The Grand Mosque of Cotabato; a Gift from Brunei

GRAND MOSQUE OF COTABATO
Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Masjid Mosque

Photo from: https://hikersitch.com/informations/sidetrips/outdoor-spots/sultan-hassanal-bolkiah-masjid-grand-mosque-of-cotabato-city.html

Adorned with four tall spires or minarets in the major corners of the main chamber; domes crowned with crescents; walls, doors, and floors crafted with Islamic designs; and array of stunning arches, the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Masjid or the Grand Mosque of Cotabato looks really magnificent for every spectator.

The mosque, which stands in a well-landscaped and gated compound west of Cotabato City, is funded personally by Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, whom the mosque was named after, to help the emerging Muslim population in Mindanao. The US$48 Million mosque is the largest of its kind in the country when it was completed in 2011. It is capable of hosting 15,000 people. Read More: https://www.freedomwall.net/travel/grand-mosque-of-cotabato/

Photo from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sultan_Haji_Hassanal_Bolkiah_Mosque

It was our second day in Cotabato City and to avoid too much humidity inside our non-aircon room, we decided to leave our hotel early. Our first stop? Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Masjid or The Golden Mosque of Cotabato City.

The Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Masjid, Grand Mosque or Golden Mosque of Cotabato City is the largest mosque in the Phillipines and is considered an Islamic architecture masterpiece. The grand opening was held in December of 2011 and since then it has become one of the most commonly visited tourist attractions in the city.

This multi-million project which believed to cost more than Php200 million was built in a land donated by the Dilangalen Clan. The construction of the mosque lasted for almost 3 years and they are now in the process of finishing other details.

Anyone who flies in and out of Cotabato City is sure to see the Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Masjid from the air; it’s golden yellow domes and white structures stand out among the green surroundings. Read More: https://outoftownblog.com/sultan-hassanal-bolkiah-masjid-cotabato-citys-golden-mosque/

Photo from: https://www.soxph.com/2016/10/the-grand-mosque-in-cotabato-city.html

The Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Masjid or simply known as the Grand Mosque, occupies 5,000-square-metre area within a five-hectare prime property in Timaco Hills in Barangay Kalangalan, donated by the Dilangalen family, and is about 9 kilometers away from the city proper. It is huddled beside Tamontaka River and the Moro Gulf. It is so vast that it is seen from the east by those arriving by sea from the Moro Gulf and from the south by those who are landing at the Awang Airport, eight kilometres away.

The golden masjid is partly funded by the Sultanate of Negara Brunei Darussalam as part of a bilateral agreement with the Philippines. It was designed by world-renowned Palafox and Associates, the mosque incorporated domes and minarets of the Arab-Islamic influence. To date, it is considered the grandest and largest mosque in the Philippines. It can occupy as much as 1,200 worshipers. The Masjid is reported to have a cost of US$48 million. The initiation of this project is in line with the quest of Peace and Development in Mindanao.

It really is grand and colossal and impressive! It has dawned in me that I am at long last in the city that often gets a wrong impression. The Masjid is truly distinctive. It has 14 majestic golden domes and four minarets towering at 40 metres high. Every perspective of this Masjid is so appealing. What an extraordinary Islam architectural masterpiece!!! Read More: https://nojuanisanisland.com/2015/03/19/sultan-hassanal-bolkiah-masjid-cotabato-philippines/