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Erika Na

Most Hongkongers will have seen it, but far fewer will have ventured inside. Out of the five main mosques in Hong Kong, the Kowloon Masjid – masjid meaning “mosque” in Arabic – is the largest in the city and the oldest in Kowloon.
Thousands of people pass it every day, given its prime location outside Tsim Sha Tsui MTR station’s A1 exit.
The neighbourhood is a must-visit area for tourists, where they can shop, dine and catch an amazing view of Victoria Harbour. For locals, it is a popular meeting place.
People do not notice the mosque just because of where it is. The large white square edifice features arabesque window decorations on all sides, making it instantly stand out from its surroundings.

A pointed dome protrudes from the centre of the structure’s roof, while minarets rise 11 metres (36 feet) from each of its four corners.
Many pedestrians, especially tourists, throw curious glances at the mosque from beyond the fence that separates the building from Nathan Road. Some even stop to discuss whether they should go and see what is inside.
For many non-Muslims, it is a mystery whether they are allowed in. Nearly all decide to keep walking.


Mufti Muhammad Arshad, the chief imam of Hong Kong, and the imam and khatib of the Kowloon Masjid since 2001, says everyone is welcome.
For many of the roughly 1.9 billion Muslims around the world, mosques are indispensable parts of their lives. It is where they can gather to pray, which they do facing Mecca, the birthplace of Islam’s founding prophet, Muhammad.
People also gather in mosques to celebrate the most important religious holidays, such as Eid al-Fitr, the day that marks the end of Ramadan.
The Kowloon Masjid was built in 1896 as a place of worship for Muslim soldiers in the British Army stationed nearby. The original mosque looked quite different, with many more smaller domes featuring narrow spires.
The current structure opened in 1984, after the original building was taken down having suffered damage during underground construction of the MTR, Hong Kong’s subway. The mosque now fits 3,500 worshippers and receives nearly 1 million visits a year.



What makes the mosque unique is the diversity of the Muslim community in Hong Kong. Although the 300,000 Muslims in the city make up but a small fraction of its total population of 7.5 million, they exhibit great ethnic diversity.
The largest group, at around half, are Indonesians – mostly foreign domestic helpers – followed by 50,000 Chinese and 30,000 Pakistanis, according to government estimates.
The remainder include Indians, Bangladeshis, Turks and people from various African countries.
Such diversity is best seen on Fridays, when the congregational noon prayer, called Jum’ah, is held. Jum’ah is mandatory for male Muslims and recommended for female Muslims.
The mosque’s prayer hall, a beautiful space with light green carpets, fills up completely with men of various ethnic backgrounds, ages and attires.
There are young black men with dreadlocks in African dashikis sitting next to elderly South Asian men with big, bushy beards wearing white Muslim robes and caps.


Women worshippers wearing hijabs gather in a separate space, as Islamic rules require men and women to pray separately.
The imam gives his sermon in three languages – Urdu, English and Arabic – to speak to all worshippers. Once the sermon is over, it is time for the prayer. Men stand shoulder to shoulder, holding their forearms with opposite hands with their eyes closed.
The chief imam chants first. When everyone in the hall chants back and prostrates at the same time, they are so in sync that it seems like they have become one large organism.
When they are all fully prostrated, their foreheads and noses touching the carpet, their ethnic and external differences vanish. It is an incredible sight, difficult to imagine for those who have not seen it.



While the older Muslims gather regularly in the mosque for prayers, younger ones come to study the Koran, the holy book of Islam, with tutors. Just like the prayer sessions, the lessons are divided between boys and girls.
The mood is much lighter here than in the prayer hall. Young boys, many of them wearing white Muslim caps, rock their bodies rhythmically as they sing verses from the Koran in Arabic.
It seems likely that these young Hongkongers will join the adults in the prayer hall in time, whether it be in the Kowloon Masjid, or at another mosque somewhere else in the world.


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Inside historic Kowloon mosque, the biggest in Hong Kong, where Muslims from all over pray

Male attendees during Friday prayers at the Kowloon mosque. Photo: Jonathan Wong

The Kowloon Mosque and Islamic Centre in Hong Kong’s Tsim Sha Tsui neighbourhood, where Muslims from around the world come together to pray and study. Photo: James Wendlinger

Male attendees during Friday prayers at the Kowloon Masjid in Tsim Sha Tsui, in May, 2024. Photo: Jonathan Wong

The Kowloon Masjid is the largest mosque in Hong Kong, and Kowloon’s oldest. Photo: Jonathan Wong

People use the staircase during Friday prayers at the Kowloon Masjid. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Mufti Muhammed Arshad, the chief imam of Hong Kong, addresses worshippers during Friday prayers at the Kowloon Masjid. Photo: Jonathan Wong

For the almost 2 billion Muslims around the world, mosques are an indispensable part of life. Photo: Jonathan Wong

The Kowloon Masjid in 1986. The first mosque on the site was built in 1896. Photo: SCMP

Attendees of Friday prayers at the Kowloon Masjid. On Fridays, the diversity of Hong Kong’s Muslim community is plain to see at the mosque. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Muslim women outside the Kowloon Masjid on Eid al-Fitr, the most important day in the Islam calendar, marking the end of Ramadan. Photo: Jelly Tse

Boys study the Koran, the holy book of Islam, with a tutor, at the Kowloon Masjid. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Like prayer sessions, boys and girls attend Koran study lessons at the Kowloon Masjid separately. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Boys wearing Muslim caps work at memorising verses from the Koran. Photo: Jonathan Wong

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A Tsim Sha Tsui landmark, the Kowloon mosque hosts Muslim men – and women – from many different countries for prayer and study


Hong Kong’s largest mosque, the Kowloon Masjid, is a Tsim Sha Tsui landmark. Inside, Chinese Muslims pray shoulder to shoulder with others from across Asia and Africa, while children study the Koran.


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