Sultan Mosque

pics by hyacinthus

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http://img137.exs.cx/img137/3000/dscn00438yd.jpg

Hajjah Fatimah mosque was built in the 1840s by a wealthy buisinesswoman, in gratitude for several perilous escapes from danger. She married a Bugis Prince from the Celebes, the son of the Raja of those countries. Besides that, she also carried on a large trade, owning many vessles and prows. It was only after her death that the buisiness came to be called after her son-in-law, Syed Ahmed. Raja Siti, her only child, married Syed Ahmed Alsagoff, an Arab Trader who came to Singapore after it was established as a British trading settlement. Mother, Daughter and Son in law are all buried in a private enclosure in the mosque grounds.

http://www.knowledgenet.com.sg/singapore/Chronicle/Oct2000/Pix/fatimah.jpg
http://www.mosque.org.sg/monuments/images/fatimah.jpg

the minaret supposedly tilts by 6 degrees! according to some website... the minaret looks like something you find in a church.. it doesnt look like it's tilting though maybe its been corrected.

http://www.sia.org.sg/architect/ici/2000/images/cat-c2.jpg

I thought that was a church next to the mosque! :eek: Where is it located?

Here is Malabar Mosque, near the Sultan Mosque

http://www.fascinationsoftware.com/SR/media/Pics/y768/Singapore_church-2.jpg

http://www.postcolonialweb.org/singapore/images/mosques/mosque2.jpg

http://www.postcolonialweb.org/singapore/images/mosques/mosque4.jpg

Malabar Mosque, known as the Golden Dome Mosque is situated at the corner between Victoria Street and Jalan Sultan.
This is the only Mosque in Singapore which is fully managed by the Malabar Muslim Community.This is the place where all our Malabar Muslims gather during Friday, Aidil Fitri, Aidil Adha or any other major functions. The new outlook of the mosque also attracts people from all corners.

Building this mosque started in the late 50s by the Malabari Community who were headed by the Malabar Muslim Jama-ath (Association that leading all the activities organised in the mosque). Malabar Muslim Jama-ath was established in 1927 and was registered in 1929 and functioned from a shop house at Changi Road. The Malabar Muslim Jama-ath's office shifted to Bussorah Street and finally established at 471, Victoria Street where it is today.

After some period the Malabar Muslim Jama-ath with the help of the Malabar Muslims had a plan to build a mosque at Victoria Street. With this plan in mind, a stone laying ceremony was held on 10th April 1956 by the Mufti of Johor, Tuan Syed Alwi Adnan who had represented the Sultan Ibrahim bin Abu Bakar of Johor.

The constructions of the mosque which started in full force was slowed down due to the lack of funds. With the Grace of The Almighty God, the Jama-ath officials braved rain and sun, and put in all their efforts to collect funds for the completion of the project. Many Muslim and Non-Muslim friends supported in cash and kind and finally the mosque was completed. The mosque was finally declared opened on 24th January 1963 by the Yang di-Pertuan Negara, Encik Yusof bin Ishak, the first President of Singapore.

Singapore's rapid development and progress and the mosque's location in city area, had encouraged the Mosque and the Jama-ath Management Committee to renovate externally. Special designed tiles Gold/Blue colour were ordered, with the effort and hardwork of both management committees, the external renovation were completed. The location, design and color had attracted many tourists and passers-by. The efforts of the committees did not stop there, as a cost cutting measure on the annual painting, they decided to continue renovating the interior of the mosque. By 1995 the whole mosque was fully tiled.

The Malabar Muslim Jama-ath and Mosque Management Committee is now well known to all Malayalees in Asia.

http://www.mosque.org.sg/malabar/about.html

At Beach Road ,opposite the St. John Headquaters.I always pass by that mosque and never fail to stare at it whenever I go pass it.

Mosque located at Jalan Sultan
http://img73.photobucket.com/albums/v222/ylstan03/Bus%20ride/DSCN20301.jpg

There's a small cemetery behind it.

Keramat Habib Noh is located at the southern end of the CBD.

http://dbe4.sfogs.com/newhabib17.jpg

The odd thing is, if you look at the map, the ECP seems to avoid the building.

Quoted from SFOGS website:

"During World War 2, bombs mercilessly destroyed the surrounding vicinity as well as the burial ground at Mount Palmer but Keramat Habib Noh remained miraculously untouched! Due to its historical value and wakaf land status, Keramat Habib Noh now stands as a symbolic monument and no form of excavation is literally allowed, or bad luck would befall. Allegedly, it is believed that the original structure design of the East Coast Park expressway (ECP) cuts through the mausoleum but construction works failed mysteriously. If you were to take a closer look today, you will find that the ECP actually bends around Keramat Habib Noh, suggesting that this famous rumour could be true afterall. Drivers who believe in the story never fail to say a prayer for Habib Noh each time they drive by the bend."

What's your take on this?

Is it opposite Marina House? When I was young I remember seeing an Islamic/Middle Eastern looking mosque near there. Is it safe to go near it or its haunted?

Yup

People say it's very holy.


I think this structure is 'new' built over the grave.There's a pic on A2O dated 1970s which shows it u/c.

actually it looks kinda fascinating and it might be interesting to check it out although it would seem quite difficult to access it...

There's a very small Chinese temple near it.A miracle it is still there, as it isn't conserved.

Oh this mosque.....always see it when i take bus 30......:yes:

There's a little mosque 'hidden' off Mount Pleasant, at Jalan Mashhor that is built in 1820!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The name is Masjid Omar Salmah. :eek2:


Can someone check it out?

1820?

I thought the oldest buildings here were those old Parliament Buildings?

No....Surely not... ;)

There's a small Chinese temple near URA Centre that was also built in the 1820s


But it said it was renonvated or something...Can't remember...I can't find the URA brouchure about Chinatown.

But it said it was renonvated or something...Can't remember...I can't find the URA brouchure about Chinatown.

try the Chinatown Heritage Centre

btw how did you discover about this mosque?

I was at Mount Pleasant, when my father wanted to take a look at more bungalows, we ended up driving to the road, only to see the Circle Line site (another suprise) off Jalan Mashhor. Thinking that the road was blocked, we went back. So at home, I searched the street directory, and found a mosque there. Upon googling, I found its info.

Malabar Mosque

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/rotpics03/kgglam2.jpg

http://img115.exs.cx/img115/9206/malabar2kx.jpg

Mosque in Little India

http://www.pbase.com/image/38058422.jpg

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Revived to its former glory befitting that of a national monument, the Abdul Gafoor Mosque, located at No. 41 Dunlop Street, garnered another accolade recently - by becoming the first mosque to win a URA Architectural Heritage Award.

The mosque, a single-storey masonry structure, was built in 1907 to replace the Masjid Al-Abrar which was constructed in 1859. In the early 1990s, the mosque committee wanted to add a single-storey extension to create more prayer space. This led to the discovery that the structural integrity of the building was at risk. It also started an intense effort to save the mosque from a gradual and certain collapse, and spurred the remarkable restoration of this religious national monument.

To prevent the existing mosque from serious damage, its structure was underpinned using micropiles. At the same time, the existing sub-basement was deepened and enlarged to a full basement to create additional prayer space and to take advantage of the underpinning work. The creation of a basement beneath an existing masonry structure with a complete change in the foundation system was a first of its kind in the world.

With the structure secure, artisans and craftsmen tackled the finer details. Colours were used to bring out the features of the mosque. Missing minarets and the original boundary walls were reinstated. So were the original arches and arch details. Calligraphy plasterworks were restored, word by word.

about the nicest mosque interior i hv ever seen...in s'pore tht is
http://img151.exs.cx/img151/4062/sultanmosquete2be.jpg
trekearth

Sultan Mosque?:? :D

yes it is!!!...it's amazing hw u can guess tht one just by looking at the interior...i had to look at the file name to confirm...:doh:

Discover this underground mosque in Raffles Place....:yes:

http://img154.exs.cx/img154/355/dscn237311hm.jpg

yes, its one of those hidden mosques in office buildings, another one is hidden at the top of the lift core in Environment Building

Eh?! :eek:
Environ has one too?


But some are merely suraus instead of real mosques... :yes:

http://img100.exs.cx/img100/6820/img3355sm3bz.jpg

where is that? What's the name of the mosque? how old is it?

where is that? What's the name of the mosque? how old is it?

err...I think there's some discussion on it somewhere earlier in the thread or in some other thread. It's at Palmer Road. Forgot the name heh.

Oh, that's a Keramat. I forgot the name.......

Urban legend has it that the ECP avoided it...

What is a keramat?

anyway that building looks very special, and the grounds look well-kept.

How do you get up there anyway?

What is a keramat?

I am interested to know too.

From the web - The Malay term ‘keramat’ originated from the Arabic ‘karamah’ which refers to a close friend of god, a pious person or blessed. A keramat is hence a shrine built over the grave of such a well-respected person.

An informal definition from a malay friend - a burial place for a holy person.

It's Keramat Habib Noh... :yes:
A keramat is like a shrine or monument built over a grave.

23 Apr 2005
Hajjah Fatimah Mosque

http://img175.echo.cx/img175/8715/dsc31821jq.jpg

http://img175.echo.cx/img175/3273/dsc31920sa.jpg

a very special looking mosque

heard that the spire is a bit slanted :eek:

I didn't notice... you have a picture of that slanted spire?

Hajjah Fatimah was a wealthy businesswoman from Malacca and something of a local socialite. She married a Bugis prince from Celebes, and their only child, a daughter, married Syed Ahmed Alsagoff, son of Arab trader and philanthropist Syed Abdul Rahman Alsagoff. Hajjah Fatimah had originally built a home on this site, but after it had been robbed a couple of times and later set fire to, she decided to build a mosque here and moved to another home.
Inside the high walls of the compound are the prayer hall, an ablution area, gardens and mausoleums, and a few other buildings. You can walk around the main prayer halls to the garden cemeteries, where flat square headstones mark the graves of women and round ones mark the graves of men. Hajjah Fatimah is buried in a private room to the side of the main prayer hall, along with her daughter and son-in-law.

The minaret tower in the front was designed by an unknown European architect and could be a copy of the original spire of St. Andrew's Cathedral. The tower leans a little, a fact that's much more noticeable from the inside. On the outside of the tower is a bleeding heart -- an unexpected place to find such a downright Christian symbol. It's a great example of what makes this mosque so charming -- all the combined influences of Moorish, Chinese, and European architectural styles.



some info from the web!

interesting find. She is actually buried in the mosque...

Thanks Xpose. :)

I didn't notice... you have a picture of that slanted spire?

hmm..redstone mentioned it before, and I noticed the slant when I was there myself...but dont have a picture that captures it. Will post some interior shots later.

meanwhile heres some info

http://img256.echo.cx/img256/3048/dsc31849da.jpg

As mentioned, some interior shots.

A look at ground level
http://************/4talav

The main entrance gate
http://************/4talh2

Clocks, the big one on the left shows Singapore-time, the one on the right shows Mecca-time.
http://************/4talj5

Outside the prayer hall
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/rotpics03/hfm.jpg


Inside
http://files.photojerk.com/RafflesCity/hfm2.jpg

oic...

Not sure about the name. The mosque is near Taman Jurong Neighbourhood shopping centre.

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/5250/dscn04367nc.jpg

Nice one there :cool:

Still retains the traditional look of the minarets.

Whats that red-roofed structure in the foreground?

Taman Jurong Neighbourhood shopping centre. ;)

12 Aug 2005
Sultan Mosque

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/4974/dsc77301fv.jpg

12 Aug 2005
Sultan Mosque - Closeup

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/7574/dsc77253wa.jpg

its a very very grand building...just looks so powerful in the still of night.....

More pics of Sultan Mosque

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/abst.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/rotpics03/sulmosque.jpg

I think it has Art Deco elements?

Art Deco?

come to think of it...very vaguely...the style seems from Islamic to me. Was it built in the Art-Deco era?

I think baqthier posted a pic of an art-deco mosque in Malaysia before though :)

Ya, built in 1930s.
Oh nvm.... :D :lol:


Oh this?
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/504/9artklang1.jpg
It looks so surreal... :cool:

Plan for mosques in all HDB estates on track for 2010

7 Jan 06

Rise in Muslims' monthly contributions makes it possible for last 2 mosques under scheme to be built

By Vivi Zainol

BY 2010, a 30-year programme to build mosques for Muslim residents in all HDB housing estates should be complete.

http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/mnt/media/image/launched/2006-01-07/03.jpg

An increase of nearly 30 per cent in monthly contributions for the Mosque Building and Mendaki Fund (MBMF) has made it possible for the last two mosques under the programme to be built.

Said Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) president Alami Musa: 'Thanks to the support of the Muslim community, the monthly collection is now $410,000, up from $330,000.

'But we still need at least $21 million for the two mosques in Sengkang and Punggol.'

Mr Alami added that Muis is in the process of purchasing a 2,500 sq m piece of land for the Sengkang mosque, which will cost about $3 million. Construction will begin late this year and the mosque will be ready by the end of 2008.

Mr Alami was speaking to reporters after the first Friday prayers held at the newly opened An-Nahdhah mosque in Bishan. Last July, Muis revised the rates for the Mosque Building and Mendaki Fund (MBMF) contributions, when rising land and construction costs created a projected $4.5 million deficit in the programme.

The increase, ranging from $1 to $6, affected those earning above $2,000, which covers 40 per cent of 158,000 Muslim employees who contribute to the fund.

Employers of Muslims deduct part of their pay, which is collected by the Central Provident Fund Board and remitted to Muis.

Since 1975, 22 mosques have been built and as much as $105 million collected.

The average cost of building a mosque is $8 million, excluding the average $3 million cost of purchasing the land.

The new An-Nahdhah mosque, built at a cost of $8.5 million, will serve residents from Bishan, Shunfu, Sin Ming and Bright Hill HDB housing estates.

It is the only one of the 69 mosques in Singapore that has a centre to promote a better understanding of Islam to non-Muslims.

When it opens in June, the Harmony Centre will conduct activities such as seminars, dialogues and camps.

Hi,
This thread is excellent. I didn't know singapore had such beautiful mosques and buildings!! It is quite fascinating.

Peace.

Keramat Habib Noor

http://files.photojerk.com/RafflesCity/keramat.jpg

The Wang Hai Do Bo Gong Temple beside it is the oldest temple here.

Wang Hai means 'looking over the sea' or 'seaview'. Da Bo Gong is the name of the diety housed.


Habib Noh, passed away in 1866:
http://www.naqshbandi.org/events/asia97/habibnoh.htm

strange...I thought Thian Hock Keng was the oldest....the temple you mentioned doesnt seem very well known then

A mosque in Chinatown

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/rotpics03/1803.jpg

Sultan Mosque again :D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/arabview.jpg

Planned Islamic hub to be learning centre

9 Sep 06

To be ready by 2008, Braddell development will help Muis build greater overseas links

By Zakir Hussain

http://straitstimes.asiaone.com/STI/STIMEDIA/image/20060908/ST_IMAGES_POLZAMOSQUEt.jpg

A SINGAPORE Islamic Hub is being built in Braddell Road not just for the local Muslim community, but for others who want to learn from it as well.
The hub will feature Madrasah Al-Irsyad, a rebuilt Muhajirin Mosque and an 11-storey-high building housing the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis).

Muis is now going abroad and 'internationalising' some of its services, Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim told reporters yesterday.

Earlier, he joined some 1,000 other Muslims who were performing the final Friday prayer at the Muhajirin Mosque before rebuilding work starts next week. The new hub will give Muis space for the new Muis Academy.

The academy will train members of the Muslim community and enable Muis to share Singapore's model of religious administration with groups from abroad.

In recent weeks alone, Muis hosted some 600 mosque officials from Terengganu keen to learn more about mosque programmes here. Muis will also be able to run courses from introductory to postgraduate level, through tie-ups with distinguished institutions like the Al-Azhar University in Cairo.

Last month, Muis announced it was collaborating with Al-Azhar on a diploma programme in Islamic Theology. A Muis statement said the decision to develop the hub was made after considering the mosque's dilapidated state, Muis' increased size and the fact that Madrasah Al-Irsyad has not had a permanent home since it was established in 1947.

The hub will also have a shared building with an underground car park, a multi-purpose hall and cafeteria.

It is expected to be ready by the end of 2008.

Yesterday's prayer was a significant occasion as the Muhajirin Mosque was the first to be built under the Mosque Building Fund in 1977.

The fund, supported by monthly deductions from the salaries of Muslim Singaporeans, has helped build 22 mosques throughout Singapore.

Said Haji Jaafar Sabar, 72, who was a member of the mosque's inaugural fund-raising committee set up in 1970: 'It's hard not to be sad, the mosque is like my second wife.''

But the retired utilities meter reader, who recalls going door to door to raise funds in the 1970s, said a rebuilt mosque would benefit the community better.

Yesterday, Dr Yaacob urged the Muslim community to continue supporting the mosque's fundraising efforts.

It still needs $5.7 million. The hub costs a total of $32.5 million.

Muis also started operations at a new location in Lorong 6, Toa Payoh.

not sure if this mosque post before :D

Mosque in Holland Village :D
http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/614/hollandvillage001spb6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

never quite noticed it before, but nice colour contrast! :happy:

^^ thanks :D

So kampong... :)

I believe that the Sultan Mosque in Singapore - yes, it is Art Deco influenced, and also, based on the pattern books that were popular in British-ruled India, on *typical* and *correct* Moghul style to be used for *native* buildings....

The original mosque was more of a pyramidal roofed South East Asian typology, similar to what you can see in Melaka.

Unusually, this mosque seems to be the only one that I know of to have TWO equal sized domes - probably a design intention to create a presence from multiple vistas - from Bussorah Street, from North Bridge Road (now sadly blocked by a Huge angsana tree) and from Jalan Pisang.

I hope one day that they will open up one of the Minarets for public to climb up to view.... it must be amazing....

The original mosque was more of a pyramidal roofed South East Asian typology, similar to what you can see in Melaka.


Are there any existing pictures of it? I have seen a drawing of it in this book, which contains tons of great old pics from Singapore.

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/0700715843.01._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-dp-500-arrow,TopRight,45,-64_AA240_SH20_OU01_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

Shame to demolish old Bidadari Mosque

8 May 07

IT IS a pity the old mosque at the entrance to Bidadari Cemetery will soon be demolished.
Little is known of when this mosque was built. It was originally used to prepare bodies before burial. Later, it was used as a surau, or small place for prayers. In 1991, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) declared it a mosque.

Based on the date it became a mosque, it is barely 16 years old. But based on when the original building was built, it is more than 100 years old. This building deserves to be a national monument.

Bidadari, which covers 57ha of land, was originally a palace ground. The palace was built by Sultan Abu Bakar for his second wife in 1885. No one knows why the palace was demolished, but it has vanished and all that remains is the small building now called Bidadari Mosque. The land was converted into a cemetery with its first burial in 1910.

The cemetery catered to 75,000 Muslims in 63 years from 1910 to 1973. The remains were relocated between August 2002 and October 2003.

This is the only mosque with ample parking space. It can easily accommodate 50 cars and 100 motorcycles. It is thus a favourite with taxi drivers, deliverymen and motorcyclists who visit for Friday prayers.

For the past three months, I have frequented this mosque. I notice there are always more than 350 faithful there. Nearly half of them drive or ride a motorcycle. I see regular faces every Friday.

When the mosque closes next month, it will be a pity. I wonder where these people will go. Other mosques nearby such as Alkaff, Al-Istiqamah, Haji Yussoff and Sallim Mattar are always full. Worse, they have no parking facilities.

Is it true Bidadari will be converted into a park? If so, why not leave the mosque alone until the last day when the redevelopment project happens? Better still, allow this active mosque to remain standing as a national monument.


Abdul Rahim Ngarsi

WAH!!!!

I've seen articles on "Istana Bidadari" but can't find any info on it.

is there a picture of it? I heard the area is 'beautiful'

Hi all.

There was an article in the ST Forum regarding the Bidadari Mosque on 8 May 2007 by one Abdul Rahim Ngarsi. Any one has any idea how to get in touch with this gentleman?

Your help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

On a gloomy rainy day...Taken from backside of the mosque

Regret for the quality and size of the pic. Original size is smaller and with better resolution. Help me on how to upload the original size of the picture. I'm using imageshack to upload.

http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/5517/hajahrahimabikimkeat.jpg (http://img198.imageshack.us/i/hajahrahimabikimkeat.jpg/)

http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/7606/anguillia.jpg (http://img14.imageshack.us/i/anguillia.jpg/)