Thailand 2019: Kembara Masjid Ramadhan Vol 4...

"The discipline of fasting breaks you out of the world's routine..."

(Central Mosque of Yala)

(Central Mosque of Pattani)

Four years in a row, we find time during the Ramadhan month to experience the breaking of fast and performing solat terawih at mosques away from our qariah. This Ramadhan we will drive to eastern Thailand and visit mosques in Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat.

From KL we will drive to Kota Bharu and cross the border at Rantau Panjang to enter Thailand and later exit Thailand from Betong.

(Central Mosque of Narathiwat)

Next Trip: 2019 Japan Scout Cross-Cultural

 2019 Kembara Ramadhan: 01 Narathiwat, Thailand👉

2019 Kembara Ramadhan: 01 Narathiwat, Thailand

“The month starts with mercy and blessings, going with forgiveness and ends at freedom from hellfire..”

(Our reliable Bigfoot for the Kembara Ramadhan)

Ahlan Wa Sahlan Ya Ramadhan Al Mubarak!

This Ramadhan, we travelled to Raub, Kuala Lipis, Gua Musang, Kota Bharu, Narathiwat, Pattani, Yala, Betong, Gerik, Kuala Kangsar, Ipoh and Gopeng for our 2019 Kembara Ramadhan. We joined the locals in their iftar festivities and terawih prayers and distributed sedeqah and infaq to the needy. And along the way visited as many mosques as possible.

Alhamdulillah, Allah SWT telah permudahkan segala urusan Kembara kami ini...

Date: 11 May 2019

Hotel: The Paksina Resort, Narathiwat

Route: Kota Bharu - Narathiwat

(The green themed Masjid An-Nur, Tak Bai)

(Spacious compound for the majlis iftar)

After spending two nights in Gua Musang and Kota Bharu, Kelantan, we crossed the Malaysian border into Thailand via Rantau Panjang. Our original plan was to cross by ferry from Pengkalan Kubur but the Tak Bai ferry was under repairs for a couple of days. Border crossing at Sungai Golok was smooth and efficient, as usual.

Our first mosque in Thailand was the green themed Masjid An Nur of Tak Bai. It is situated along the main road from Tak Bai to Narathiwat. We performed our Zohor/Asar prayers there. The AJK Masjid were friendly and wished us well on our Kembara.

(The old Central Mosque of Narathiwat)

(A post box transformed into Peti Khairat to deposit your infaq)

It was raining lightly when we arrived in Narathiwat. As it was still early to check-in our hotel, we drove around town to visit the Old and the New Central Mosques of Narathiwat.

The old Central Mosque of Narathiwat is also widely known as Yumiya Mosque, or Rayo Mosque. This mosque was built in 1938 in the Sumatran-style and is the burial place of the old city Lord, Phraya Phu Pha Phakdi. Because this mosque is quite small, a new mosque was built at the mouth of Bang Nara River. However, this old mosque is still highly respected by the locals.

(The New Central Mosque, Narathiwat)

(A large screen at the Muslimat prayer hall)

(A box of dates sedeqah by the AJK Masjid)

The three storey Arabian-style building of Narathiwat New Central Mosque has an Egyptian Alexandrian lighthouse style minaret. The ground floor is the main convention hall and the prayer rooms are on the top two floors. There were VIPs visiting the mosque this evening so iftar was limited to only men so we had our iftar at a Muslim restaurant across the road. Later, the Egyptian imam led the congregation with a full juzuk eight rakaat terawih prayers.

(A homely family friendly Paksina Resort)

(Clean and well-maintained garden)

(Our sahur dish bought earlier)

The Paksina Resort of Narathiwat is a small cosy hotel. It is a walking distance to halal food and the ever present 7 Eleven. For moreh, we had roti telur and a cup of hot coffee. For our sahur, we bought food from the restaurant and kept it warm in our food thermos.

(A short visit to  Masjid Jama'iah Jakaniah, Narathiwat)

(The first to arrive for Subuh prayers)

We performed Subuh prayers at the Jama'iah Jakaniah Mosque, one of the many mosques of Narathiwat and quite close to our hotel. We chose this mosque because it had ample parking space within its fenced compound.

 2019 Kembara Ramadhan: 02 Pattani, Thailand👉

👈2019 Thailand: Kembara Masjid Ramadhan Vol 4 

2019 Kembara Ramadhan: 02 Pattani, Thailand

“Live this Ramadan as it is your last one, pray attentively to get higher rank in Jannah...”

(The Central Mosque of Pattani)

Date: 12 May 2019

Hotel: The Room Residence, Pattani

Route: Narathiwat - Pattani

(Wadi Hussein Mosque at Telok Manok)

(I'tikaf in the serene calm atmosphere in the mosque)

(The houses surrounding the old Telok Manok mosque)

Leaving Narathiwat, we stopped at the 394 year old Telok Manok, Wadi Hussein Mosque. After performing our prayers, we met with the locals who were discussing the iftar menu and invited us to join the iftar later today. We politely declined as we were headed to Pattani. This was our second visit to this old mosque. Our 2018 Travel: Wadi Hussein Mosque

(Krue Se Mosque or Masjid Kerisik)

(A sad history of a blood-bathed battle of the Muslims)

Before entering the town of Pattani, we stopped at the controversial bullet riddled Krue Se Mosque for our Zohor/Asar prayers. This mosque is also known as Gresik or Pitu Krue Ban Mosque. The mosque is never actually completed. In this month of Ramadhan, it offers daily iftar and terawih prayers for the locals. We have visited this mosques many times during our travels to Pattani. Our 2018 travel : Krue Se Mosque

(The Pattani Central Mosque)

(The large pool in front of the mosque)

(The mosque transforming into a fairy-tale castle)

The Pattani Central Mosque is considered one of the largest mosque in Thailand. This sixty over years old architectural beauty took seven years to build. We made a brief visit to the mosque in the afternoon, then later in the evening came again for iftar and terawih prayers. After dusk the Pattani Central Mosque was lighted up and transformed into a fairytale like castle. Iftar at the Pattani Central Mosque is provided but only for men. But the AJK Masjid put together an iftar spread specially for us. Jazakallah....

(A spread of delicious dishes for iftar)

(The ladies praying in the Tamar Garden)

(My place in the Muslimat prayer hall)

The huge prayer halls could accommodate thousands of local and visiting worshippers but during Ramadhan the Jemaah would aften overflow to the Tamar Garden and streets. During the 20 rakaat terawih prayers, the ladies prefer to pray in the open in front of the huge pool fronting the Pattani Central Mosque and in the garden under the date palm fronds in the breezy night winds. Our 2018 travel: Pattani Central Mosque

(Masjid As-Solihin in Pattani)

(The riverside in the wee hour in the morning)

We went for Subuh prayers at Masjid As Solihin a short distance away from our lodging at The Room Residence. It is one of the many riverside mosques in Pattani. The close knit community is very friendly, immediately spotting and welcoming us as visitors and made doa for our safe onwards journey. Syukran kathiran...

 2019 Kembara Ramadhan: 03 Yala, Thailand👉

👈2019 Kembara Ramadhan: 01 Narathiwat, Thailand 

2019 Kembara Ramadhan: 03 Yala, Thailand

“Ramadhan is the month of blessings, Barkat and forgiveness. Take advantage of it as much as you can…”

(Masjid Jame' Tuebo, one of the many mosques in Yala)

Date: 13 May 2019

Hotel: Linux Garden Hotel, Yala

Route: Pattani - Yala

(The huge Yala Markaz Tabligh)

(The complex is interconnected to the hostels and other amenities)

From Pattani we drove direct to Yala and visited the huge Markaz Tabligh Yala, a base for thousands of pendakwah to learn and spread the teachings of Islam. Some have lived here close to ten years. It is called the Markaz because it is a gathering place for missionaries who perform khuruj or dakwah all over Thailand. From the outside, the 40m x 60m mosque looks tangled and dull. The outside walls have not been plastered, the dome has not yet completely finished. The mosque yards are vast and the interior floor is quite good. The immense Markaz Tabligh Yala may arguably be the largest of its kind in Asia. A separate hostel for the ladies is situated outside the compound next to the Markaz.

(Yala  Ma'ahad Mahdhah Al-Ulum)

(Masjid Abu Bakar As-Siddiq)

We performed the Zohor/Asar prayers at Masjid Abu Bakar A-Siddiq at the Phatthana Withaya Itsalam School. The Yala Islamic Committee Foundation is also based here. The mosque is a walking distance from Linux Garden Hotel, our lodging for the night.

(The Central Mosque of Yala)

(Ladies performing their solat in the open air)

(Buying iftar dishes for the breaking fast)

Tonight we performed our Terawih prayer at Yala Central Mosque. This forty year old Central Mosque is the main mosque of Yala Province. Thirty wide steps lead to the main prayer hall upstairs. It looks deserted during the day but comes alive during the month of Ramadhan at night.

Ladies perform the 20 rakaat Terawih prayers either in Muslimat Prayer Halls on lower and upper floors or in the cool open air courtyard or the prayer area under the stairs. The men pray in the main hall upstairs, with the elderly and physically challenged praying downstairs.

Not knowing if iftar is available at the Yala Central Mosque, we bought our berbuka meals at the many food stalls in front of the mosque.

We had our Subuh prayers again in this mosque.

(Masjid Tengah Betong)

(Daily majlis Iftar available during Ramadhan)

After enduring the twisties of Bang Lang National Park, we reached the town of Betong. We stopped at the wet market to buy salted fish, salted eggs and tomyam pastes and later drove to Betong Central Mosque.  We had passed this landmark mosque many times. Today we stopped to  pray Dhuha and had a brief rest here before we crossed the Thailand/Malaysia border.

(Crossing back into Malaysia)

Alhamdulillah...

 👈2019 Kembara Ramadhan: 02 Pattani, Thailand

Next Trip: 2019 Malaysia/Japan Scout Cross-Cultural Program