By Robert Schrader
Weird and Amazing Travel Expert, about.com
In a number of senses, it's accurate to say that most people in the world have the wrong idea about Islam. From the assumption among some presidential candidates that they should be banned from entering the United States,
to the ignorance among non-Muslims RE: the age-old Shia-Sunni feud,
misunderstandings about Islam account for at least as many problems as
Islam itself.
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Another common mistake people make when it comes to
Islam is thinking all Muslims live in the Middle East—in fact, a near
majority don't. To the northern parts of India (which is home to the
world's largest population of Muslims), to Asian Muslim-majority
countries like Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia, Muslims are very far from
being limited to the bazaars of Baghdad, the camel traders of Cairo or
the spice markets of Sana'a.
Neither Muslims nor Islamic
architecture, at least not Islamic modern architecture. In fact, one of
the great wonders of the contemporary Islamic world is located more than
4,000 miles away from Mecca.
History of the Crystal Mosque
Known as "Masjid Kristal" in Bahasa Malaysia, the Crystal Mosque opened in 2008 after two years of construction. The mosque is located in Kuala Terannganu,
a city on the east coast of peninsular Malaysia, located very near the
Islamic Heritage Park that opened during the same year. Although the
mosque borrows many design elements from tradition (more on those in a
second), its importance is more to the city of Kuala Teranggunu than to
Islam itself.
Like many cities and towns in Malaysia in the not so
recent past, Kuala Terangganu was a sleepy fishing village. Then,
someone discovered oil nearby and the rest, as they say, is history. The
Crystal Mosque, glitzy, glamorous and modern but with some nods at
tradition, perfectly embodies the trajectory of the city around it: A
nearly overnight Cinderella story.
Crystal Mosque: Architectural Specifications
Although
there is some actual crystal present within the structure of the
Crystal Mosque, much of the clear material you see as you approach it
is glass. In order to get the full effect of the mosque's crystalline
appearance, it's best to visit at nighttime, when it's lit up and almost
looks surreal.
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Aside from this, the Crystal Mosque is reinforced
with steel, which in combination with the glass and crystal gives it a
sleek-modern look you don't usually associate with mosques, let alone
with the Islamic religion. Although the Crystal Mosque is a far cry from
some of the older, grander mosques you find across the Islamic world,
the sheer uniqueness of its construction makes it worth the visit.
The
Crystal Mosque can accommodate up to 1,500 people at once, although
many more might be outside it at a given time—if that given time happens
to Ramadan, which I'll talk more about in the next section. The mosque
boasts four minarets, which are the most traditional design features it
has.
How to Visit the Crystal Mosque
Kuala Terannganu is
accessible via bus and car, but the fastest and easiest way to reach it
by taking a flight via Kuala Lumpur, either on AirAsia or Malaysia
Airlines. The Crystal Mosque is the most ubiquitous in Kuala Terannganu,
by a long shot, so once you arrive in the city center, it's a quick and
easy taxi ride (or, depending upon where you stay, how much time you
have and what the weather's doing, walk) away.
One of the best
times to visit the Crystal Mosque (and one of the most fascinating times
to visit Malaysia, or any Muslim country for that matter) is during the
Holy Month of Ramadan, during which huge crowds of faithful create not
only a special, palpable energy, but also amazing photo opportunities.
