Masjid Alkaff Upper Serangoon

Masjid Alkaff Upper Serangoon
مسجد الكاف أعالي سيرانغون
Religion
AffiliationSunni Islam
Location
Location66 Pheng Geck Avenue, Singapore 348261
CountrySingapore
Location in Singapore
Coordinates1°19′59″N 103°52′14″E / 1.3330372°N 103.8704843°E / 1.3330372; 103.8704843
Architecture
TypeMosque
StyleIndo-Saracenic architecture
Moorish architecture
Ottoman architecture
FounderAlkaff family
Established1920s
Completed1932
2014 (renovation)
Specifications
Minaret1
Minaret height24 metres
Designated as NHL
Designated19 December 2014 (19 December 2014)
Reference no.68

Masjid Alkaff Upper Serangoon (Jawi: مسجد الكاف أعالي سيرانغون) is a historic mosque located in Potong Pasir within the Central Region, Singapore. It was built in 1932 by Syed Abdul Rahman Alkaff, the head of the prestigious Alkaff family. The mosque was extensively renovated in 2014 and subsequently gazetted as a national monument.

Background

Main article: Alkaff family

The Alkaffs were a prestigious Arab Muslim family that came from Hadhramaut, Yemen. They mainly took up professions as traders and merchants upon their arrival in Singapore. Aside from their wealthy, noble status, the Alkaffs were prolific builders and constructed monuments and mosques around the country, which include the Alkaff Arcade, Alkaff Mansion, Masjid Bidadari, and Masjid Alkaff Kampung Melayu. After the Second World War, the Alkaffs lost their prominence due to them selling off several of their properties including Alkaff Mansion to deal with financial losses.[1][2][3]

History

The mosque had its origins in the 1920s, when architectural firm Westerhout & Oman were hired by the Alkaffs with the task of designing plans for the proposed mosque which were completed in 1927. However, the project was delayed after one of the firm's founders had passed away in 1929, leaving his partner unable to complete the project and hence abandoning it.[4][5][6] The Alkaffs then hired another contractor, Swan & Maclaren, to finish the project and prepare alternative designs for the proposed mosque.[4][5] Syed Abdul Rahman Alkaff, the patriarch of his family, proceeded to donate his land as well as a large sum of money as awqāf to build the mosque, which was finally completed in 1932.[6][7][8] In 2007, the mosque served as a replacement for the nearby Masjid Bidadari, which was closed down and scheduled for demolition.[9] Due to the old nature and small stature of the mosque, an extensive renovation project to expand the mosque was announced in 2011.[10] The renovation works started on 5 May 2012, with a small portion of the mosque being demolished to allow access for vehicles.[11] To raise more funds to complete the project faster, the mosque held a fishing event for families.[12]

Masjid Alkaff Upper Serangoon was ultimately reopened on 29 March 2014. Yaacob Ibrahim, then the Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs, was present at the reopening ceremony of the mosque along with several representatives from the Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS).[13][14] Then on 19 December 2014, the mosque was gazetted as the 68th national monument of Singapore.[15][16] A monumental plaque commemorating its status as a national monument was also installed at the entrance of the mosque in 2015.[17]

After the reopening, the mosque was nominated for an award from the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA). It subsequently emerged as a winner and was one of four buildings which won the URA's Architectural Heritage Award.[18] In the case of the mosque, it was due to the mosque's exterior and interior detailing as well as the pyramidal roof being meticulously preserved and remaining mostly the same as it was before the 2014 renovations.[19] It was the second mosque to win the Architectural Heritage Award, the first being Masjid Abdul Gaffoor, which is also a national monument.[20][21]

Architecture

Masjid Alkaff Upper Serangoon is built in a mixture of various styles. The main building of the mosque is European in appearance, with Indo-Saracenic and Moorish influences.[4][22] Traditional Malay architectural features are also present in the mosque, which consist of the pyramidal roof and the wooden minbar.[4][22] The minaret of the mosque is built in the style of Ottoman architecture, complete with the fluted balcony and a pointed conical tip at the end.[8][19]

The mosque still looks the same as it was before the 2014 renovation, except there is now a large annex building adjoined to the rear of the mosque.[23][24] Shing Design Atelier Pte Ltd, one of the contractors of the project, helped to ensure that the mosque still retained its familiar exterior and general shape.[25]

  • The mosque when viewed from across the end of Pheng Geck Avenue.
  • The minaret of the mosque, which is built in the Ottoman architectureal style.
  • Inside the main prayer hall of the mosque.
  • The minbar (pulpit) of the mosque.
  • An area for Iʿtikāf inside the mosque, situated just right outside the main prayer hall.
  • Detail of carvings on a pillar of the mosque.

Transportation

Masjid Alkaff Upper Serangoon is located at the end of Pheng Geck Avenue and is within a 1km walking distance from Potong Pasir MRT station of the North–East MRT line.[26]

See also

References

  1. ^ "When Alkaff House was a household word". Archived from the original on 1 September 2024. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
  2. ^ Venkat, Naveen (10 August 2018). "The OG Crazy Rich Asians Of Singapore Came From The Arab Community". MS News - Independent News For Singaporeans. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
  3. ^ Renee, Seow (2011). "Alkaff Mansion". National Library Board. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
  4. ^ a b c d "Alkaff Upper Serangoon Mosque, National Monuments of Singapore". Roots. Retrieved 6 March 2026.
  5. ^ a b Eunos, Nadzri (5 January 2007). "Giat hidupkan masjid agar tidak terkubur" [Actively revive the mosque so that it is not buried]. Berita Harian (in Malay). p. 4.
  6. ^ a b Eunos, Nadzri (5 January 2007). "Sekilas" [A Glimpse]. Berita Harian (in Malay). p. 4.
  7. ^ Hazman, Muhammad (14 July 2024). "Masjid Alkaff Upper Serangoon sambut 10 tahun sebagai Monumen Negara" [Masjid Alkaff Upper Serangoon celebrates 10 years as a National Monument]. Berita Harian (in Malay). Retrieved 6 March 2026.
  8. ^ a b "A mosque with a minaret that stands out". The Straits Times. 11 May 2017. p. 9.
  9. ^ "Several alternatives available after Bidadari Mosque closes". The Straits Times. 18 May 2007. p. 56.
  10. ^ "Masjid Lama "bakal" berwajah baru" [The old mosque "will" have a new look]. Berita Harian (in Malay). 14 February 2011. p. 11.
  11. ^ "Masjid mula jadi peningkatan" [Improvisation works are beginning in the mosque]. Berita Harian (in Malay). 5 May 2012. p. 7.
  12. ^ "Pancing derma" [Charitable fishing]. Berita Harian (in Malay). 14 November 2013. p. 12.
  13. ^ "Mosque reopens after upgrade". The Straits Times. 29 March 2014. p. 8.
  14. ^ "Masjid Alkaff Upper Serangoon dirasmi" [Masjid Alkaff Upper Serangoon has been inaugurated]. Berita Harian (in Malay). 29 March 2014. p. 2.
  15. ^ "Mosque added to monument list". The Straits Times. 19 December 2014. p. 10.
  16. ^ "Masjid Alkaff jadi monumen negara" [Masjid Alkaff becomes a national monument]. Berita Harian (in Malay). 19 December 2014. p. 2.
  17. ^ "Mosque honoured with monument plaque". The Straits Times. 17 January 2015. p. 15.
  18. ^ Zaccheus, Melody (19 October 2015). "Alkaff Upper Serangoon Mosque among 4 winners of URA Architectural Heritage Awards". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 6 March 2026.
  19. ^ a b "Restored Alkaff mosque wins heritage design award". The Straits Times. 20 October 2015. p. 2.
  20. ^ Ho, Karl (17 October 2003). "Awards Laud Fusion". The Straits Times. pp. 1–3.
  21. ^ "Anugerah seni bina bagi Masjid Abdul Gafoor" [Architectural award for Masjid Abdul Gaffoor]. Berita Harian (in Malay). 18 October 2003. p. 21.
  22. ^ a b Zaccheus, Melody (7 April 2018). Monumental Treasures: Singapore's Heritage Icons (1st ed.). Singapore: Straits Times Press.
  23. ^ "Wajah Baru Masjid" [New Face of the Mosque]. Berita Harian (in Malay). 5 May 2014. p. 13.
  24. ^ "Fasa baru Masjid Alkaff" [A new phase for Masjid Alkaff]. Berita Harian (in Malay). 29 March 2014. p. 37.
  25. ^ "Alkaff Mosque Upper Serangoon - URA Architectural Heritage Award 2015". Shing Design Atelier. 4 January 2022. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
  26. ^ "Masjid Alkaff Upper Serangoon (Mosque) - 66 Pheng Geck Avenue (S)348261". www.streetdirectory.com. Retrieved 6 March 2026.
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