Inside Saigon’s sacred 80-year-old Mosque
Jamia Al-Musulman was built in 1935 as a place of worship for Muslims in Saigon.
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| Built on a 2,000-square-meter (2,400-square-yard) plot on Dong Du Street in District 1, the Jamia Al-Musulman is the most prominent mosque in Saigon. |
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| It was built by the Indian community that used to reside in Vietnam and carries several South Asian features in its architecture. |
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| A plaque at the main entrance announces the year the mosque was built. Above the plaque is perched the symbol of Islam: a crescent and a golden star on top. |
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| The crescent represents the Islamic calendar, while the star symbolizes the act of following God (Allah)’s will. |
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| The devout Muslim clean their feet before entering the praying hall. |
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| There are always people praying in the sanctum. |
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| The sanctum is simply designed, with white ceramic tiles on the wall, green carpet on the floor and a colorful touch at the entrances. |
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| Only men are allowed to pray in the sanctum. Women pray in the hallway. |
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| The dark green clock on the wall with Arabic letters indicate the day’s prayer schedule. |
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| A painting of Mecca, the spiritual capital of Islam, in the mosque. |
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| Baracat Lisa, a devout Muslim, prays at the mosque every day, “to thank God and read the Koran.” |
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| “Jamia Al-Musulman is a part of my childhood. It has become the main place of prayer for the Muslim community in Saigon as well as many foreigners,” Adam Sah, an 80-year-old believer said. |
