Abdul Gaffoor Mosque, Singapore

Abdul Gaffoor Mosque (10 July 2006)


Masjid Abdul Gafoor (GPS: 1.3044, 103.85366) is an Indian Muslim mosque located off Jalan Besar in the Little India neighbourhood of Rochor, Singapore. The name of this mosque is also variously written as Masjid Abdul Gaffoor, Abdul Gafoor Mosque, Abdul Gafor Mosque, Abdul Gaffor Mosque, Abdul Gaphore Mosque, Abdul Gapore Mosque, Mosque and Indian Mosque - hmm, quite a mouthful, isn't it? The mosque is painted white with outlines in cream and green, which makes the whole building look very striking. The pediment is highly decorated in stucco, with the design of a sun in the middle. It radiates 25 beams of rays, each representing a chosen prophet.

The architecture of Masjid Abdul Gafoor reflects Indian Muslim influence. It is reminiscent of mosque structures in India and similar to the Nagore Durgha Shrine in Singapore. However, the mosque was actually established by both the Indian Muslims of Little India as well as the Baweanese community who had established its settlement at Kampong Kapor, an area with a high concentration of Indian Muslim merchants.

Before Masjid Abdul Gafoor came into being, there was another mosque on the site. It was known as Masjid Al-Abrar. Built of timber in 1846, that older mosque served the religious needs of the South Indian Muslim merchants and Baweanese syces and horse trainers residing in the area.

In 1881, a deed of assignment created the Mosque Endowment, or wakaf, for the purpose of building a mosque for the Muslim community there. Also placed in trust are several other properties including a Muslim burial ground and a house in Race Course Road. The burial ground was closed in 1921.

The shophouses around the mosque was built in 1903. The person who spearheaded the construction was Shaik Abdul Gaffoor. Rental collected generated the income that was used to build the new mosque. Construction started in 1907 but the actual completion date is not certain. In 1910, the old mosque was demolished when the new mosque was still partially completed. When Shaik Gaffoor died in 1919, the mosque was apparently still not completed. After his death, his son took over the management of the mosque and the wakaf properties. When the Endowment was taken over by the Muslim and Hindu Endowments Board in 1927, the building was presumably completed.

Today, the mosque stands facing a row of shophouses that are used for Qur'an classes and other subjects, as well as for communal activities. A major restoration of the building was carried out in 2003.

Masjid Abdul Gaffoor was gazetted as a Singapore Ntional Monument on 13 July 1979.

Masjid Abdul Gafoor entrance (10 July 2006)


Masjid Abdul Gafoor (10 July 2006)


The interior of Masjid Abdul Gafoor (10 July 2006)


The interior of Masjid Abdul Gafoor (10 July 2006)

360° View of Abdul Gaffoor Mosque on Google Maps Street View

Address

Masjid Abdul Gaffoor
41 Dunlop Street,
Singapore 209369
Tel +65 6295 4209

Getting there

Take the MRT North East Line to the Little India MRT Station (NE7). From there, walk along Buffalo Road until Serangoon Road. Cross Serangoon Road, and then continue along Dunlop Street until you reach the Abdul Gaffoor Mosque on your right.

Masjid Abdul Gafoor is on the Map of Mosques in Singapore

List of the Mosques in Singapore; Sights in Singapore and Discover Singapore

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