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There, we were introduced to Mr. Shah Mohamed, a member of the Masjid Committee. Mr. Shah is a veteran at the Masjid and is fondly referred to as 'Chacha' which means uncle or more accurately 'father's younger brother'.
According to Chacha, the original masjid was in High Street (now Jalan Bandar) near the police station. The current location was offered for the Masjid when the Government acquired the original site for road construction works. The Masjid was completed in 1963, funded by the Pakistani community here.
The main prayer hall on the ground floor. Notice the mihrab (prayer niche) and mimbar (pulpit).
I remember worshiping at the masjid during the early days. In those days, the main prayer hall was on the first floor. The ground floor was without walls and used for feasts and other such activities.
The prayer area on the first floor. The top floors are only opened on Fridays and other occasions like the two Eid's (Hari Raya Puasa and Hari Raya Haji).
The place for ablution on the first floor which is now the storage tank supplying to the many faucets on the ground floor.
The children interviewing Chacha (holding on to the gate standing, next to Fahmi)...
... and posing for a group photo before we head for our next and final stop.
Additional Information for the reader-
As the majority of Muslims in Malaysia belong to the Syafie Madzhab (School of Jurisprudence) most masjids here will also be of the same school. Masjid Pakistan belongs to the Hanafi Madzhab, as does Masjid India.
Both the Syafie and Hanafi schools belong to Sunni Islam together with the Maliki and Hanbali schools, however, the Maliki and Hanbali schools are not very common locally but one can still meet persons belonging to these schools with the increasing number of Middle Eastern and African communities visiting and residing here.
While there are differences in the judicial interpretations of the various schools, it is not so apparent in practice, but Syafies visiting Hanafi Masjids do need to be aware of the following:
- There is no recitation of Doa Kunut during Subuh prayers;
- The time for Asar prayers commences about 40 minutes later then that for Syafies.
Other things to note, which is probably due to the culture in the Indo-Pakistan sub-continent, and not to differences between the schools is:
- The Iqamat is usually 20-30 minutes after the Adzan (except for Maghrib);
- There is no long wirid after the Subuh or Maghrib prayers.
As the majority of Muslims in Malaysia belong to the Syafie Madzhab (School of Jurisprudence) most masjids here will also be of the same school. Masjid Pakistan belongs to the Hanafi Madzhab, as does Masjid India.
Both the Syafie and Hanafi schools belong to Sunni Islam together with the Maliki and Hanbali schools, however, the Maliki and Hanbali schools are not very common locally but one can still meet persons belonging to these schools with the increasing number of Middle Eastern and African communities visiting and residing here.
While there are differences in the judicial interpretations of the various schools, it is not so apparent in practice, but Syafies visiting Hanafi Masjids do need to be aware of the following:
- There is no recitation of Doa Kunut during Subuh prayers;
- The time for Asar prayers commences about 40 minutes later then that for Syafies.
Other things to note, which is probably due to the culture in the Indo-Pakistan sub-continent, and not to differences between the schools is:
- The Iqamat is usually 20-30 minutes after the Adzan (except for Maghrib);
- There is no long wirid after the Subuh or Maghrib prayers.
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