facts on Masjid Omar 'Ali Saifuddien

I went to the Brunei Museum and Royal Regalia Building with the intention of KNK. It's a shame that I just visited the Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Mosque exhibition, where it was launched way back in October last year. I didn't come home empty-handed, I had gained some new knowledge :-)

the mosque in 1958

the programme book on Opening ceremony of the mosque

detailed run-down

souvenirs on Opening Ceremony (note the flag)

sketch of the mosque

Royal inspection during the construction

Quick facts on Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Mosque:

• designed by Cavalieri R. Nolli, an Italian
• based on early sketch prepared by the late Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saifuddien & assisted by late Awang Besar Sagap, a PWD draughtsman
• work started on building the mosque on Monday, 1 Jamadilakhir 1373 corresponding to 4th February 1954
• sited on a 5 acre land
• 225 feet in length and 86 feet in width
• capacity of about 3,000 jemaah
• the minaret is 166 feet in height
• officially opened by Sultan Omar 'Ali Saifuddien on Friday, 13 Rabiulawal 1378 corresponding to 26th September 1958

- artificial barge (157 feet long & 31 feet wide) located in the lagoon was completed in 1967

- the barge is a replica of a 16th century Sultan Bolkiah mahligai barge, was used to stage Al-Quran reading competitions

- the barge was built to commemorate the 1,400th anniversary of Nuzul Al-Quran in 18 December 1967

mosque appeared on Brunei currency note

References:

• Masjid Omar Ali Saifuddin Negara Brunei Darussalam, Pusat Da'awah Islamiah, Kementerian Hal Ehwal Ugama, Negara Brunei Darussalam, 1992

• Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, Rozan Yunos (Golden Legacy), available online: www.bruneiresources.com/goldenlegacy/tgl_masjid_soas.html

• "Peraliran Di Dalam Rekabentuk Masjid Di Negara Brunei Darussalam", Pengiran Adnan bin Pengiran Badarudin, available online: www.bruneiresources.com/pdf/masjid_pgadnan_rekabentuk1.pdf

• Pusaka - Berita Penyelidikan dan Kegiatan Pusat Sejarah Brunei, Bil. 16, 2008, pp42-43.