Keramat Habib Noh

Keramat Habib Noh
Maqam Habib Noh & Masjid Haji Muhammad Salleh
Religion
AffiliationSunni Islam (Sufi)
Location
Location37 Palmer Road, Singapore 079424
CountrySingapore
Location in Singapore
Coordinates1°16′22″N 103°50′51″E / 1.2727038°N 103.8473697°E / 1.2727038; 103.8473697
Architecture
TypeMausoleum, mosque, library
StyleMausoleum: Indo-Saracenic architecture, Gothic architecture and Safavid architecture
Mosque: Malay architecture
FounderHaji Muhammad Salleh al-Betawi (Mosque)
Established1860s
CompletedMausoleum: 1890
Mosque: 1903
(Both rebuilt in 1987)
Specifications
Dome1 (Mausoleum)
Shrines2 keramats dedicated to Habib Noh and his cousin, Habib Abdurrahman

Keramat Habib Noh (Jawi: موليا حبيب نوح; Arabic: القديس حبيب نوح, transliterated al-Qiddīs Ḥabīb Nūḥ) is an Islamic religious complex located along Palmer Road in Shenton Way within the Central Area, Singapore. The religious complex comprises a mausoleum, Maqam Habib Noh, and a mosque, Masjid Haji Muhammad Salleh, as well as a library.[1] The complex has its origins in the 19th century and is the burial place of Habib Noh, whose tomb is still widely visited by not only locals, but also tourists from abroad.[2] It is considered the most famous keramat in the country.[3]

History

Habib Noh was laid to rest at the peak of the Mount Palmer hill in July 1866, in accordance with his last wishes.[4][5] According to local legend, he was originally set to be buried at the Bidadari Cemetery, but his coffin became extremely unmovable until the pallbearers made the decision to bury him atop Mount Palmer.[6][7][8] A cemetery quickly grew around the grave of Habib Noh, with his cousin Habib Abdurrahman being buried next to him in 1867.[4][9][10] A domed mausoleum was built over the tombs of both men which was later refurbished in 1890 by Syed Mohammed bin Ahmad Alsagoff, one of the head Imams of Masjid Hajjah Fatimah.[4][8][11] A friend of Habib Noh, Haji Muhammad Salleh, built a surau next to the tomb, which was rebuilt as a mosque in 1903.[1][12] The mausoleum was later rebuilt in the 1980s, along with the adjoining mosque, and reopened in 1987.[4][13][14]

The mausoleum received an extensive upgrade and revamp in 2017, which added better accessibility to the hilltop shrine and an elevator for the disabled and elderly to access the mausoleum with ease.[15][16] In 2022, the mausoleum was shut down for repair works. It was reopened in January 2026 after a very extensive renovation, which included a new dome, chandelier and brand new tombstones for the holy men, as well as a brand new library annexed to the mosque.[17][18][19]

Religious significance

The Keramat Habib Noh is a popular destination for religious tourism, with visitors coming from both the local communities as well as places overseas such as China and India to pay their respects to the buried holy men at the Maqam Habib Noh.[5] Offerings of food, such as pulut kuning (glutinous rice) and bananas are placed at the enshrined grave, which are then distributed to the needy as well as children.[5][20] Aside from that, infertile women pray to the deceased saint to grant them a child.[21] The mosque does not face the mausoleum and its qibla wall is directed at the highway instead, due to an Islamic ruling where it is not permissible to pray facing the graves.[5]

The mausoleum is also a place of folkloric stories involving miraculous events at the shrines.[8][20] One example is the story of how a Persian groundskeeper, who prevented the construction of the shrine, was struck with illnesses until he allowed the construction free of charge. Another story dates back to World War II, telling of Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighter planes bombed the shrine but did not leave any damage.[4][9] The most recent of these stories dates back to the 1980s, telling of the construction on the East Coast Parkway being disrupted until the caretakers of the mausoleum had blessed the site and allowed water to flow down Mount Palmer and reach the construction site.[4][9]

Architecture

The mausoleum, Maqam Habib Noh, stands atop a hill, with a staircase of forty-nine steps leading up to it.[8][9] The central chamber of the mausoleum is topped by a green dome and contains the enshrined tomb of Habib Noh.[17] A chandelier hangs from the brightly painted and patterned ceiling, while a wooden canopy surrounds the grave of Habib Noh.[9] Outside the central chamber, about a metre away, is the tomb of Habib Abdurrahman, which is covered by a metal grille known as zarih. The exterior of the mausoleum is inspired by European architectural styles, such as the gothic arches at the entrance.[9]

The mosque, Masjid Haji Muhammad Salleh, sits on the ground below the hill. It is built in a traditional Malay architectural style, with sloping tiered roofs.[9] Behind the mosque, in a hallway leading to a rear staircase to the mausoleum, is a small library known as the Maktabah Syed Isa that is dedicated to the late Mufti of Singapore, Syed Isa Semait.[22]

Guide books from the late 19th to early 20th centuries describe a cemetery surrounding the mausoleum.[10][21] This cemetery was exhumed in the 1980s before the reconstruction of the mausoleum.[9]

Maqam Habib Noh

  • The mausoleum after its most recent reconstruction.
  • The marble tomb of Habib Noh.
  • A view underneath the dome of the mausoleum, with a chandelier hanging from the ceiling.
  • The tomb of Habib Abdurrahman that sits outside the main tomb chamber.

Masjid Haji Muhammad Salleh

  • The roof of the mosque, which is sloped and tiered.
  • The interior of the mosque.

Miscellaneous

  • An aerial view of the Keramat Habib Noh religious complex before in 2016.
  • Maqam Habib Noh during reconstruction works in 2025. It is covered by a black tarp.
  • The new dome of the mausoleum when it was under construction in 2025. It is placed on the ground while workers work on the rest of the building.

Transportation

The mosque is mainly accessible via the Shenton Way Bus Terminal, which is within walking distance.[23] The nearest MRT station to the mosque is the Prince Edward Road MRT station on the Circle Line, which has not opened yet.[24]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Sekilas Masjid Haji Muhammad Salleh" [A Glimpse of Haji Muhammad Salleh Mosque]. Berita Harian (in Malay). 29 June 2007. p. 8.
  2. ^ "Masjid Makam" [Grave Mosque]. Berita Harian (in Malay). 29 June 2007. p. 8.
  3. ^ Rivers, P. J. (2003). "Keramat in Singapore in the Mid-Twentieth Century". Journal of the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. 76 (2 (285)): 93–119. ISSN 0126-7353.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Surattee, Muhammad Ghouse Khan (2008). The Grand Saint of Singapore: The Life of Habib Nuh bin Muhammad Al-Habshi (1st ed.). Singapore: Al Firdaus Masjid.
  5. ^ a b c d Muhammad, Faisal Husni (2018). The grave that became a shrine : the lives of keramat graves in Singapore (Thesis). Nanyang Technological University. doi:10.32657/10220/47512.
  6. ^ "Habib Noh's Tomb refused to be lifted". Sunday Tribune. 15 January 1950. p. 5.
  7. ^ Gunther, Aster (6 November 1955). "The Amazing Powers of Prophet Noah". Sunday Standard. p. 7.
  8. ^ a b c d "The miracle worker of old Singapore". New Nation. 1 September 1972. pp. 11–12.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h Gibson, William (2022). "A complete catalog of keramat in Singapore". Lee Kong Chian Research Fellowship Submission (Digitised ed.): 1–69 – via National Library Board.
  10. ^ a b Reith, G.M. (1892). Handbook to Singapore, with Map and a Plan of the Botanical Gardens. The Singapore and Straits Printing Office. pp. 61–62.
  11. ^ Samuel, D.S. (2010). Singapore’s Heritage: Through Places of Historical Interest (Revised ed.). Dhoraisingam. ISBN 9789810866518.
  12. ^ "Masjid terkenal kini seperti rumah usang" [The famous mosque is now like an old house]. Berita Harian (in Malay). 24 June 1984. p. 3.
  13. ^ "Masjid Hj Mohd Salleh mula diubahelok bulan ini" [Hj Mohd Salleh Mosque begins renovation this month]. Berita Harian (in Malay). 5 March 1986. p. 3.
  14. ^ "Masjid Hj Md Salleh siap bulan depan" [Hj Md Salleh Mosque will be ready next month]. Berita Harian (in Malay). 25 March 1987. p. 8.
  15. ^ "Masjid Haji Muhd Salleh naik taraf" [Haji Muhd Salleh Mosque upgraded]. Berita Harian (in Malay). 22 July 2017. p. 1.
  16. ^ "Historic mosque reopens after $1.46m revamp". The Straits Times. 23 July 2017. p. 5.
  17. ^ a b Chan, Gabrielle (2026-01-11). "160-year-old Maqam Habib Noh tomb fully reopens to visitors after major renovation". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 2026-03-20.
  18. ^ Hakim, Luqman (2026-01-11). "Makam Habib Noh dibuka semula sepenuhnya selepas kerja baik pulih sekitar $2j" [Habib Noh's tomb fully reopened after around $2m renovation work]. Berita Harian (in Malay). Retrieved 2026-03-20.
  19. ^ Ezat, Hidir. "Makam Habib Noh selesai jalani kerja pemuliharaan, dibuka sepenuhnya kepada awam pada 12 Jan" [Habib Noh's tomb completes conservation work, fully opened to the public on Jan 12]. BERITA Mediacorp (in Malay). Retrieved 2026-03-20.
  20. ^ a b Kassim, Ismail (28 September 1974). "Keramat is no more a mystery". New Nation. p. 7.
  21. ^ a b Mohammad Zain, Mahmood (1959). A study of Keramat worship (with special reference to Singapore) / Mohammad Zain Mahmood (Thesis). University of Malaya.
  22. ^ Aswan, Iswandi (2025-07-18). "Perpustakaan khas hidupkan legasi ilmu mantan Mufti Syed Isa Semait". Berita Harian (in Malay). Retrieved 2026-03-20.
  23. ^ https://www.streetdirectory.com/sg/palmer-road-shenton-way-terminal/23202_1.html
  24. ^ "Three new stations to close loop on Circle Line". The Straits Times. 30 October 2015. p. 1.
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