Kowloon Masjid and Islamic Centre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kowloon Masjid and Islamic Centre |
|
|---|---|
|
九龍清真寺暨伊斯蘭中心
مسجد كاولون والمركز الإسلامي |
|
A view of the Kowloon Mosque from above (from the east)
|
|
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Sunni Islam |
| Location | |
| Location | No. 105, Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong |
| Municipality | Kowloon |
 Location in Hong Kong
|
|
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | I. M. Kadri |
| Architectural type | mosque |
| Architectural style | Islamic |
| Completed | 1896 (original building) 11 May 1984 (current building) |
| Construction cost | HK$ 25 million |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 3,500 people |
| Dome(s) | 1 |
| Dome height (outer) | 9 meters |
| Dome dia. (outer) | 5 meters |
| Minaret(s) | 4 |
| Minaret height | 11 meters |
| Website | |
| [1] | |
| Kowloon Masjid and Islamic Centre | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional Chinese | 九龍清真寺暨伊斯蘭中心 | ||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 九龙清真寺暨伊斯兰中心 | ||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
The Kowloon Masjid and Islamic Centre, also known as the Kowloon Mosque, is one of the most important mosques in Hong Kong. It is the largest mosque in the city. You can find it in Tsim Sha Tsui, a busy area in Kowloon. It sits right next to Kowloon Park.
This mosque is a special place for Muslims in Hong Kong. It holds five prayer times every day. It can welcome up to 3,500 people at once.
History of the Kowloon Mosque
The first Kowloon Mosque was built a long time ago, in 1896. It was made for the Indian Muslim soldiers. These soldiers were part of the British Army and stayed nearby.
Later, in the 1970s, the mosque building had problems. This was because of construction for the Mass Transit Railway underground. So, a new mosque was needed. Money for the new building came from the MTR company and local Muslims. The new and current mosque opened on May 11, 1984. It stands at 105 Nathan Road.
Today, the mosque is a key place for Muslims from South Asia and Indonesia. Many of these families live in Tsim Sha Tsui. This makes the mosque an important cultural spot for non-Chinese Muslims in Hong Kong. You can also find shops selling South Asian goods near the mosque. These shops are in Chungking Mansions, just across the road.
The Mosque Building and Its Design
The Kowloon Mosque was designed by an architect named I.M. Kadri. Its traditional Muslim style stands out among the modern buildings around it. The mosque is decorated with beautiful details.
A main feature of the building is its four tall minarets. These towers are 11 meters high. They stand at each corner of the upper part of the mosque. The building also uses a lot of white marble. You can see it on the floors and the outside walls.
Inside, there are three prayer halls and a community hall. There is also a medical clinic and a library. The main prayer hall on the first floor can hold 1,000 people. A smaller prayer hall for women is on the top floor. It has a terrace around it. Above this upper hall is a large dome. The dome is 5 meters wide and 9 meters tall.
-
The mosque prayer hall.
-
Outside view of mosque at night time
-
Main mosque entrance, 2005
-
Open Day banner in February 2011
Leaders and Community Role
The chief imam of Hong Kong is Mufti Muhammad Arshad. He has been the imam and khateeb (the person who gives sermons) at this mosque since 2001. He is also the Chief Imam for all Muslims in Hong Kong. He teaches Arabic and gives Friday sermons in Urdu, English, and Arabic. He also helps with religious advice and Quranic studies. He has been recognized as one of the world's most influential Muslim leaders.
Another important Islamic scholar, Maulana Qari Muhammad Tayaib Qasmi, lived in Hong Kong since 1989. He was the chief imam of the Kowloon Mosque until 2001. He invited many famous Islamic scholars to Hong Kong. The mosque is very important to the Islamic community in Hong Kong.
Getting to the Mosque
The Kowloon Mosque is easy to reach by public transport. It is very close to Tsim Sha Tsui station (exit A1) of the MTR. You can get there using the Tsuen Wan line or the Tuen Ma line.
There is also a big bus stop right outside the mosque. Buses from this stop go to many places in Kowloon, the New Territories, and even Hong Kong International Airport. The stop is usually announced as "Kowloon Mosque" or "Kowloon Park."
Water Cannon Incident
.jpg)
On October 20, 2019, during some protests, a police water cannon vehicle sprayed blue dye near the Islamic Centre. The blue liquid caused discomfort to several people nearby. These included community members and journalists. They received medical attention.
Soon after, people rushed to help clean up the blue dye. The police later said it was a "mistake" and sent officers to help clean.
The next day, Chief Executive Carrie Lam visited the mosque. She met with community leaders and apologized for the incident on behalf of the government. Police representatives also came to explain what happened to the media. During this visit, a senior police officer entered the Islamic Centre without wearing a hijab. This caused some discussion as it did not follow the mosque's rules for entry.
Reactions to the Incident
Several groups and individuals spoke out about the incident. They expressed concern about the police action. Some felt it was disrespectful to Islam.
-
Police staff cleaning the mosque stairs not long after the incident
-
Carrie Lam (fourth from left) seen with mosque representatives leaving the premises the next day
See also
- Islam in Hong Kong
- Islamic architecture
- List of mosques in Hong Kong
- Tsim Sha Tsui
