the Floating Mosque, but it is a living mosque of prayers and lessons, and gives an honest picture of Muslim life in Sabah. Non-Muslims visit outside prayer times: from eight to twelve and from two to five, and on Fridays in the afternoon only. No official entry fee is published; robes and headscarves are available at the entrance, men need long trousers and women must cover arms, legs and hair. It is about two and a half kilometres from the city centre, a few steps from the Sabah Museum and the Islamic Civilisation Museum, so the three make a comfortable half day out of the midday heat.
Opened in 1977, it holds five thousand.
Modern geometric lines with an Islamic spirit.
Prayers, lessons and a true picture of Muslim life.
Sembulan roundabout, on the road between the city centre and the airport
The Floating Mosque is prettier and better known; the State Mosque is closer to the centre and quieter. Short on time, choose the Floating Mosque at sunset; visiting the Sabah Museum, the State Mosque is a few steps away.
