The mosque, also known as the White Mosque or the Big Mosque, was built by Sultan Zainal Abidin II between 1793 and 1808.

During the reign of Sultan Umar, the mosque was replaced with one made out of bricks. Tengku Panglima Besar later extended it with three round pillars and three minarets. The mosque underwent renovation recently, in order to accommodate about 2,500 people in a single prayer session.

Carved on the mosque’s entrance doors and grills are several calligraphic carvings of verses from the Holy Quran, prayers and arabesques.