In several ways, it is accurate to say that most of the people in the world have a wrong idea about Islam. From the assumption among some presidential candidates that they should be barred from entering the United States to ignorance among non-Muslims RE: the ancient Shiite-Sunni dispute, misunderstandings about Islam pose at least as many problems as Islam itself.
Another common mistake people make when it comes to Islam is thinking that all Muslims live in the Middle East; in fact, a close majority do not. In northern parts of India (which is home to the world’s largest Muslim population), Asian Muslim-majority countries such as Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia, Muslims are far from being limited to the bazaars of Baghdad, the Camel traders in Cairo or the spice markets of Sana’a.
Neither Muslim nor Islamic architecture, at least not modern Islamic architecture. In fact, one of the great wonders of the contemporary Islamic world is located more than 4,000 miles from Mecca.
History of the crystal mosque
Known as “Masjid Kristal” in Bahasa Malaysia, the Crystal Mosque opened in 2008 after two years of construction. The mosque is located in Kuala Terannganu, a city on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, located very close to the Islamic Heritage Park that opened during the same year. Although the mosque borrows many design elements from tradition (more on those in a second), its importance is more to the city of Kuala Teranggunu than to Islam itself.
Like many Malaysian cities and towns in the not so recent past, Kuala Terangganu was a sleepy fishing village. So someone discovered oil nearby and the rest, as they say, is history. Dazzling, glamorous and modern but with a few nods to tradition, the Crystal Mosque perfectly embodies the trajectory of the city around it: a Cinderella story almost overnight.
Glass Mosque: Architectural Specifications
Although there are some actual crystals present within the structure of the Crystal Mosque, much of the transparent material that you see when you approach is glass. To get the full effect of the crystal clear appearance of the mosque, it is best to visit it at night, when it is lit up and almost looks surreal.
Apart from this, the Crystal Mosque is reinforced with steel, which in combination with glass and crystal gives it an elegant and modern look that is generally not associated with mosques, much less the Islamic religion. Although the Crystal Mosque is a far cry from some of the largest and oldest mosques found in the entire Islamic world, the uniqueness of its construction makes it worth the visit.
The Crystal Mosque can accommodate up to 1,500 people at a time, although many more could be out of it at any given time, if that time happens to Ramadan, which I will talk more about in the next section. The mosque has four minarets, which are the most traditional design features it has.
How to visit the crystal mosque
Kuala Terannganu is accessible by bus and car, but it is the quickest and easiest way to get there by taking a flight through Kuala Lumpur, either on AirAsia or Malaysia Airlines. The Crystal Mosque is the most ubiquitous in Kuala Terannganu, by far, so once you get to the city center, it’s a quick and easy taxi ride (or depending on where you are staying, how long you have and what weather does doing, walking) away.
One of the best times to visit the Crystal Mosque (and one of the most fascinating times to visit Malaysia, or any Muslim country) is during the Holy Month of Ramadan, during which large crowds of worshipers create not only a special, energy palpable but also amazing photo opportunities. Check online to find out when is Ramadan or the year you are reading this article.
