{{short description|Place of worship for Muslims in Asia}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2026}} {{Infobox building | name = Surau | image = Surau Gadang Syekh Burhanuddin 2020 07.jpg | image_alt = | image_caption = A traditional surau in Padang Pariaman, West Sumatra, Indonesia | former_names = | alternate_names = | status = | building_type = Religious building | architectural_style = {{hlist|Indonesian|Malay}} | location_town = | location_country = {{hlist|West Sumatra (initially)|Malaysia|Singapore|Thailand}} }}
A '''surau''' (Jawi: {{Lang|ms-arab|سوراو}}) is an Islamic assembly building, originating in West Sumatra and later becoming common and institutionalised in Malaysia, and found throughout Singapore and Thailand. Adapted from pre-Islamic assembly buildings, surau serve a similar purpose as a mosque and are used for the prayers as well as religious classes and as a local public space. A typical surau is located in a village or town and is built either in an architectural style native to the locality or in typical Islamic style.
In contemporary times, the word ''surau'' is also synonymous with musalla and refers to prayer rooms in public facilities.
==History== [[File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Een moskee bij Fort de Kock TMnr 10016669.jpg|thumb|left|Bingkudu Mosque, an archetypal Minangkabawi mosque, with its multi-tiered, curving form and exaggerated roof height]]
Surau originated in West Sumatra amongst the Minangkabau people around 1356 as a place of worship for Hindus and Buddhists, both of which were majority religions at the time.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://repository.uin-malang.ac.id/97/1/01%20Pendidikan%20Surau%20sdh.pdf|title=Melacak Akar Sejarah Pendidikan Surau: Asal-Usul, Karakteristik, Materi dan Literatur Keagamaan|language=id|trans-title=Tracing the Historical Roots of Surau Education: Origins, Characteristics, Materials and Religious Literature}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|title=Sistem Pendidikan Surau: Karakteristic, Isi dan Literatur Keagamaan|last=Fikri|first=Zainal A.|date=December 2012|journal=At-Ta'dib|issue=2|volume=17|pages=255–263|language=id|trans-title=Surau Education System: Characteristics, Content and Religious Literature}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite journal|title=The origin of the Malay Surau|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/41503204|journal=Journal of the Malayan Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society|date=1956|issn=2304-7550|pages=179–181|volume=29|issue=1 (173)|first=R. A.|last=Kern |jstor=41503204 }}</ref> Amongst the Batak people, the term "surau" was used to describe a wooden house that was used for ancestor worship, similar to a miniature temple.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite journal|title=Surau Aur: Patani Oldest Mosque|url=https://www.persee.fr/doc/arch_0044-8613_1992_num_43_1_2808|journal=Archipel|date=1992|pages=89–112|volume=43|issue=1|doi=10.3406/arch.1992.2808|first=Wayne|last=Bougas}}</ref> When the Islamic religion spread to West Sumatra, surau became a place for Muslims to perform their five daily prayers, akin to a mosque.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" /> Surau eventually spread to the Malay Peninsula.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /> They also became known as places for exclusively male education, a trait that faded after the introduction of modern schools.<ref name=":4">{{Cite journal |last1=Lukito |first1=Yulia Nurliani |last2=Iskandar |first2=Hakimullah Arif |date=2019 |editor-last=Wismadi |editor-first=A. |editor2-last=Agustiananda |editor2-first=P.A.P. |editor3-last=Fauziah |editor3-first=M. |editor4-last=Kushari |editor4-first=B. |editor5-last=Nurmiyanto |editor5-first=A. |editor6-last=Fajri |editor6-first=J.A. |title=Architecture of Surau and Its Role in Minangkabau Society: the Case of Surau Lubuak Bauak Nagari Batipuah Baruah, West Sumatra |url=https://www.matec-conferences.org/10.1051/matecconf/201928003003 |journal=MATEC Web of Conferences |volume=280 |pages=03003 |doi=10.1051/matecconf/201928003003 |issn=2261-236X|doi-access=free }}</ref>
During the Padri Wars of the 19th century, the reformist Padris, who were influenced by the Wahhabis of Najd, condemned the building of surau as places of idolatry and even burned many of them.<ref>Muhammad, Rajab (2019). ''Perang Padri di Sumatra Barat (1803–1838)'' (in Indonesian). Balai Pustaka. [https://www.pustaka.uniraya.ac.id/index.php?subject=%22Bank%22&search=Search ISBN 978-602-481-232-4].</ref> This was mainly due to the fact that many surau were Sufi institutions.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab |url=https://www.kalamullah.com/Books/Kitab%20at-Tawheed%20Explained.pdf |title=Kitāb al-Tawḥīd Explained |publisher=International Islamic Publishing House |year=1998 |isbn=9960672573 |editor-last=Strauch |editor-first=Sameh |location=Riyadh, Saudi Arabia}}</ref> These events, along with the introduction of secular schools by the Dutch colonial government in 1870 and opposition from Muslim modernists led to the decline of surau in Indonesia.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://download.ssrn.com/13/10/18/ssrn_id2342393_code1071040.pdf?response-content-disposition=inline&X-Amz-Security-Token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjEKD%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2FwEaCXVzLWVhc3QtMSJGMEQCIFNv6bzU73ysU%2FpL677BkCokbzTvWx1l4gN2gqbByQ3VAiAkSMqDa4OhVilvcxShM62E%2F6X0pWwDdlFgOJUEQ3pqUCq%2BBQhoEAQaDDMwODQ3NTMwMTI1NyIM%2B28ZGKdHP3MIaxAlKpsFi%2Bd6ryEsogJom%2FCKSglzXa7fGY92lU1lngf1FIAuSLu1BaULR7uSV7HT61gmmWXG%2Fe3TGIb9CyzBJOPYgZ4BAXl4qHYOBPh59X6d0epsb3ciQv%2Bw93z0hrmmQE3KwSlQOjTyGighqBcfeuLMCzJW6YiHee9JwRJ20ButFJHXBjhCaZWURwj0zNB7PWs4Y%2Fu%2F1IPs8kZA9OdZbJaWaQ1tnkdr%2FnpisW0yZqpvUVdLXPI4KV51wbnUXozORi%2Bq6QLYdZSqEuTDW58tL3z2jOBLbuwNB8YGtJaqlVbcd4ImjWsxLesG%2BdTreiRCn%2FmaAz7bfO844vYPSoxEWVMY7t%2B%2BPUpL3%2BfbbgX3tu67NzlzJFU%2F0XOuc5QLYrGkFI6rB9J%2F1SWfVV1eMj6jYdQGtiTR%2BYAAVGlZIJmgUElPc1u%2Fij18I%2BDbYxGli2VHtypAk7L7QqFg7%2Fe1q6Yc89oOVkGCZKyF1HRQufgsyJQyWCg3Ns40AeP3hy6BItNeYiVJdM%2B8RIsd3lGKU8wXqGkWsg6zSOerBee3T1ey%2FQZodA5%2Fixku2IsKHiJ8IyuV0srPDhKgbX7%2FNKW5rUiT63vSwSOIt6kty5dtU1JIr5qbL%2FVy3MH4B3k8KgyUvJfc9plvA5UwtJjkmrPP%2BZYQnMokw3OthvqgnCbqxULrmXYNDuGrI2KX2EIfLv33njW7P28y9BN1S1dGAZ%2B6HKYNEQbfJUoeBEV7IN2bc5INCDWAIqZAmjae66kbDMTS0SvvxYCLfZInsGQ1AbgxnH9DRa3EHWD2rxm8xZcsK7%2FZuyA3hdSvElou%2Bcb5pF%2B3FyDNQhmdHrlvH6zhPe1V7Y2Wlj6ej7DNw2IOCOhy65wLnPdgMCponYBNmB3NnuvvEnIbRzDp8ObLBjqyAYWvmqq8cz8VC3Bg%2FigWZddxMux5JStUifGddjNmwanYjEw0Fk7sXN7mcQvSejtUDxjikM57fUXy1Gy1lJsICn2DXphCRdzG9RxHEI106PRLxiD02CD6IME8EHFT3cD%2FDeIiG69Kix62mb%2Fk%2BJVW%2FwXtAkiY%2Bu4pLM3Hi3mLfqn28572ZpxztVYy4cuqjoq9tE1D%2BrgCWqtOAC%2B2732bGGmqGrO%2FuUhV%2BeidBapBBfbcyA4%3D&X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Date=20260128T080358Z&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Expires=300&X-Amz-Credential=ASIAUPUUPRWE6UKMUB6F%2F20260128%2Fus-east-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Signature=b64d1eab8bbcd6d6490bb9f4b1c47d92603a3cec651cc6f313dc27f26f5d7827&abstractId=2342393|title=Madrasah in Singapore: Tradition and modernity in religious education|last=Steiner|first=Kerstin|date=2011|journal=Intellectual Discourse|volume=19|pages=41–70|via=IIUM Press}}</ref>
In Indonesian contemporary times, surau became synonymous with musalla and were used to describe prayer rooms in shopping malls, petrol stations, hospitals, and schools.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> There has been a revival of surau usage among the Minangkabau.<ref name=":4" />
==Outside West Sumatra== ===Malaysia=== [[File:Surau Al-Furqan, Pelabuhan Klang (221023) 2.jpg|thumb|A surau in Port Klang, Malaysia]]
Surau are institutionalised and therefore common in Malaysia,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sistem Pengurusan Masjid |url=https://e-masjid.jais.gov.my/dashboard/listsurau |access-date=29 March 2026 |website=e-masjid.jais.gov.my |language=ms |trans-title=Mosque Management System}}</ref> with a presence mainly in towns and villages, but still common and widespread within cities as subclasses to mosques.
They are popular amongst Muslims, who use them to perform iʿtikāf. As in West Sumatra, "surau" can also be synonymous with musalla within the context of public facilities.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Rizal |first=Shah |date=2019 |title=The Accessibility of Mosque and Surau in Malls as Micro Mosque in the City Centre |journal=International Graduate Conference of Built Environment & Surveying |pages=171–175}}</ref>
[[File:Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Victoria-Institution-01.jpg|thumb|A surau in Kuala Lumpur, built in an Ottoman architectureal style]]
In 2024, Malaysia introduced the concept of "mobile surau", consisting of converted buses that provide increased access to prayer spaces during occasions where typical surau are not available.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=7 March 2024 |title=Surau bergerak, kemudahan dakwah di jalanan |url=https://berita.rtm.gov.my/senarai-berita-laporan-khas/pakej-berita/senarai-artikel/surau-bergerak-kemudahan-dakwah-di-jalanan/ |access-date=28 January 2026 |website=Portal Berita RTM |language=ms|trans-title=Mobile surau, facilitating da'wah on the streets}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last= |date=1 March 2024 |title=Syarikat diseru wakaf surau bergerak – Zahid |url=https://www.buletintv3.my/nasional/syarikat-diseru-wakaf-surau-bergerak-zahid/ |access-date=28 January 2026 |website=Buletin TV3 |language=ms|trans-title=Companies urged to move surau waqf – Zahid}}</ref>
===Singapore=== [[File:Surau Al-Firdaus in Kampong Lorong Buangkok.jpg|thumb|Surau Al-Firdaus, built in 1967]]
Surau have been present in Singapore since colonial times. Surau Al-Firdaus, located in Kampong Lorong Buangkok, the last surviving ''kampung'' in the country, remains active and is used daily.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |title=Surau Al-Firdaus Lorong Buangkok |url=https://www.roots.gov.sg/places/places-landing/Places/surveyed-sites/Surau-Al-Firdaus-Lorong-Buangkok |access-date=28 January 2026 |website=roots.gov.sg}}</ref> A surau is also present within the grounds of the Singapore General Hospital.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Singapore General Hospital – Housemen's Canteen {{!}} Singapore {{!}} Musollah.com |url=https://musollah.com/musollah/170 |access-date=28 January 2026 |website=musollah.com}}</ref>
With the advance of urbanisation, surau have either been demolished or turned into mosques. The latter category includes Masjid Wak Tanjong, Masjid Kampong Delta, and Masjid Hajjah Rahimabi Kebun Limau.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Wak Tanjong Legacy: From a Bugis merchant's vision in 1873 to Singapore's most innovative mosque community |url=https://about.waktanjong.org/about |access-date=28 January 2026 |website=Masjid Wak Tanjong}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Kampong Delta Mosque at Delta Avenue, circa 1994 |url=https://www.nlb.gov.sg/main/image-detail?cmsuuid=2cad192d-286a-4ef6-b5fa-9f63d68b55ea |access-date=28 January 2026 |website=National Library Board of Singapore |quote=The original surau (prayer house) was built, and completed in February 1962. It was named "Surau Kampong Delta", and officially declared open by Haji Ya'acob Mohammed on 1 July 1962.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Masjid Hajjah Rahimabi Kebun Limau |url=https://www.roots.gov.sg/places/places-landing/Places/landmarks/balestier-heritage-trail-faith-film-and-food/Masjid-Hajjah-Rahimabi-Kebun-Limau |access-date=28 January 2026 |website=roots.gov.sg |quote=The origins of this mosque date back to 1959 when Muslim residents of the surrounding area requested for land to build a surau ("prayer hall"). After the community was granted this plot of land in 1961, each Muslim family in the area contributed $20 to build Surau Kebun Limau, which opened in 1964. The surau was upgraded and renamed Masjid Kebun Limau in 1974.}}</ref> A ruined surau stands at the entrance of the Keramat Bukit Kasita cemetery and is now used as a residence for the volunteer caretaker.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Njoto |first1=Hélène |last2=Sevea |first2=Terenjit |date=2019 |title=Bukit Kasita: A Burial Ground of Rajas and Site of Architectural Heritage |url=https://hal.science/hal-04925853 |journal=NSC Highlights |issue=11 |pages=8–13}}</ref>
===Thailand=== Surau are common in Pattani province of Thailand, due to it being a former Malay kingdom.<ref name=":1" /> One such place is Surau Aur, which is built from wood and resembles a small Buddhist temple. It is considered the oldest existing Islamic institution in Thailand.<ref name=":3" />
==Architectural style== Typical surau in West Sumatra are built in the Minangkabau style of Rumah Gadang.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /> A common feature is their peaked, multi-tiered pyramidal roof, which are adapted from Buddhist and Hindu temples.<ref name=":4" /> The roofs were made of fiber or wood until the 1950s, when zinc was introduced.<ref name=":4" /> {{-}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category|Surau}}
{{Minangkabau}} {{Islam in Indonesia}} {{Islamic educational institutions}} {{Indonesian architecture}} {{Islamic architecture}} {{Sufism terminology}} {{Portal bar|Indonesia|Religion|Islam|Education|Psychology|Art|Architecture}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Islamic buildings and structures Category:Architecture in Indonesia Category:Peninsular Malaysia Category:Architecture in Malaysia Category:Buildings and structures in Sumatra Category:Islam in Indonesia Category:Islam in Malaysia Category:Islam in West Sumatra Category:Islamic architecture in Asia Category:Islamic terminology Category:Islamic education in Indonesia Category:Islamic education in Malaysia