Are non-Muslims allowed to enter mosques in Malaysia?
up vote
22
down vote
favorite
When I was in Morocco, I was disappointed to find out non-Muslims, in general, aren't permitted in mosques in the country, but I heard this isn't the case in some other countries. I'm headed to Malaysia soon and might want to step inside some mosques when I'm there.
Are non-Muslims permitted to enter mosques in Malaysia?
legal malaysia cultural-awareness islam mosques
edited Aug 2 '17 at 12:55
hippietrail
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asked Aug 1 '17 at 23:26
davidvc
4,69411956
add a comment |
up vote
22
down vote
favorite
When I was in Morocco, I was disappointed to find out non-Muslims, in general, aren't permitted in mosques in the country, but I heard this isn't the case in some other countries. I'm headed to Malaysia soon and might want to step inside some mosques when I'm there.
Are non-Muslims permitted to enter mosques in Malaysia?
legal malaysia cultural-awareness islam mosques
edited Aug 2 '17 at 12:55
hippietrail
45.2k39202520
asked Aug 1 '17 at 23:26
davidvc
4,69411956
I never understand how they know. It seems more like a 'non-whites' rather than 'non-muslims' policy
– Strawberry
Aug 3 '17 at 12:18
add a comment |
up vote
22
down vote
favorite
up vote
22
down vote
favorite
When I was in Morocco, I was disappointed to find out non-Muslims, in general, aren't permitted in mosques in the country, but I heard this isn't the case in some other countries. I'm headed to Malaysia soon and might want to step inside some mosques when I'm there.
Are non-Muslims permitted to enter mosques in Malaysia?
legal malaysia cultural-awareness islam mosques
edited Aug 2 '17 at 12:55
hippietrail
45.2k39202520
asked Aug 1 '17 at 23:26
davidvc
4,69411956
When I was in Morocco, I was disappointed to find out non-Muslims, in general, aren't permitted in mosques in the country, but I heard this isn't the case in some other countries. I'm headed to Malaysia soon and might want to step inside some mosques when I'm there.
Are non-Muslims permitted to enter mosques in Malaysia?
legal malaysia cultural-awareness islam mosques
legal malaysia cultural-awareness islam mosques
edited Aug 2 '17 at 12:55
hippietrail
45.2k39202520
asked Aug 1 '17 at 23:26
davidvc
4,69411956
edited Aug 2 '17 at 12:55
hippietrail
45.2k39202520
asked Aug 1 '17 at 23:26
davidvc
4,69411956
edited Aug 2 '17 at 12:55
hippietrail
45.2k39202520
edited Aug 2 '17 at 12:55
hippietrail
45.2k39202520
edited Aug 2 '17 at 12:55
hippietrail
45.2k39202520
45.2k39202520
asked Aug 1 '17 at 23:26
davidvc
4,69411956
asked Aug 1 '17 at 23:26
davidvc
4,69411956
asked Aug 1 '17 at 23:26
davidvc
4,69411956
4,69411956
I never understand how they know. It seems more like a 'non-whites' rather than 'non-muslims' policy
– Strawberry
Aug 3 '17 at 12:18
add a comment |
I never understand how they know. It seems more like a 'non-whites' rather than 'non-muslims' policy
– Strawberry
Aug 3 '17 at 12:18
I never understand how they know. It seems more like a 'non-whites' rather than 'non-muslims' policy
– Strawberry
Aug 3 '17 at 12:18
I never understand how they know. It seems more like a 'non-whites' rather than 'non-muslims' policy
– Strawberry
Aug 3 '17 at 12:18
add a comment |
5 Answers
5
active
oldest
votes
up vote
29
down vote
accepted
TL; DR: Yes.
I grew up in Malaysia and I am a non-Muslim. I have been inside Putra Mosque, in the capital city of Putrajaya. It was part of a class field trip I had when I was in school.
However, you should pay close attention to etiquette and expected behaviors as outlined in your own answer. The girls in my group wore long sleeves, and shawls to cover their hair.
edited Aug 3 '17 at 6:11
NVZ
1,94931019
answered Aug 2 '17 at 2:30
casvaart
40622
1
Are you sure it wasn't assumed that you are a Muslim? I was in Christian monasteries before and everyone there assumed that I was a Christian because I'm a white European dude.
– Davor
Aug 3 '17 at 9:14
1
@Davor fairly certain. I am ethnically Chinese; it is generally understood that non-Malays are non-Muslim. According to the 2010 census, there are 223,084 non-Malay Muslims out of 8,489,848 non-Malay citizens, or 2.63%.
– casvaart
Aug 3 '17 at 14:04
add a comment |
up vote
15
down vote
Yes, non-Muslims are allowed to enter (at least some) mosques in Malaysia.
See user casvaart's answer for a local's perspective.
edited Aug 3 '17 at 6:11
NVZ
1,94931019
answered Aug 1 '17 at 23:26
davidvc
4,69411956
add a comment |
up vote
12
down vote
Having been in Malaysia, I can attest that visiting a mosque is possible for non-Muslims. There were no restrictions as far I could tell and I have entered at least a dozen mosques principally around Kuala Lumpur but also some in southern provinces.
In some cases, there were signs indicating not to take photos within the prayer hall itself but the outer part of the mosque can be photographed.
answered Aug 1 '17 at 23:52
Itai
28.2k966147
add a comment |
up vote
6
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Generally yes, but you might be asked to wear appropriate clothing (e.g. no exposed skin). But even then you might be given a gown to cover yourself with during your visit. At least that was the case at Putra Mosque (seen here)
answered Aug 2 '17 at 12:52
Nobilis
3811413
add a comment |
up vote
3
down vote
I can't speak for every mosque in the country but certainly from my experience of visiting a few mosques in KL and Malacca it's a case of "Sort of".
The mosques all had visitor areas where nobody had any issue with me, a white guy in jeans and a plain t-shirt coming for a look around.
Signs said no shorts and no shirts with pictures of skulls (or other wild things) on them but I encountered zero issue, they're used to tourists.
However...this was only to see a visitor area. To go into the main part of the mosque itself where the worship takes place; the big two in KL had signs explicitly saying this was not allowed for non-muslims.
If I remember right the national mosque had set hours when non-muslims were allowed to take tours but generally it wasn't allowed.
answered Aug 3 '17 at 10:46
the other one
1,946619
add a comment |
5 Answers
5
active
oldest
votes
5 Answers
5
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
29
down vote
accepted
TL; DR: Yes.
I grew up in Malaysia and I am a non-Muslim. I have been inside Putra Mosque, in the capital city of Putrajaya. It was part of a class field trip I had when I was in school.
However, you should pay close attention to etiquette and expected behaviors as outlined in your own answer. The girls in my group wore long sleeves, and shawls to cover their hair.
edited Aug 3 '17 at 6:11
NVZ
1,94931019
answered Aug 2 '17 at 2:30
casvaart
40622
1
Are you sure it wasn't assumed that you are a Muslim? I was in Christian monasteries before and everyone there assumed that I was a Christian because I'm a white European dude.
– Davor
Aug 3 '17 at 9:14
1
@Davor fairly certain. I am ethnically Chinese; it is generally understood that non-Malays are non-Muslim. According to the 2010 census, there are 223,084 non-Malay Muslims out of 8,489,848 non-Malay citizens, or 2.63%.
– casvaart
Aug 3 '17 at 14:04
add a comment |
up vote
29
down vote
accepted
TL; DR: Yes.
I grew up in Malaysia and I am a non-Muslim. I have been inside Putra Mosque, in the capital city of Putrajaya. It was part of a class field trip I had when I was in school.
However, you should pay close attention to etiquette and expected behaviors as outlined in your own answer. The girls in my group wore long sleeves, and shawls to cover their hair.
edited Aug 3 '17 at 6:11
NVZ
1,94931019
answered Aug 2 '17 at 2:30
casvaart
40622
1
Are you sure it wasn't assumed that you are a Muslim? I was in Christian monasteries before and everyone there assumed that I was a Christian because I'm a white European dude.
– Davor
Aug 3 '17 at 9:14
1
@Davor fairly certain. I am ethnically Chinese; it is generally understood that non-Malays are non-Muslim. According to the 2010 census, there are 223,084 non-Malay Muslims out of 8,489,848 non-Malay citizens, or 2.63%.
– casvaart
Aug 3 '17 at 14:04
add a comment |
up vote
29
down vote
accepted
up vote
29
down vote
accepted
TL; DR: Yes.
I grew up in Malaysia and I am a non-Muslim. I have been inside Putra Mosque, in the capital city of Putrajaya. It was part of a class field trip I had when I was in school.
However, you should pay close attention to etiquette and expected behaviors as outlined in your own answer. The girls in my group wore long sleeves, and shawls to cover their hair.
edited Aug 3 '17 at 6:11
NVZ
1,94931019
answered Aug 2 '17 at 2:30
casvaart
40622
TL; DR: Yes.
I grew up in Malaysia and I am a non-Muslim. I have been inside Putra Mosque, in the capital city of Putrajaya. It was part of a class field trip I had when I was in school.
However, you should pay close attention to etiquette and expected behaviors as outlined in your own answer. The girls in my group wore long sleeves, and shawls to cover their hair.
edited Aug 3 '17 at 6:11
NVZ
1,94931019
answered Aug 2 '17 at 2:30
casvaart
40622
edited Aug 3 '17 at 6:11
NVZ
1,94931019
edited Aug 3 '17 at 6:11
NVZ
1,94931019
edited Aug 3 '17 at 6:11
NVZ
1,94931019
1,94931019
answered Aug 2 '17 at 2:30
casvaart
40622
answered Aug 2 '17 at 2:30
casvaart
40622
answered Aug 2 '17 at 2:30
casvaart
40622
40622
1
Are you sure it wasn't assumed that you are a Muslim? I was in Christian monasteries before and everyone there assumed that I was a Christian because I'm a white European dude.
– Davor
Aug 3 '17 at 9:14
1
@Davor fairly certain. I am ethnically Chinese; it is generally understood that non-Malays are non-Muslim. According to the 2010 census, there are 223,084 non-Malay Muslims out of 8,489,848 non-Malay citizens, or 2.63%.
– casvaart
Aug 3 '17 at 14:04
add a comment |
1
Are you sure it wasn't assumed that you are a Muslim? I was in Christian monasteries before and everyone there assumed that I was a Christian because I'm a white European dude.
– Davor
Aug 3 '17 at 9:14
1
@Davor fairly certain. I am ethnically Chinese; it is generally understood that non-Malays are non-Muslim. According to the 2010 census, there are 223,084 non-Malay Muslims out of 8,489,848 non-Malay citizens, or 2.63%.
– casvaart
Aug 3 '17 at 14:04
1
1
Are you sure it wasn't assumed that you are a Muslim? I was in Christian monasteries before and everyone there assumed that I was a Christian because I'm a white European dude.
– Davor
Aug 3 '17 at 9:14
Are you sure it wasn't assumed that you are a Muslim? I was in Christian monasteries before and everyone there assumed that I was a Christian because I'm a white European dude.
– Davor
Aug 3 '17 at 9:14
1
1
@Davor fairly certain. I am ethnically Chinese; it is generally understood that non-Malays are non-Muslim. According to the 2010 census, there are 223,084 non-Malay Muslims out of 8,489,848 non-Malay citizens, or 2.63%.
– casvaart
Aug 3 '17 at 14:04
@Davor fairly certain. I am ethnically Chinese; it is generally understood that non-Malays are non-Muslim. According to the 2010 census, there are 223,084 non-Malay Muslims out of 8,489,848 non-Malay citizens, or 2.63%.
– casvaart
Aug 3 '17 at 14:04
add a comment |
up vote
15
down vote
Yes, non-Muslims are allowed to enter (at least some) mosques in Malaysia.
See user casvaart's answer for a local's perspective.
edited Aug 3 '17 at 6:11
NVZ
1,94931019
answered Aug 1 '17 at 23:26
davidvc
4,69411956
add a comment |
up vote
15
down vote
Yes, non-Muslims are allowed to enter (at least some) mosques in Malaysia.
See user casvaart's answer for a local's perspective.
edited Aug 3 '17 at 6:11
NVZ
1,94931019
answered Aug 1 '17 at 23:26
davidvc
4,69411956
add a comment |
up vote
15
down vote
up vote
15
down vote
Yes, non-Muslims are allowed to enter (at least some) mosques in Malaysia.
See user casvaart's answer for a local's perspective.
edited Aug 3 '17 at 6:11
NVZ
1,94931019
answered Aug 1 '17 at 23:26
davidvc
4,69411956
Yes, non-Muslims are allowed to enter (at least some) mosques in Malaysia.
See user casvaart's answer for a local's perspective.
edited Aug 3 '17 at 6:11
NVZ
1,94931019
answered Aug 1 '17 at 23:26
davidvc
4,69411956
edited Aug 3 '17 at 6:11
NVZ
1,94931019
edited Aug 3 '17 at 6:11
NVZ
1,94931019
edited Aug 3 '17 at 6:11
NVZ
1,94931019
1,94931019
answered Aug 1 '17 at 23:26
davidvc
4,69411956
answered Aug 1 '17 at 23:26
davidvc
4,69411956
answered Aug 1 '17 at 23:26
davidvc
4,69411956
4,69411956
add a comment |
add a comment |
up vote
12
down vote
Having been in Malaysia, I can attest that visiting a mosque is possible for non-Muslims. There were no restrictions as far I could tell and I have entered at least a dozen mosques principally around Kuala Lumpur but also some in southern provinces.
In some cases, there were signs indicating not to take photos within the prayer hall itself but the outer part of the mosque can be photographed.
answered Aug 1 '17 at 23:52
Itai
28.2k966147
add a comment |
up vote
12
down vote
Having been in Malaysia, I can attest that visiting a mosque is possible for non-Muslims. There were no restrictions as far I could tell and I have entered at least a dozen mosques principally around Kuala Lumpur but also some in southern provinces.
In some cases, there were signs indicating not to take photos within the prayer hall itself but the outer part of the mosque can be photographed.
answered Aug 1 '17 at 23:52
Itai
28.2k966147
add a comment |
up vote
12
down vote
up vote
12
down vote
Having been in Malaysia, I can attest that visiting a mosque is possible for non-Muslims. There were no restrictions as far I could tell and I have entered at least a dozen mosques principally around Kuala Lumpur but also some in southern provinces.
In some cases, there were signs indicating not to take photos within the prayer hall itself but the outer part of the mosque can be photographed.
answered Aug 1 '17 at 23:52
Itai
28.2k966147
Having been in Malaysia, I can attest that visiting a mosque is possible for non-Muslims. There were no restrictions as far I could tell and I have entered at least a dozen mosques principally around Kuala Lumpur but also some in southern provinces.
In some cases, there were signs indicating not to take photos within the prayer hall itself but the outer part of the mosque can be photographed.
answered Aug 1 '17 at 23:52
Itai
28.2k966147
answered Aug 1 '17 at 23:52
Itai
28.2k966147
answered Aug 1 '17 at 23:52
Itai
28.2k966147
answered Aug 1 '17 at 23:52
Itai
28.2k966147
28.2k966147
add a comment |
add a comment |
up vote
6
down vote
Generally yes, but you might be asked to wear appropriate clothing (e.g. no exposed skin). But even then you might be given a gown to cover yourself with during your visit. At least that was the case at Putra Mosque (seen here)
answered Aug 2 '17 at 12:52
Nobilis
3811413
add a comment |
up vote
6
down vote
Generally yes, but you might be asked to wear appropriate clothing (e.g. no exposed skin). But even then you might be given a gown to cover yourself with during your visit. At least that was the case at Putra Mosque (seen here)
answered Aug 2 '17 at 12:52
Nobilis
3811413
add a comment |
up vote
6
down vote
up vote
6
down vote
Generally yes, but you might be asked to wear appropriate clothing (e.g. no exposed skin). But even then you might be given a gown to cover yourself with during your visit. At least that was the case at Putra Mosque (seen here)
answered Aug 2 '17 at 12:52
Nobilis
3811413
Generally yes, but you might be asked to wear appropriate clothing (e.g. no exposed skin). But even then you might be given a gown to cover yourself with during your visit. At least that was the case at Putra Mosque (seen here)
answered Aug 2 '17 at 12:52
Nobilis
3811413
answered Aug 2 '17 at 12:52
Nobilis
3811413
answered Aug 2 '17 at 12:52
Nobilis
3811413
answered Aug 2 '17 at 12:52
Nobilis
3811413
3811413
add a comment |
add a comment |
up vote
3
down vote
I can't speak for every mosque in the country but certainly from my experience of visiting a few mosques in KL and Malacca it's a case of "Sort of".
The mosques all had visitor areas where nobody had any issue with me, a white guy in jeans and a plain t-shirt coming for a look around.
Signs said no shorts and no shirts with pictures of skulls (or other wild things) on them but I encountered zero issue, they're used to tourists.
However...this was only to see a visitor area. To go into the main part of the mosque itself where the worship takes place; the big two in KL had signs explicitly saying this was not allowed for non-muslims.
If I remember right the national mosque had set hours when non-muslims were allowed to take tours but generally it wasn't allowed.
answered Aug 3 '17 at 10:46
the other one
1,946619
add a comment |
up vote
3
down vote
I can't speak for every mosque in the country but certainly from my experience of visiting a few mosques in KL and Malacca it's a case of "Sort of".
The mosques all had visitor areas where nobody had any issue with me, a white guy in jeans and a plain t-shirt coming for a look around.
Signs said no shorts and no shirts with pictures of skulls (or other wild things) on them but I encountered zero issue, they're used to tourists.
However...this was only to see a visitor area. To go into the main part of the mosque itself where the worship takes place; the big two in KL had signs explicitly saying this was not allowed for non-muslims.
If I remember right the national mosque had set hours when non-muslims were allowed to take tours but generally it wasn't allowed.
answered Aug 3 '17 at 10:46
the other one
1,946619
add a comment |
up vote
3
down vote
up vote
3
down vote
I can't speak for every mosque in the country but certainly from my experience of visiting a few mosques in KL and Malacca it's a case of "Sort of".
The mosques all had visitor areas where nobody had any issue with me, a white guy in jeans and a plain t-shirt coming for a look around.
Signs said no shorts and no shirts with pictures of skulls (or other wild things) on them but I encountered zero issue, they're used to tourists.
However...this was only to see a visitor area. To go into the main part of the mosque itself where the worship takes place; the big two in KL had signs explicitly saying this was not allowed for non-muslims.
If I remember right the national mosque had set hours when non-muslims were allowed to take tours but generally it wasn't allowed.
answered Aug 3 '17 at 10:46
the other one
1,946619
I can't speak for every mosque in the country but certainly from my experience of visiting a few mosques in KL and Malacca it's a case of "Sort of".
The mosques all had visitor areas where nobody had any issue with me, a white guy in jeans and a plain t-shirt coming for a look around.
Signs said no shorts and no shirts with pictures of skulls (or other wild things) on them but I encountered zero issue, they're used to tourists.
However...this was only to see a visitor area. To go into the main part of the mosque itself where the worship takes place; the big two in KL had signs explicitly saying this was not allowed for non-muslims.
If I remember right the national mosque had set hours when non-muslims were allowed to take tours but generally it wasn't allowed.
answered Aug 3 '17 at 10:46
the other one
1,946619
answered Aug 3 '17 at 10:46
the other one
1,946619
answered Aug 3 '17 at 10:46
the other one
1,946619
answered Aug 3 '17 at 10:46
the other one
1,946619
1,946619
add a comment |
add a comment |
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I never understand how they know. It seems more like a 'non-whites' rather than 'non-muslims' policy
– Strawberry
Aug 3 '17 at 12:18