Pahang State Mosque, Kuantan

The Pahang State Mosque in Kuantan is the centrepiece of Kuantan town.

Located in the heart of the town beside the post office and opposite Kuantan old town, it is the Islamic centre of worship in Kuantan.

Many years ago I visited the Pahang State Mosque, hoping to be able to go inside. Not only did I mange to go inside, but I had a guide who showed me around, and he allowed me to take pictures too. He didn't speak any English though, so I attempted to ask him questions using my shaky Bahasa Melayu. Overall it was unsuccessful!

The beautiful minarets at the Pahang State Mosque, Kuantan

Entrance to the Pahang State Mosque, Kuantan

My guide took me up one of these minarets, a very tight spiral staircase, but the view from the top was beautiful.

Spectacular view of the marvellous domes of the Pahang State Mosque, Kuantan, as the storm clouds began gathering. This was taken from midway up a minaret.

Being inside the Pahang State Mosque is a beautiful experience. It is quiet and peaceful, but above all, the artwork and design of this lovely edifice is inspiring.

Beautiful stained-glass window

Prayer hall in Pahang State Mosque, Kuantan

I can clearly see seven distinct 'levels' in the structure of the Pahang State Mosque, including the small domes, large dome and minarets. I wonder if this has any symbolic significance to Muslims?

The mosque is a beautiful sight!

And here it is in all its beauty at night! 

Incidentally this image was my favourite of the year 2010. See my top ten favourite pictures of 2010 here

KUANTAN BLOG TOUR: Join me at Taman Gelora next . . .

Ramadan - One-week fasting trial

Ramadan time is here again. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is the month of fasting in the Islamic faith. Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset every day for a month, this year running from 1st-29th August.

Unfortunately, Ramadan for us means a lot of Malay youths wandering the neighbourhood streets at night setting off fireworks and firecrackers until midnight, disturbing us and our children's sleep, and being a general nuisance to all.

However, yesterday as I was shopping, I noticed all the restaurants pretty much empty, as Muslims refrained from food and drink during the daylight hours.

As a Christian I also participate in fasting, though at different times to Muslims. We fast on the first Sunday of every month, for 24 hours, or by skipping two meals. We have the opportunity to donate the money saved on our meals to help the poor and hungry wherever in the world they may be. However one fasts, the reasons remain the same.

There is a distinctly spiritual element to fasting. Jesus fasted for 40 days and nights. The Bible states: "Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loosen the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?"

And from the English translation of the Holy Qur'an: "Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that you may learn self-restraint - Ramadan is the month in which was sent down the Qur'an, as a guide to mankind, also clear Signs for guidance and judgement between right and wrong. So every one of you who is present at his home during that month should spend it in fasting...Allah...wants you to complete the prescribed period, and to glorify Him in that He has guided you; and perchance you shall be grateful."

For more information on Ramadan and fasting from a Muslim perspective, follow these two links:

Wikipedia explains

About.com - Ramadan

So as I was walking home yesterday evening with my shopping and each-a-cup drinks, I decided right then that I would give this  sunrise to sunset fasting a go. I wanted to experience what the Muslims are experiencing this month. I've decided that I will be fasting for one week, beginning Monday 8th August, until Sunday 14th August, 2011. Of course, I'll be blogging about it each day. 

I hope you'll follow me over the course of those 7 days. While fasting I will spend more time trying to establish my relationship with God through prayer and the study of God's words as found in the Holy Scriptures of Christianity and Islam.

So I'll strive to tolerate the noise of firecrackers and all that negative side of the month, and focus on the fast. Let's see how it goes!

Would you be willing to give the one-week fasting trial a try?

Kuil Sri Mariamman hindu temple, Kuantan

There is a hindu temple in Kuantan opposite HTAA hospital. The Kuil Sri Mariamman temple sits on the junction of the highway to Gambang, on the edge of Kuantan main town. One sunny afternoon I decided to stop in for a quick visit, as it's one of the places in Kuantan I hadn't yet been to.

After taking these initial pictures I noticed a couple of pairs of shoes on the rack outside. Someone was there. I removed my sports shoes and placed them neatly on the middle shelf. When I entered through a small gap in the gate, everywhere was silent apart from the faint rippling of bells hanging around the temple, as they moved in the breeze. Birds flew around and lodged into corners of the ceiling. Surrounded by statues of hindu mythological creatures, I felt a little apprehensive about exploring further, but I overcame the feeling. There was no sign of anyone around. You only fear what you don't understand. I realised I'd done lots of research into hinduism, and I was basically standing in one of their holiest of places.

Replacing a trifle of anxiety with peace, I switched on the camera and began looking for interesting images and angles of the Kuil Sri Mariamman temple.

Moving from the main worship area, I began walking around the perimeter of the Kuil Sri Mariamman temple, within the walls. I noticed some accommodation at the rear of the temple affixed to the temple grounds, so I guessed some people would be in there. Soon, an Indian man came out and made his way through the front gate. I remarked to him how beautiful the temple was. Then he was gone.

While I was snapping away, the sun began to emerge slowly from behind a large white cloud. The sun's rays beamed forward in all directions. The following picture became my lasting impression of the Kuil Sri Mariamman temple:

There was no guide, no activity going on at the Kuil Sri Mariamman temple in Kuantan on that day. But for a photographer, our keen eye is the real guide and I managed to pick up some lovely images as I explored the temple.

Being Religiously Clean

I find it ironic that here in Kuantan there is a stunning symbol of cleanliness in the Pahang State Mosque...

...yet people can't even keep the streets clean...

Yesterday we decided to have a clear-out of our home. Unnecessary objects were mercilessly piled up on the rubbish heap outside for disposal. We discovered our previous printer which we'll never use again. Four old, stained and dusty pillows that haven't left the shelf for over two years. An empty aquarium and pet cage hanging around doing nothing but creating clutter. A deflated bouncy castle with dirty patches that we will never blow up again. A pile of Christmas cards which we'll never re-read and which will be replaced with new versions each December. Empty cardboard boxes which once contained shoes.

They all took a dive into the bin!

The list went on and we ended up filling two shopping trolleys worth of rubbish which I carted down to the end of the block where the large bin sits. A Malay man began sifting through the mound of trash, stuffing his selections into a large, white sack.

De-cluttering the house is an annual event in our home, but I wish it would be a daily one. Each day, items enter our homes, whether they are newspapers, brochures, food, drink, gifts, toys, equipment etc. It would be much easier to screen these items or those they are replacing, on the day they arrive, than a year later when they've been stuffed into a dark and forgotten corner of the kitchen cupboard.

There is great inspiration in the Pahang State Mosque, as in all other religious temples and buildings, which display cleanliness, tidiness and order, both inside and out. They can become a model to base our own homes upon. However, judging by the littered streets in Kuantan, the effect of religion seems to play but a secondary role in life here, contrary to the fact that Malaysia is a multi-religious society.

Religion, of whatever kind, teaches cleanliness. Cleanliness of body, soul and mind. The great mosques, churches, temples, halls and synagogues are spotless, to invite a feeling of awe and reverence for God.

How then, can one justifiably claim to be a follower of God, and simultaneously live a life of littering?

Sri Sithi Vinayagar Temple, Kuantan

The Sri Sithi Vinayagar Temple in the heart of Kuantan draws people in for its colours and numberless statues on its roofs. Situated near the fire station a stone's throw from the Darulmakmur Stadium, it is a sight to behold.

Every major religion under the Sun can be found in Malaysia. While we must admit that there are gently simmering hostilities between the religions, it is relatively peaceful and harmonious when compared with other plural society countries. It is not uncommon to find mosques, hindu temples, chinese temples and churches on the same street in Malaysia, and sometimes even lined up beside each other.

My visit to the Sri Sithi Vinayagar Temple was a different experience to my previous visits to the PAHANG STATE MOSQUE AND PAHANG BUDDHIST ASSOCIATION and to the SIKH TEMPLE. The Pahang State Mosque is intricately designed with beautiful symmetrical patterns and graceful Arabic calligraphy adorning the walls. The Pahang Buddhist Association combines a temple containing a huge statue of Buddha with beautiful gardens and a lake. The Sikh temple was stunningly simple in design, with lovely carved wooden doors and glittering chandeliers. However, the one thing all these places had in common was reverent silence.

Here is the Sri Sithi Vinayagar Temple in Kuantan. Here there were bright colours in abundance. I even engaged in a conversation with an Indian woman who was there to clean the temple. We spoke at length about how I came to be in Kuantan and I was able to share with her my appreciation of the lovely temple we were in, my beliefs about God, a living prophet, and other Christian doctrines, which she received with humility. It was easy to share these things with her. Since we were in a hindu temple I related to her about our Christian temples and a little about the work that goes on there. From the Book of Mormon we read of former Christian missionaries: "and we have also entered into their temples and their synagogues and taught them."

These curious little black stone statues were the most intriguing part of my visit to the Sri Sithi Vinayagar Temple. Unfortunately I didn't get the opportunity to ask a few questions I had in mind to the Indian lady there.