The Ar-Rahman Mosque (or Al-Rahman) was initially known as the University of Malaya Mosque. Not long after that, it was changed to the name of Ar-Rahman. The mosque Ar-Rahman is one of the names of Allah swt which means “The Most Merciful or Compassionate”. However, the Ar-Rahman attributed to this mosque is in conjunction with the name of the then Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra al-Haj who was the founder who played a very big role in its establishment. At that time, residents from about 15 parishes or villages came to the Ar-Rahman Mosque for congregational prayers there.

In 1988, the Ar-Rahman Mosque was renovated and upgraded with the cooperation of the Federal Territory Islamic Religious Department (JAWI). Mosque’s elements were totally demolished with the exception of the shape of the domes, minaret and the extended roof eaves. The original built structure features a modernist expression, through the long, extended and high flat roof eaves, and wide span pointed arches with elevated onion shaped demes placed on exposed drum structure, a culmination of the Mughal style and vernacular architectural influences. It was also an attempt to merge the two design approaches to co-exist and to represent a modern Islamic architectural expression.

The original detached minaret, with a curved sweeping base, is an identifiable modernist feature of the mosque that has been retained, topped with a small onion-shaped dome. Nonetheless, a former round dome pavilion structure, akin to the Kuching City Mosque, located on the northeast entrance way near the ablution areas, was demolished to make way for a larger prayer area. The original dome which was of a yellow metal colour was replaced by a natural silver finish.

The mosque currently holds a bigger prayer area; the former mosque sanctuary, identified by the wide space arches. has been retained However. the former mihrab niche and minbar space have been dismantled, leaving a path to the extended prayer hall, where the new mihrab and minbar are placed. The new Qibla wall features a contemporary look, with an elegant plaster work incorporating a rounded mihrab niche and the built-in minbar pulpit.