How Muara Town got its venerable Setia Ali Mosque

BEGINNING this week The Brunei Times starts the journey of rediscovering Brunei, featuring, important landmarks and mosques. Not too far from the quiet Muara Town is the Setia Ali Mosque, a building resembling a massive umbrella appearing as if shielding worshippers from the harsh elements as if symbolising how abiding to the teachings of Islam saves those of faith from the hereafter.

Prior to its construction on 2.59 acres of land which was completed in 1961 at an estimated cost of $250,000, the Muara was home to three other mosques which suffered both natural and man-made damages. The Muara Town Mosque was the first mosque built there in 1881 where Kg Masjid Lama is located now. In a huge "gotong royong" campaign, it was put together by residents of the village. With pillars of concrete and wooden walls, it suffered greatly in 1947 during World War II when it was hit by a bomb. A large section of the building was destroyed in the attack.

Not much is known of a second mosque built nearby. The third was Kg Serasa Mosque, built after the end of World War II and constructed also with the deft hands of the villagers. With wooden pillars and walls, and palm leaf roof, which was later replaced with zinc, it eventually succumbed to deterioration.

The Setia Ali Mosque was officially opened by the late Sultan Hj Omar Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien on June 8, 1962. In his titah he said that "a progressive nation is one where the people joins hands with their ruler to perform their religious duties sincerely. And above all that is fear of Allah (SWT) and Islamic law".

The Brunei Times