Former U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower once said, “Civilisation owes to the Islamic world some of its most important tools and achievements. The Muslim genius has added much to the culture of all people”.
He was not wrong. Islam’s influence is not only prominently fingerprinted in various fields but also has a long history and an extremely wide geographical spread. This should not come as a surprise. It isn’t merely a religion. It supersedes that. It acts as a way of life.
Art and literature are two of the finest ways for a person to observe both Islamic culture and civilisation. Whenever Islamic art is mentioned, many in the Western world will conjure images inside their heads of works originating from the Middle-East and Persia.
In reality, however, Islam’s influence is much more global than that. Our very own region has a wealth of Islamic heritage.
We here in Malaysia can count ourselves lucky. There are a few local museums that are catered specifically to Islamic arts and culture, including:
- Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia (IAMM), Kuala Lumpur
Opened in 1998, IAMM is the largest Islamic art museum in Southeast Asia. With a display of more than 10,000 artefacts and exceptional library on its premise, it has the ability to fill visitors with a delightful sense of enlightenment.
With Malays, Chinese, and Indians representing the majority of Malaysia’s demographic composition, the Islamic heritage on display gives emphasis on these three races. IAMM is also recognized as one of the best museums in Asia. It is the winner of multiple awards including the 2014 and 2015 Travellers’ Choice Award by TripAdvisor.
Operating hours: Monday – Sunday (including Public Holidays except for Hari Raya Aidilfitri), 9.30am – 6pm
Admission: Adults RM14; Students (with ID) RM7; Senior Citizens RM7; Children (under 6) Free
Website: https://www.iamm.org.my/
- Selangor International Islamic Arts Complex, Shah Alam
Managed by the Restu Foundation, the complex has three permanent museum galleries, focusing on:
- The Journey of Prophet Muhammad. The highlight here is a replica residence of the Prophet.
- Quran manuscripts and Islamic calligraphy exhibits. The highlight here is an original manuscript of the Qur’an which was insured for RM20 million.
- Work by students of Restu College’s Islamic Arts program focusing on Islamic architecture, design, sculptures and paintings.
Operating hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 9.30am – 5.30pm
Admission: Free
Website: https://yayasanrestu.com/museum-al-quran-mushaf-malaysia/
- Penang Islamic Museum
The Penang Islamic Museum houses an exhibition detailing the role and contribution of Malay leaders in the growth and spread of Islam in Penang and Malaysia.
Set on Armenian Street, the gallery also provides details on key 19th and early 20th-century public figures and their cultural influence on Penang.
It also has a beautiful collection of 19th-century furniture plus a life-sized diorama of a dock scene, which depicts a maritime-oriented haj (pilgrimage to Mecca).
Operating hours: Wednesday – Monday, 9.30am – 6pm
Admission: Adults RM3; Children RM1.20
- Islamic Museum of Malacca
There are eight main exhibition areas which are categorised according to chronological order. However, the museum was set up not just to exhibit documents and artefacts. It also acts as a research centre on how Islam came to Malacca and how the religion spread to the entire country.
Operating hours: Daily, 9am – 5.30pm
Admission: Adult RM1; Children RM0.50
Website: http://www.perzim.gov.my/ms/portfolio/melaka-islamic-museum/
- Islamic Heritage Museum, Sarawak
Located in Kuching, the museum presents a clear picture of the rich historical heritage and special culture of the Muslim community in Sarawak and throughout the Malay-Indonesian archipelago. The museum consists of seven galleries set around a central courtyard garden, each with a different theme.
Operating hours: Monday – Friday 9am – 4.45pm; Saturday, Sunday, & Public Holidays 10am – 4pm. Closed on the first day of Main Public Holiday, Governor’s (T.Y.T) Birthday, Labour Day & Malaysia Day
Admission: FreeWebsite:https://museum.sarawak.gov.my/page-0-132-103