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).
Sights in Chinatown
These are all the sights I've grouped under Chinatown, listed in alphabetical order. I would recommend that you visit them together.
* sights of considerable interest
* * sights of major interest
Al-Abrar Mosque
Ann Siang Hill
Buddha Tooth Relic Temple * *
Eu Yan Sang
Fuk Tak Chi Museum
Jamae Mosque
Jinricksha Station *
Nagore Durgha Shrine
Seng Wong Beo Temple
Sin Chor Kung Temple
Sri Mariamman Temple * *
Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church
Telok Ayer Green
Thian Hock Keng Temple * *
Shopping in Chinatown
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.
Far East Square
People's Park Centre
People's Park Complex
Yue Hwa Emporium
Associated Sites
Al-Abrar Mosque in AsiaExplorers
Al-Abrar Mosque in EarthDocumentary
Finding Accommodation in Singapore
If you're going to Singapore, you now have the option of finding accommodation in a hotel, or look for one in hostels and guesthouses. To book a room in a star-rated hotel, use the Singapore Hotel Guide for Budget Travelers. To find accommodation in a Hostel or Guesthouse, use the Singapore Guide to Hostels and Guesthouses. Each link provides detailed listing of the type of accommodation you can expect in Singapore. Be aware that you get what you pay for. If you need a certain degree of comfort, then a star-rated hotel may be an ideal option for you. On the other hand, if you are able to forego a bit of creature comfort, then hostels and guesthouses are clean, safe, and incredibly good value for money. For accommodation in other destinations, visit Hotel Guide for Budget Travelers or Hostels & Guesthouses Accommodation Guide.
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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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