BATU GAJAH: The Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah wants mosques to become centres for knowledge, culture and community development.
He said mosques should nurture the mind, build character and create a great Muslim civilisation just like during the time of Prophet Muhammad.
"On arrival in Madinah during Hijrah, Prophet Muhammad built a mosque to spread the message of Islam," he said when opening Toh Puan Besar Hatijah mosque, here today.
Built in the 1930s, the wooden mosque was built on a site donated (wakaf) by the Sultan Nazrin's grandmother, Toh Puan Besar Hatijah.
Sultan Nazrin said at the end of 2006, his late father Sultan Azlan Shah ordered that the mosque be rebuilt.
Work began on October 9, 2008 with the late sultan's direct monitoring. It was the last construction project personally monitored by Sultan Azlan Shah.
"No matter where he was and how much success he achieved, he always found time to return to Batu Gajah. This mosque is his gift to Batu Gajah people."
Sultan Nazrin said Sultan Azlan consented to the name Masjid Toh Puan Besar Hatijah which represents a son's appreciation for a mother.
He then broke fast with the people before performing the Maghrib, Isyak and Tarawih prayers as wanted by Sultan Azlan Shah.
Earlier, Sultan Nazrin Shah and his sisters, Raja Datuk Seri Azureen and Raja Datuk Seri Eleena visited the tomb of Toh Puan Besar Hatijah at Segedup Muslim Cemetery.--BERNAMA