KANGAR – At first glance, Masjid Alwi may not stand out among other mosques, yet it holds a myriad of colourful stories throughout its near-century-long history.
Hazman Hassan, deputy Yang di-Pertua of the Perlis Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (MAIPs), said the 92-year-old mosque located in the Perlis capital was primarily built with the locals’ effort and funds, amounting to a whopping RM64,684 – a significant sum back in 1932.
“Imagine that, at that time, there were no major discrepancies, no integrity misconducts, nor bribery. The funds given (by the people) were the cleanest money at that time. This is a spiritual experience,” he said, adding that praying in the mosque could hold “different feelings”.
Hazman said that maintaining the mosque – now a certified heritage site – required substantial funds, but all was made possible through donation boxes as well as assistance from MAIPs and the state government.
No major or arbitrary changes have been made to the mosque, he added, which is in line with the National Heritage Act 2005.
Besides owning a fancy new status, here are some of Masjid Alwi’s most spellbinding stories:
Vive la résistance
Hazman said the mosque’s construction, the pride of the people of Perlis, was a form of resistance against the British colonisers at that time.
He noted that Masjid Alwi was the largest stone mosque constructed solely by the people in the state’s history.
“(Malayan) Muslims would lose the war (against the colonisers) with our swords, as we cannot compete with their technological advancements,” he said.
“A step for us to rise again was to gain knowledge and return to our religious teachings, one way is with the mosque’s construction.
“There were no government agencies at this time (to build the mosque), and the British’s assistance (if any) was minimal, indicating that we objected to them.”
Nonetheless, the mosque’s grills at its side entrance, which used to be the main building, were custom-made in England.
Hazman also said that in the past, people used a mixture of sand, rocks and natural adhesives – such as honey, sugarcane sap and egg whites – as an alternative to cement.
Perlis’ Eleven
An antique minbar (pulpit for sermons) of Masjid Alwi from 1932 was mysteriously “transported” to Thailand.
It was initially transferred to another nearby mosque by MAIPs and used for years before the mosque decided to switch to a newer minbar.
“When the antique minbar was taken out to a motorcycle parking area, it vanished. People discovered that it was inside a mosque in Satun, Thailand. It was taken without MAIPs’ consent,” Hazman said.
He added that there were ongoing attempts to return the minbar to Perlis.
Hotbed of sin, begone!
Hazman shared that the location where Masjid Alwi was built used to be a spot for a specific type of vice – illegal bullfighting.
In addition to animal cruelty and gambling, Hazman said people at that time dabbled in black magic to either weaken their opponents’ bulls or strengthen their own.
“With the support of parties then, the mosque was constructed to eradicate immorality. There is determination for a new start and hope that we leave the practice for the state’s advancement,” he said.
‘Other Malaysia’
Another intriguing fact about Masjid Alwi – and other mosques in Perlis – is that locals have a more cosmopolitan approach to reciting their prayers.
Hazman noted that locals tended to bypass their doa qunut (morning) during their Subuh prayers and often had post-prayer doa recitals individually and in silence, unlike other states that carried out communal recitals.
“Our practices are more similar to those of Mecca, Medina and other Islamic nations. This is one of the unique experiences one can get in this mosque and others in Perlis,” Hazman claimed.
“To understand how this happens, more research must be conducted. But sometimes, what the other 13 states say is a majority does not necessarily mean so on a global scale.” – June 17, 2024