SEREMBAN:Seremban’s latest attraction, Masjid Sri Sendayan, has won praises from the public for its elegant and artistic Islamic architecture.
Many visitors have likened it to majestic buildings around the world like the Taj Mahal, Masjid Nabawi and mosques from the Ottoman empire.
For Zailan Yusop, 57, the creative mind behind the mosque’s design and construction, working on the building was like a long love story.
‘It was addictive, but painful at the same time,’ he said, laughing.
He said work on the mosque was not an easy feat, and took years of planning and designing before it could finally be built.
‘The mosque is special, because it is a wakaf (donation) by RHB Group founder Tan Sri Abd Rashid Hussain. A lot of thought had been put into it, not just by my team, but also by Tan Sri (Abd Rashid) himself.
‘He was very particular about the mosque’s design and would carefully inspect and monitor every detail. Every corner of the mosque has his personal touch.’
Zailan said the project faced setbacks.
‘There were so many challenges that at times I felt like giving up.
‘As Tan Sri was also a hands-on man, our ideas and opinions often collided. Sometimes, it was like arguing with your spouse! That’s what makes this project a great love story,’ said Zailan, laughing.
‘But in the end, we managed to sort out our differences to ensure the success of the mosque’s construction.I must say that Tan Sri is a man who’s not only generous, but also down-to-earth.He doesn’t mind rolling up his sleeves for something so dear to him, which, in this case, is the mosque.’
The mosque,the largest in Seremban, has received a steady stream of visitors since it was launched and opened to the public last month.
It can accommodate up to 5,000 people at a time.
Masjid Sri Sendayan is the second mosque donated by Abd Rashid.The first was Masjid Hussain, also known as the White Mosque, in Seremban 2, which was built at a cost of RM22.6 million in 2012.
Zailan said the main attraction of Masjid Sri Sendayan, which cost more than RM100 million, was its architecture and the materials used in its construction. Some materials were flown in from Egypt, Turkey, Dubai and Morocco.
He said most of the mosque’s features were specially ordered, including the wood carvings on the walls of the prayer hall, the gold plating, the engravings and the tiled walls near the pulpit.
‘Thankfully, on the first day of its opening for Friday prayers, more than 5,000 people attended. We were touched to learn that some had come from as far as Putrajaya, Melaka and Selangor.
‘Although it has been more than a month now, the mosque still receives plenty of visitors who want to see its unique features.It’s an overwhelming experience.’
Zailan said the mosque was built on 4.5ha of land and had three prayer halls.
The main prayer hall can accommodate a congregation of 3,000 people, while the second prayer hall and the women’s prayer hall can fit 800 each.
The mosque also has lecture halls, a library, multipurpose halls, mortuary management rooms, administrative buildings, dining halls and six units of houses for staff.
‘This mosque will forever be a constant reminder of how one man’s humbleness and great love for religion can drive him to contribute so much, without seeking acknowledgement and publicity.
‘I hope the public will make full use of the mosque’s facilities and take good care of it, as an appreciation for a gift from a humble individual.’