About Abdul Gaffoor Mosque
Abdul Gaffoor Mosque is an Indian Muslim mosque located at off Jalan Besar in Little India. 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 architecture is distinctly Indian Muslim, reminiscent of mosque structures in India and similar to the Nagore Durgha Shrine in Singapore. 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.
Abdul Gaffoor Mosque is located in Kampong Kapor, an area with a high concentration of Indian Muslim merchants. Previously, there was another mosque on that site, called Masjid Al-Abrar, built of timber in 1846 to serve the religious needs of the South Indian Muslim merchants and Baweanese syces and horse trainers residing in Kampog Kapor.
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.
Abdul Gaffoor Mosque Tourist Info
Masjid Abdul Gaffoor
41 Dunlop Street Singapore 209369
Tel (65) 6295 4209
Getting there
To come here direct, the nearest MRT stations are the Bugis Station (EW12) and Little India Station (NE7).
Sights in Little India
These are all the sights I've grouped under Little India, listed in alphabetical order. I would recommend that you visit them together. See the Little India Walking Tour for a recommended walk of this area.
Abdul Gaffoor Mosque *
Angullia Mosque
Beo San Hood Chor Temple
Church of the True Light
Foochow Methodist Church
Hock Siew Tong Temple
Kampong Kapor Methodist Church
Leong San See Temple
Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hall
Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple (Temple of 1000 Lights) *
Shree Lakshminarayan Temple
Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple *
Sri Vadapathira Kaliamman Temple *
Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple *
Shopping in Little India
The following are places where you can do a bit of shopping. These include places where the locals shop for their local items, but it provides an interesting glimpse of life in Singapore.
Little India Arcade
Mustafa Centre
Serangoon Plaza
Tekka Market
Where to stay
There is a wide selection of accommodation providers in Singapore. They range from budget inns and guesthouses to luxurious boutique hotels and branded chains. Your choice is entirely dependent on your budget and level of comfort expected. For mainstream hotels, check out hotels in Singapore for the best online prices, sourced from all the major providers. For guesthouses and other budget providers, check out hostels in Singapore for those with online booking facilities.
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Abdul Gaffoor Mosque (10 July 2006)
© Timothy Tye
Location Map of Abdul Gaffoor Mosque
Abdul Gaffoor Mosque (10 July 2006)
© Timothy Tye
Abdul Gaffoor Mosque (10 July 2006)
© Timothy Tye
Abdul Gaffoor Mosque (10 July 2006)
© Timothy Tye
Abdul Gaffoor Mosque (10 July 2006)
© Timothy Tye
Abdul Gaffoor Mosque
author: Noud in 
Abdul Gaffoor Mosque at night
author: djnikkei in
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