Perlis State Mosque, Islamic place of worship in Arau, Malaysia
The Perlis State Mosque in Arau is a modern building with Moorish Revival influence, its floor of marble covered with carpet. It holds 7,000 worshippers, with the upper floor set aside as the women's prayer hall. It stands on the site of the Old Arau Mosque.
This mosque was built in 1972, replacing the original Masjid Lama Arau that dated back to the late 1800s. The new building represented a shift toward a larger facility as the needs of the local community grew over time.
The mosque serves as a gathering place where the local Muslim community comes together for prayer and religious celebrations. It holds an important role in the rhythm of daily life for many people in Arau.
Visitors should know that the mosque is most active during the five daily prayer times, and these should be respected by those entering the space. It helps to check visiting hours in advance, as these can shift based on the religious calendar and seasonal changes.
The wooden minbar in the Perlis State Mosque was made in Penang by Haji Abdullah Buyung and finished in 1905 (1322 H). It was carried to Perlis by boat along the Sungai Tebing Tinggi to Kangar, then brought to Arau by horse-drawn carriage, and it is still used for sermons today.
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