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Masjid Omar Kampong Melaka

Coordinates: 1°17′16″N 103°50′39″E / 1.2879°N 103.8441°E / 1.2879; 103.8441
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Masjid Omar Kampong Melaka
مسجد عمر کمڤوڠ ملاکا
Omar Kampong Malacca Mosque
Masjid Omar Kampong Melaka in 2006
Religion
AffiliationSunni Islam
Location
Location10 Keng Cheow Street
Singapore 059607
Country Singapore
Geographic coordinates1°17′16″N 103°50′39″E / 1.2879°N 103.8441°E / 1.2879; 103.8441
Architecture
TypeMosque
StyleIslamic architecture
Date established1820
Construction costS$936,000 (2009 Upgrade)
Specifications
Capacity500
Minaret(s)1

Masjid Omar Kampong Melaka (or Omar Kampong Malacca Mosque; Jawi: مسجد عمر کامڤوڠ ملاک) is a historic mosque in Singapore, and is located at Keng Cheow Street in the Singapore River Planning Area, within the Central Area, Singapore's central business district. It is the oldest mosque in Singapore that has survived to the modern day, built in 1820.

History

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A sign mounted on a wall of the mosque that describes the history of Masjid Omar Kampong Melaka.

Masjid Omar Kampong Melaka was first built in 1820 as a wooden, timber structure, with the construction and establishment being financed by Syed Omar Aljunied, a merchant from the Aljunied family.[1][2][3][4][5] Then in 1855, his son funded the construction of a new brick structure to replace the wooden prayer hall.[2][5][6] The mosque was at risk of being demolished in 1979 due to the redevelopment plans in the area it was located in but was eventually saved after appeals to keep the site.[1][5]

The mosque received a major reconstruction in 1981 and 1982, which added an administrative building to the mosque grounds.[7] The only minaret of the mosque was erected in 1985.[1][8] In 2009, a further renovation added a female prayer hall as well as a block for classrooms.[1][6]

The domed minaret of the mosque was only added in 1985

The mosque has been designated as a historic site in 2001 by the National Heritage Board of Singapore.[8] It has also been regarded as the oldest mosque in Singapore that has survived to the present day.[2][5][7][9] Its establishment in 1820 predates the establishment of the Sultan Mosque, which was built in 1824 but officially established in 1929.

Burials

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In a corner of the mosque's courtyard are the tombs of Syed Omar Aljunied and members of the Aljunied family.[6][5] Originally, they were entombed at Jalan Kubor Cemetery (which had a part established by them) located along Victoria Street near Kampong Glam, however in 2002 their remains were exhumed and transferred to the site of Masjid Omar Kampong Melaka, where they still rest.[5]

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Exterior

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  • The main building of Masjid Omar Kampong Melaka which contains the main prayer hall.
    The main building of Masjid Omar Kampong Melaka which contains the main prayer hall.

Minaret

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  • The minaret in 2006.
    The minaret in 2006.
  • The minaret in 2025, with the base having been repainted into a yellow-greenish colour.
    The minaret in 2025, with the base having been repainted into a yellow-greenish colour.

Interior

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  • The prayer hall of Masjid Omar Kampong Melaka.
    The prayer hall of Masjid Omar Kampong Melaka.
  • Corridor outside the prayer hall of the mosque.
    Corridor outside the prayer hall of the mosque.
  • A porch outside the prayer hall.
    A porch outside the prayer hall.
  • The minbar.
    The minbar.

Tombs

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  • The tombs of the Aljunied family within the mosque grounds.
    The tombs of the Aljunied family within the mosque grounds.
  • The tomb of Syed Omar Aljunied, with some older tombstones exhibited behind it.
    The tomb of Syed Omar Aljunied, with some older tombstones exhibited behind it.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Sharifah Zahra binte Syed Junied Aljunied (2022), Abdul Rahman Aljunied, Abdullah (ed.), "A Reverent Journey: Masjid Omar Kampong Melaka, 1820–2020 and Beyond", Masjid Omar Kampong Melaka, Singapore: Opus Editorial Pte. Ltd, ISBN 9811483663
  2. ^ a b c Fern, O.S, "Five of Singapore's Oldest Places of Worship" The Straits Times. 13 March 2014.
  3. ^ Brazil, David (1991), Street Smart Singapore, Singapore: Times Books International, ISBN 9789812040657
  4. ^ "Mosque built in 1820 now an historic site". TODAY Newspaper. 12 November 2001. p. 8.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "Memperingati 200 tahun Masjid Omar Kampong Melaka - masjid tertua dan tempat ibadat pertama S'pura". BERITA Mediacorp. Retrieved 2025-02-25.
  6. ^ a b c "Masjid Omar Kampong Melaka". www.roots.gov.sg. Retrieved 2025-02-25.
  7. ^ a b "Upgrading for oldest mosque here". The Straits Times. 30 May 2009. p. 47.
  8. ^ a b National Heritage Board (2002), Singapore's 100 Historic Places, Archipelago Press, ISBN 981-4068-23-3
  9. ^ Zaccheus, Melody (29 January 2019). "Remembering community histories". The Straits Times.
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