My Islamic Experiences in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

⋙ Even though I took an Islam class in college, I had had extremely limited experience with Islam and only know a small handful of Muslims. While I was in a country where the majority of its citizens are Muslim, I knew that I wanted to take this opportunity to learn as much as I could. I had two distinct and beautiful Islamic experiences here and it left me eager to learn more, as usual.

⋙ ISLAMIC ARTS MUSEUM MALAYSIA was one of the top spots in my guide book, so I knew before we even arrived that this was a priority. For 15 ringgit (less than $3.50) admission we got hours of educational entertainment. On display is historical memorabilia, intricate weapons, photography exhibitions, models of mosques around the world and so much more. It was a really great experience and filled almost four hours of our day.

A view of the mosque’s tower from the museum

The architecture of the building is truly stunning

Look at the detail on these arrows; they’re beautiful!

One of the many domes on the inside

Lots and lots of jewelry, costumes & headdresses

Just a handful of the multitude of qur’ans on display. 

The National Mosque of Malaysia

Islamic tiles

Some of the models of mosques from around the world

⋙ THE NATIONAL MOSQUE OF MALAYSIA was the first mosque that I had ever visited. I was excited to observe this religion and learn more. I feel that many American’s have a negative view of Islam and a lot of that comes from a lack of knowledge. I have had nothing but positive experiences with the Muslim people I have met, and I really enjoyed visiting the national mosque. It’s free to visit, and they even provide you with a small bottle of water. However, be sure to plan your visit as it’s closed for the calls to prayer and service hours.

Modesty is obviously very important so I was given this head-scarf to wear and since Stacey had shorts on she got to wear the lovely purple robe. (See three photos down.)

This mosque was much less ornate than I was expecting, which gave it a more elegant simplistic look. I loved all of the stained glass.

This woman is a volunteer at the mosque and she approached me, asking if I had any questions. We discussed some of the practices of Islam like ablutions and the call to prayer. She was a delight to talk to and was truly passionate about educated others about Islam. 

These are two of the ablutions stations. The men’s (upper right) is more out in the open, but the other two are from the women’s ablutions areas.

I think being open-minded is crucial for travel, so when you’re in new places and get the chance to experience parts of a new culture, let yourself get the most out of your time away. It’s as Mark Twain said, “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness.” So dive into a culture and make the most of all of your travels.

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