Zahir Mosque (Masjid Zahir), or Royal Kedah Mosque, is Kedah State Mosque in central Alor Setar, Kedah. Built in 1912 by late Sultan Muhammad Jiwa Zainal Abidin II, completed three years later, Zahir Mosque architecture was inspired by Indo-Saracenic Azizi Mosque in North Sumatra.
Zahir Mosque has that distinctive charcoal black dome, one in the center surrounded by four other smaller mosque dome, reflecting the total five pillars of Islam: Faith, Prayer, Charity, Fasting & Pilgrimage. This Zahir Mosque pretty much has its own long history, eg: built on parcel of land formerly used as the graveyard for the fallen Kedahan warriors defending the old Kedah against 1821 Siamese invasion.
Every year, Zahir Mosque was used as the hosting venue for the state of Kedah Quran reading competition. Till these day, google about top 10 beautiful mosque in the wold, and you'll find Zahir Mosques boasting with 260 pillars (support column) listed among them.
Photo credit: Astro Awani.
Zahir Mosque has that distinctive charcoal black dome, one in the center surrounded by four other smaller mosque dome, reflecting the total five pillars of Islam: Faith, Prayer, Charity, Fasting & Pilgrimage. This Zahir Mosque pretty much has its own long history, eg: built on parcel of land formerly used as the graveyard for the fallen Kedahan warriors defending the old Kedah against 1821 Siamese invasion.
Every year, Zahir Mosque was used as the hosting venue for the state of Kedah Quran reading competition. Till these day, google about top 10 beautiful mosque in the wold, and you'll find Zahir Mosques boasting with 260 pillars (support column) listed among them.
Photo credit: Astro Awani.
