Singapore is melting pot of different people, cultures, religions, and races. But at the same time, each of them is allowed the freedom to maintain their individuality and to practice their religion without prejudice. This is what makes it one of the best places to
live and travel, and what gives you a long list of what to do and see in Singapore.
Singapore is home to many gorgeous and
iconic mosques, some have been around for centuries (and have been gazetted as national monuments) and some are brand new. Some hold a piece of history in place while others depict the beauty of modern architecture blended into culture and tradition. Either way. It is fascinating to visit them!
Here are 8 must-visit mosques in Singapore:
1. Sultan Mosque
Address: 3, Muscat Street, Singapore 198833.
Phone: +65 6293 4405
How to Get There:
Bus Services: 2, 7, 12, 32, 33, 51, 61, 62, 63, 80, 133, 145, 190, 197, 603, 851, 960, 961, 980
Nearest MRT Station: Bugis (EW12)
Masjid Sultan is a national monument and one of the first mosques to be built in Singapore (in 1824, during the colonial era). This iconic mosque has to be on top of your list of what to do and see in Singapore because it is a landmark, literally and figuratively. It is located in Central Singapore, which makes this one of the easy to
locate mosques in Singapore. Check out the onion domes decorated with glass bottle ends (donated by the poor so the mosque will have a piece of them). They also have informative
guided tours.
2. Masjid Hajjah Fatimah
Address: 4001 Beach Rd, Singapore 199584.
Phone: +65 6297 2774
How to Get There:
Bus Services: 7, 32, 51, 61, 63, 80, 82, 100, 107, 107X, 145, 197, 603, 851, 961, 980
Nearest MRT Station: Lavender (EW11)
Masjid Hajjah Fathima was constructed in 1846 using the funds donated by a wealthy lady, who ultimately ended up giving the mosque her name. The mosque was designed by colonial architect J.T. Thomson and bears a distinctive style of local and
European architecture blended. If you're looking for nearby places to pray in the Central district, this charming mosque is a great place to pay a visit to.
3. Masjid Yusof Ishak
Address: 10 Woodlands Drive 17, Singapore 737740.
Phone: +65 6893 0093
How To Get There:
Nearest Bus Station: Bus Stop 46969, 46961, 47501, 46979.
Nearest MRT Station: Admiralty (NS10)
As one of Singapore's newest mosques, Masjid Yusof Ishak – which only opened its doors in April of this year – is a gorgeous masterpiece of architecture. It blends the nuances of traditional mosques, elements of
Nusantara heritage, and modern styling. It is named after
Singapore's first president and uses influences from his own private residences as well as his favourite things, like Orchids carved onto the teak mimbar. The mosque has a capacity to host 4,500 people, and also houses an auditorium, a conference room, a roof terrace, seminar rooms, and a multipurpose hall. If you're looking for where to pray in Singapore, a visit to this brand-new mosque is well worth it!
4. Masjid Abdul Gaffoor
Address: 41 Dunlop St, Singapore 209369.
Phone: +65 6295 4209
How To Get There:
Bus Services: 64, 65, 67, 81, 85, 97, 103, 111, 130, 139, 857, 960, 980
Nearest MRT Station: Bugis (EW12)
This mosque is located in the area called
“Little India” and was originally built as a prayer place in Singapore for South Indian businessman in the year 1846. In 1903, Shaik Abdul Gaffoor began the construction of a new mosque in the same area. Meanwhile, the old mosque was demolished. It later went through a major renovation in 2003, after being made a national monument in 1979. Even today, it continues to serve many South Indian Muslims, conducting madrasah services for children and frequent sermons in Tamil. You can also take a guided tour through the mosque to learn more about it.
5. Masjid Darul Aman
Address: 1, Jalan Eunos, Singapore 419493.
Phone: +65 6744 5544
How To Get There:
Bus Services: 2, 7, 13, 15, 21, 24, 25, 26, 28, 30, 51, 55, 61, 67, 93, 94, 154, 155, 352, 385, 853, 854
Nearest MRT Station: Eunos (EW7)
Masjid Darul Aman, built in 1986, is a must-visit mosque in Singapore because it is one of the best examples of
Malay architecture and tropical architecture, making it one of the most unique mosques in Singapore. With roofs pitched high, a central hall with exposed roof beams, and minarets that are almost square in shape, it resembles buildings found in the Malay archipelago. It was, in fact, nominated for the prestigious
Aga Khan Award in 1989 because of its authenticity.
6. Masjid An-Nahdhah
Address: 9A Bishan Street 14, Singapore 579786.
Phone: 6354 3138
How To Get There:
Bus Services: 53 and 410
Nearest MRT Station: Bishan MRT Station
Located in Biswan, this mosque was inaugurated in 2006 and has the ability to accommodate over 4000 people. Masjid An-Nahdhah is said to be a “new generation mosque” that caters to “the religious and spiritual needs of the Muslim community”. The mosque building also houses
MUIS's (Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura – the governing body of all mosques in Singapore) Harmony Center that includes exhibits, artefacts and information, where visitors can learn about Islam and the Muslim community in Singapore. The mosque also deals with inter-faith understanding and similar issues faced in the modern world. Th building too seems non-traditional, looking more like a swanky office building, with a single high-reaching non-conventional minaret. It's uniqueness and the importance of it make this a must-visit mosque in Singapore.
7. Masjid Malabar
Address: 471, Victoria Street, Singapore 198370.
Phone: +65 6294 3862
How To Get There:
Bus Services: 2, 7, 12, 32, 33, 51, 61, 62, 63, 80, 107, 107X, 133, 145, 190, 197, 851, 960, 980
Nearest MRT Station: Lavender (EW11)
This is the only Malabar Muslim mosque in Singapore and is governed by the Malabar Muslim Jama'ath. It was constructed in 1927, by people from the south Indian state of
Kerala who came to Singapore to set up businesses in the textile and jewellery industries. This mosque still plays a major role in the life of the average Keralan in Singapore and is a great place to witness their culture. Apart from this, what makes Masjid Malabar a must-visit mosque in Singapore is its beautiful exterior of blue-tiled walls and shiny gold domes.
8. Masjid Darul Ghufran
Address: 503, Tampines Avenue 5, Singapore 529651
Phone: +65 6786 5545
How To Get There:
Bus Services: 3, 10, 22, 23, 31, 65, 65M, 67, 69, 72, 291, 292, 293
Nearest MRT Station: Tampines (EW2)
Masjid Darul Ghufran, located on
Tampines Avenue is a pretty popular mosque that can get pretty packed during Friday prayers, even though it has the ability to comfortably host 4500 worshipers at one time! It was built in 1990 and is the second largest mosque in Singapore. If you're in the
Simei area and are looking to find nearby mosques in Singapore, Masjid Abdul Ghufran is your best option as there aren't any others in the town. Other than convenience, what makes this a must-visit mosque in Singapore is its unique architecture of brick-clad wall panels which gives it a unique appearance almost like an indoor ground, which is pretty fascinating! Currently, the mosque is undergoing a full-scale upgrade and is scheduled to be completed in the third quarter of 2018.
