Sri Sendayan Mosque Named 2026 Global Outstanding Mosque Of The Year

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 24 (Bernama) -- The Sri Sendayan Mosque in Negeri Sembilan was named the 2026 "Global Outstanding Mosque of the Year" at the World Islamic Tourism & Trade Awards (WITA) 2026 ceremony held at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur tonight.

In a statement, WITA said the prestigious award, organised by the Malaysia Tourism Agency Association (MATA) in collaboration with the WITA Organising Committee, was presented to Sri Sendayan Mosque Committee chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Hussain.

The international recognition acknowledges the 5,000-capacity mosque’s excellence in Islamic architecture, community development, religious education and visitor engagement, as well as its contribution to Muslim-friendly tourism.

Abdul Rashid said the mosque’s management had remained committed since its establishment to ensuring that it serves not only as a place of worship but also as a hub for community empowerment.

“Today, about 50 per cent of our activities are religious in nature, while the other 50 per cent focus on the community. We combine worship and religious learning with programmes that build knowledge, skills and closer ties among the people,” he said.

He added that mosque institutions must evolve with changing times to prepare communities for future challenges.

“Learning must evolve alongside the changing world around us. For this reason, we are introducing contemporary skills and knowledge, including an understanding of artificial intelligence (AI).

“Mosques should be places where faith is strengthened, knowledge flourishes, and the community moves forward together,” he said.

Built through a waqf (endowment) initiative by Abdul Rashid and completed in 2019, the mosque draws architectural inspiration from the Abbasid and Mamluk eras.

Its construction incorporated expert craftsmanship and high-quality materials sourced from Italy, Dubai, Portugal, Egypt and India.

-- BERNAMA