The Iconic Representation of Iconic Mosque: Case Study of Masjid Zahir, Alor Setar, Kedah

Great mosques have always contributed towards the establishment of Islamic city
through the past centuries. The religious practices of Islamic teachings towards
nationhood, exemplify this perspective and the idea of mosque has received functional
acclaimed as not only religious platform, but also as community development.
However, such attention to issues of form, function and aesthetics, are tested and
addressed as crucial questions about the Muslim public engagement with mosque.
This research suggests that the existence of historic state mosque as ‘iconic
monumental structure’ is regarded as symbolic through the continuity of Islamic
nationhood performance in the community. Empirically, this paper investigates the
representation of the urban city dwellers preference towards the continuation of
mosque as nationhood integration and comparing with the adjacent iconic building;
Balai Besar. The research was done to relate the building to the backgrounds of the
cultural and societal context of the days before (specifically during the era of the
Sultanate and Colonialism) and after independence. This colonial mosque is a
building of architectural excellence and unexceptional historical value to the state
because of the major roles it played as a venue for historical events and as an
architectural symbol that reflected the Islamic rulings of Kedah’s royalty. Although
this current research managed to document information on the situation and
architectural aspects of the building, this alone is not enough to depict all information
needed for preventing the mosque from dilapidation. Future generations must keep on
inspecting every aspects of the building to ensure that the required data for
restoration and maintenance work is not lost, along with the movement of the country
towards globalization and modernization.