Tranquerah Mosque, Historic mosque in Malacca, Malaysia

Tranquerah Mosque stands in Tengkera, Malacca, on a square base topped by a triple-tiered pyramidal roof. Its original structure was built entirely of timber bought from Kalimantan, and it has since undergone several renovations and restorations. In place of a minaret it has a pagoda, and its interior mixes Malay, Chinese and Indonesian elements.

The mosque was constructed in 1728 and served as the state mosque of Malacca for over two centuries. It held this important position until 1990, when the Al Azim Mosque assumed the role.

The name Tengkera comes from the Portuguese word tranquerah, meaning a defensive rampart. The interior mixes Malay, Chinese and Indonesian elements, and the mosque keeps Javanese cultural components, including a triple-tiered pyramidal roof over a square base. Sultan Hussein Muazzam Shah of Johor, who recognised the 1819 treaty ceding Singapore to Stamford Raffles, died on 5 September 1835 and lies buried in the mosque grounds.

The site is easily reached on foot and accessible to visitors who approach respectfully. It is best to avoid visiting during prayer times, particularly Friday prayers, when the space is actively in use for worship.

Tengkera takes its name from the Portuguese word tranquerah, meaning a defensive rampart, a trace of Malacca's colonial past. The mosque also holds the tomb of Sultan Hussein Muazzam Shah of Johor, who died in Malacca on 5 September 1835 after leaving Singapore.