Masjid Jamek Al-Hikmah

Have you ever stood at the confluence of two rivers and felt the pulse of a city’s history? Here at Masjid Jamek Al-Hikmah, or Jamek Mosque, that’s exactly what you experience. It’s not just a place of worship, but a living testament to Kuala Lumpur’s rich past. Masjid Jamek, nestled at the meeting point of the Klang and Gombak rivers, is one of the oldest mosques in Kuala Lumpur. Built in 1909 and officially opened on December 23rd of that year, it served as the city’s main mosque until Masjid Negara was constructed in 1965. The mosque was designed by Arthur Benison Hubback. The name “Jamek” itself means “a place where people congregate to worship.” Originally called Jamek Mosque, in 2017, it was renamed Sultan Abdul Samad Jamek Mosque to honor the fourth Sultan of Selangor. Hubback chose an Indo-Saracenic style for Masjid Jamek, echoing the Mughal architecture of India’s Muslim heritage. Its two prominent minarets, striped in pink and white brick and plaster, stand tall. The mosque’s three domes, the largest reaching 70 feet, shelter the prayer hall below. Masjid Jamek has seen its share of history. The site itself was once an old Malay burial ground. The mosque also survived a Japanese air raid in 1941, which unfortunately claimed the lives of three worshippers. Masjid Jamek has been renovated and expanded over the years. The once open-air forecourt is now covered, providing a comfortable space for a larger congregation. In 2017, the mosque was renamed in honor of Sultan Abdul Samad. This renaming marked another chapter in the long history of Masjid Jamek, further cementing its place in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. Today, Masjid Jamek is easily accessible by public transport. The Masjid Jamek LRT station is located right outside the mosque.