About Al-Abrar Mosque
Al-Abrar Mosque is an Indian Muslim mosque in downtown Singapore. It is also known as Masjid Al-Abrar, Kuchu Palli and Masjid Chulia, and one of the oldest mosques in Singapore. Located at 192 Teluk Ayer Street, the Al-Abrar Mosque is a short distance from Al-Abrar Mosque and Nagore Durgha Shrine. The name Kuchu Palli means "hut mosque", due to the mosque's original rather modest structure. Al-Abrar Mosque has been at Telok Ayer Street for a long while, even before the land on the opposite side of Telok Ayer Street was reclaimed - Teluk Ayer Street used to overlook the sea. It was here that the Chulias who arrived from the Coromandel coast of South India and settled here. They are similar to the Chulias of Penang, after whom Chulia Street was named, and worshipped at the Kapitan Keling Mosque.
The Al-Abrar Mosque can trace its roots back to 1827, or perhaps even earlier, as there was already a makeshift mosque on the site at that time. The hut mosque was replaced with a brick structure around 1850-1855. In 1890, the trustee was granted a 999-year lease on the land. In 1910, five trustees were appointed to the board of the Al-Abrar Mosque. They are the same trustees for the Jamae Mosque and the Nagore Durgha Shrine.
The Al-Abrar Mosque occupies an area equal to the width of three shophouse. Although it follows the alignment of the street, it also manages to face Mecca. The architecture is Indian-Islamic, reflecting its original owners. There was little change to the appearance of the mosque, with only minor repairs done in the 1950's and mid-1980's. However, in 1986 and 1989, major renovations were carried out that changed the appearance of the mosque as we see it today. Nevertheless, the changes were sensitive to the original style.
The Al-Abrar Mosque was gazetted as a National Monument of Singapore on 29 November 1974.
Getting there
The nearest MRT station is at Raffles Place (EW14 / NS26).
Associated Sites
Al-Abrar Mosque (old version)
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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Al-Abrar Mosque (8 July 2006)
© Timothy Tye
Location Map of Al-Abrar Mosque
Inside the Al-Abrar Mosque (8 July 2006)
© Timothy Tye
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