Mosques of Penang
4 mosques from 1801 to today: history, visitor rules and location
Penang Mosque Directory
Penang has well over a hundred mosques and surau on the island and the mainland. This directory covers the mosques visitors ask about most. For each one we give its location, its history, and the visitor hours and facilities that a source confirms. Where a detail is not confirmed, we say so: ask at the mosque.
Historic Mosques
Founded before 1950, in the George Town heritage zone
Masjid Kapitan Keling
Est. 1801George Town's best-known mosque, founded in 1801 for the South Indian Muslim community. It is administered by the Penang Islamic Council and stands inside the George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Historical Background
In 1801 Sir George Leith appointed Cauder Mohuddeen Merican as Kapitan (headman) of the South Indian Muslim community and granted land for a mosque. A renovation in 1930 gave the building its present appearance and doubled the height of the central prayer hall. Inside are white marble floors and horseshoe arches.
Tip: Non-Muslims cannot enter the central prayer hall. Staff at the entrance show visitors the route to follow. Entry is free and donations are welcome.
Masjid Melayu Lebuh Aceh (Acheen Street Mosque)
Est. 1808One of Penang's oldest mosques, built on land given by Tengku Syed Hussain Al-Aidid, an Acehnese aristocrat and merchant. Its Arab-style minaret has an Acehnese roof.
Historical Background
Tengku Syed Hussain Al-Aidid built a Muslim settlement around the mosque, with houses, shops and a madrasah for Quranic studies. He and members of his family are buried in the cemetery next to the mosque. Wikipedia dates the mosque to 1808; some guides give 1801.
Tip: The founder's tomb, under a simple shelter, is in the compound next to the mosque.
Modern Mosques
Built after 1950, outside the old town
Masjid Negeri Pulau Pinang (Penang State Mosque)
Penang's state mosque and its largest, on a 4.6-hectare site. The design mixes Western Modernist and Malay elements.
Tip: The main entrance is a driveway off Jalan Air Itam. Rapid Penang buses 201, 202, 203, 204, 306 and 502 pass the mosque.
Masjid Terapung Tanjung Bungah (Floating Mosque)
A mosque built on stilts over the sea at Tanjung Bungah, on the road from George Town to Batu Ferringhi. At high tide it looks as if it is floating. Its design blends Middle Eastern and local styles.
Mosque Architectural Styles
Penang's diverse Islamic communities brought different architectural traditions from their homelands, resulting in an unusually varied collection of mosque styles.
Mughal and Moorish
Domes, pointed and horseshoe arches and minarets from the Islamic architecture of India. Masjid Kapitan Keling has white marble floors and horseshoe arches inside.
Modernist
The State Mosque, opened in 1980, mixes Western Modernist and Malay elements.
Mixed traditions
Blends of styles: the Acheen Street Mosque pairs an Arab-style minaret with an Acehnese roof, and the Floating Mosque blends Middle Eastern and local styles.
Mosque Visiting Etiquette
Some Penang mosques open to non-Muslim visitors outside prayer times. Follow these guidelines.
Remove your shoes
Shoes must be removed at the mosque entrance. A shoe rack is provided. You may carry your shoes inside in a bag.
Dress modestly
Arms, legs, and (for women) hair must be covered. Some mosques, such as Masjid Kapitan Keling, lend robes and head coverings free at the entrance.
Avoid prayer times
Do not enter during the five daily prayer times, which change each day (check JAKIM's e-Solat, zone PNG01). Mosques close to visitors for Friday midday prayer.
Speak quietly
The mosque is a place of worship. Keep voices low. Switch mobile phones to silent mode.
Ask before photographing
Ask permission before photographing interiors or worshippers. Do not photograph anyone in prayer. Exterior photography is generally welcome.
Do not enter prayer halls without permission
Some mosques designate specific areas for non-Muslim visitors. Respect these boundaries and ask staff if you wish to see the prayer hall.
Friday Prayer Guide for Visitors
For Muslim Visitors
- Friday prayer starts at Zohor time, a little after 1pm in Penang; check e-Solat (zone PNG01) for the day
- The first azan (call) is for the sermon (khutbah); the second is for prayer
- Arrive early at busy mosques to find parking
- Ask the mosque about its women's prayer area; we have not confirmed one for every mosque listed here
For Non-Muslim Visitors
- Plan around Friday midday prayer: Masjid Kapitan Keling opens to non-Muslims only from 2pm on Fridays
- Many Muslim-owned shops and restaurants close temporarily during Friday prayer
- Observing the congregation arriving and leaving is a cultural experience
- Do not walk through mosque grounds during prayer time
- The Little India area quietens significantly during Friday prayer
Mosque Visiting FAQs
Can non-Muslims visit mosques in Penang?
Some mosques welcome visitors outside prayer times. Masjid Kapitan Keling lets non-Muslims in daily 11am-1pm, 2pm-4:30pm and 5pm-6pm (Fridays 2pm-6pm only) and lends robes free at the entrance, but its central prayer hall is closed to non-Muslims. The State Mosque's prayer halls are not open to non-Muslim visitors. Elsewhere, visit outside prayer times and ask at the mosque first.
What should I wear to visit a mosque in Penang?
Cover your arms and legs. Women also cover their hair. Take your shoes off before you enter. Masjid Kapitan Keling lends robes and head coverings free at the entrance; at other mosques, bring your own.
What time is Friday prayer in Penang mosques?
Friday prayer (Solat Jumaat) starts at Zohor time, which in Penang is a little after 1pm and moves through the year. JAKIM's e-Solat website and app give the exact time for zone PNG01 (Penang). Non-Muslims should not visit during the prayer, and some Muslim-run shops and restaurants close for it.
Which is the oldest mosque in Penang?
Masjid Kapitan Keling was founded in 1801; its present appearance dates from a 1930 renovation. The Acheen Street Mosque (Masjid Melayu Lebuh Aceh) is dated 1808 by Wikipedia, while some guides give 1801. Both are in the George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Is photography allowed inside Penang mosques?
At Masjid Kapitan Keling, photography is generally allowed in the visitor areas. Everywhere, ask before you photograph worshippers or a prayer hall, and do not take photos during prayers.
How do I know when prayer times are in Penang?
Use JAKIM's e-Solat website or app (zone PNG01 for Penang). Prayer times change a little every day; in October, for example, Zohor is just after 1pm and Maghrib just after 7pm. You will also hear the azan from mosques five times a day.