Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque

Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque
Masjid Omar Ali Saifuddien
The mosque in 2007
Religion
AffiliationIslam
Branch/traditionSunni
OwnershipGovernment of Brunei
Governing bodyDepartment of Mosque Affairs[a]
Location
LocationPusat Bandar, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
Geographic coordinates4°53′22″N 114°56′21″E / 4.8894°N 114.9392°E / 4.8894; 114.9392
Architecture
Architect(s)Rudolfo Nolli
Booty Edwards & Partners
Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III
Typemosque
StyleEclectic-Mughal architecture
FounderSultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III
Groundbreaking4 February 1954
Completed26 September 1958
Construction costUS$5 million[2]
Specifications
Capacity3,000
Length225 feet (69 m)
Width86 feet (26 m)
Height (max)52 metres (171 ft)
Minaret(s)5
Minaret height166 foot (51 m)
Site area5 acres (2.0 ha)
[3][4]

The Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque (Malay: Masjid Omar Ali Saifuddien) or unofficially Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque (SOAS Mosque),[5] is a mosque in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei. Omar Ali Saifuddien III, the 28th Sultan of Brunei, is credited with building the mosque, thus its name.[6] It is one of the two state mosques (masjid negara), the other Jame' Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque.[7] One of the biggest and most striking mosques in the Far East, it was completed in 1958 at a cost of $5 million USD.[2] The Mughal architecture of India had a significant effect on the design.[6]

The mosque is recognisable by its gold dome that dominates the city's skyline. It is situated in the middle of a man-made lagoon with a ceremonial stone barge. The inside is decorated with rugs from Saudi Arabia and walls made of Italian marble. The mosque is a popular tourist destination due to its façade, but its main purpose is to be a place of worship.[8] It has since become the most photographed icon in the country.[9]

  1. ^ Information Department 2009, p. 4.
  2. ^ a b Fahlbusch, Erwin; Bromiley, Geoffrey William (1999). The Encyclopedia of Christianity. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. p. 303. ISBN 978-0-8028-2413-4.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Pelita Oct 1958 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Fish Sep 1958 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Masjid Omar Ali Saifuddien". Universiti Brunei Darussalam. Archived from the original on 22 September 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque". Southeast Asia Travel. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  7. ^ Lopes & Mohd Hasnan 2021, p. 12.
  8. ^ Mikoley, Kate (15 December 2021). Brunei. Cavendish Square Publishing, LLC. p. 81. ISBN 978-1-5026-6306-1.
  9. ^ Hor, Sandip (15 February 2024). "Travel: Discover Brunei through these must-visit places". Khaleej Times (Dubai, United Arab Emirates). Retrieved 15 May 2024.


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