Masjid Negara Kini Berusia 60 Tahun

 

Masjid Negara telah dirasmikan pada 27 Ogos 1965 oleh Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong ketiga, Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail ibni Almarhum Syed Hassan Jamalullail.

Pembinaannya yang siap pada tahun tersebut melambangkan kesyukuran rakyat Malaysia atas anugerah kemerdekaan serta menjadi mercu tanda kepada perpaduan umat Islam di negara ini. Pada peringkat awal, terdapat cadangan agar ia dinamakan Masjid Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, sempena Perdana Menteri pertama Malaysia. Namun, Tunku menolak dan memilih nama “Masjid Negara” agar ia menjadi simbol yang mewakili seluruh rakyat Malaysia, tanpa mengira kaum dan keturunan.

Masjid ini didirikan di atas kawasan seluas 13 ekar di tengah bandaraya Kuala Lumpur dengan reka bentuk bercirikan seni bina Islam moden berasaskan konsep tropika. Antara keunikan utamanya ialah kubah utama berbentuk payung terbuka serta menara setinggi 73 meter yang menyerupai payung tertutup.

Sejak perasmiannya, Masjid Negara bukan sahaja berfungsi sebagai pusat ibadah utama umat Islam, tetapi juga menjadi landmark kebangsaan, tempat berlangsungnya acara rasmi negara serta destinasi kunjungan pelancong dan pemimpin dunia.



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