Masjid Khadijah

Masjid Khadijah
Masjid Khadijah is located in Singapore
Masjid Khadijah
Location in Singapore
Religion
AffiliationSunni Islam
SectSufi (Qadiriyya wa Naqshbandiyya)
Location
Location583 Geylang Road, Singapore 389522
CountrySingapore
Coordinates1°18′51″N 103°53′10″E / 1.3140472°N 103.8861230°E / 1.3140472; 103.8861230
Architecture
ArchitectsHiladt Architects (Reconstruction, 2003)[1]
TypeMosque
StyleEclectic
Completed1920 (Original structure)
2003 (Reconstruction)
Specifications
Capacity1,000
Minaret1

Masjid Khadijah is a mosque located along Geylang Road in the Central Region of Singapore. Built in 1920, the present day mosque was reconstructed in 2003 while preserving most architectural features of the original. It is named after Khadijah binti Mohammed, an Indian Muslim businesswoman who endowed land for its construction. It is a Sufi mosque, affiliated with the Qadiri and Naqshbandi orders of Sufism.

History

Khadijah binte Mohammed, an Indian Muslim merchant and trader, endowed land along Geylang Road for the mosque to be built, while also donating a sum of $50,000 for the construction of the mosque in 1915.[2][3] Between 1915 and 1919, the mosque was built in stages and ultimately completed in 1920.[4] A cemetery was also established in the courtyard of the mosque, which was actively used for burials until 1973 and exhumed in 1997.[5] After the approval to carry out restoration works had been obtained, the mosque ran a campaign in 1985 for donations to fund a complete renovation of the mosque.[6] Another campaign was made in 1995 for the collection of at least $2.5 million in donations in order to complete the renovation.[7] In 1997, the mosque had increased in dilapidation, to the point where the floor of the main prayer hall was infested with maggots, while the stained glass windows had shattered completely.[8] Then in 1998, the Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS) publicized a campaign for reconstructing mosques in Singapore, including Masjid Khadijah, with the goal of increasing its capacity to accommodate more worshippers due to growing Muslim population in Geylang.[9] In 1999, a row of shophouses next to the mosque was purchased and used as mosque properties that were to be conjoined into the mosque once a reconstruction was able to carried out.[10][11]

The main prayer hall of Masjid Khadijah

A model of an upgraded version of the mosque was showcased on 19 November 1999 after approval for a reconstruction project had been achieved.[11] The aim of the reconstruction was to preserve as much of the older structure as possible while adding a new annex building and minaret to the mosque complex, as well as community-based facilities including centres for crime prevention and drug abuse treatment.[11][12] The mosque was completely rebuilt on 31 December 2002 and reopened by Syed Isa Semait the next day, with a speech from the then Prime Minister, Goh Chok Tong, at the opening ceremony.[13][14][15]

The mosque is one of the few Sufi-affiliated mosques in Singapore. The mosque itself is affiliated with the Naqshbandi and Qadiri orders of Sufism.[16]

Formation of the Religious Rehabilitation Group (RRG)

The Religious Rehabilitation Group (RRG) is an organization aimed at preventing religious extremism.[17] It was formed in early 2003, as a response to the Jemaah Islamiyah terror network that was uncovered in late 2001. The RRG has its headquarters set up in the annexe of Masjid Khadijah, with a gallery established at the mosque in 2023.[4][18] Counsellors and lecturers are actively employed by the organization to guide youth away from extremist groups such as ISIS, Al-Qaida, Nazis, Benito Mussolini, and Joseph Stalin.[18][19]

Architecture

Masjid Khadijah is built in an eclectic architectural style, blending South Indian styles with Ottoman architectural styles.[20] The overall aesthetic of the mosque is inspired by the Prophet's Mosque in Medina and the shrine of Nagore Shahul Hameed in India.[20] While the boundaries of the mosque are in-line with the pavement and street, the main building of the mosque including its prayer hall all face the direction of Mecca, as is the requirement with a standard mosque.[20]

Transportation

Masjid Khadijah is at the junction of Geylang Road and Lorong 29 Geylang. The nearest MRT station to the mosque is Aljunied MRT station, although one could alight from Kallang MRT station and walk along Geylang Road from Lorongs 1–29 to reach the mosque.[21]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Religious". Hiladt Architects. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  2. ↑ Raashid, Yaakub (1982). "Masjid-masjid dibina sejurus lepas Singapura dibuka" [Mosques built as long as after Singapore was founded]. The Straits Times Melayu (in Malay). p. 4. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  3. ↑ Raashid, Yaakub (31 May 1982). "Old mosques dating back to early Singapore". The Straits Times. p. 4. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  4. 1 2 Baharudin, Hariz (29 April 2021). "Khadijah Mosque and Religious Rehabilitation Group resource centre to undergo renovation". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  5. ↑ "Kubur di Masjid Khadijah akan dipindah" [Graves in Masjid Khadijah will be moved]. Berita Harian (in Malay). 30 May 1997. p. 15. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  6. ↑ "Masjid Khadijah perlukan $50,000 untuk kerja-kerja pembaharuan" [Masjid Khadijah requires $20,000 for upgrading works]. Berita Harian (in Malay). 4 June 1985. p. 3. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  7. ↑ Mohsen, Suhaimi (19 May 1995). "Masjid Khadijah perlu $2.5 juta untuk ubahelok" [Masjid Khadijah needs $2.5 million for renovation]. Berita Harian (in Malay). p. 10. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  8. ↑ Rahman, N.A. (14 November 1997). "Masjid Khadijah retak seribu" [Masjid Khadijah has a thousand cracks]. Berita Harian (in Malay). p. 16. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  9. ↑ "Bina semula, baiki 15 masjid perlukan $32 juta" [To rebuild, upgrade, 15 mosques need $32 million]. Berita Harian (in Malay). 12 July 1998. p. 4.
  10. ↑ "Wakaf Khadijah dua unit" [Two units of Khadijah's endowments]. Berita Harian (in Malay). 24 October 1999. p. 9. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  11. 1 2 3 Rahman, N.A. (19 November 1999). "Projek Masjid Khadijah dapat kelulusan" [Khadijah Mosque project gets approval]. Berita Harian (in Malay). p. 12. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  12. ↑ Eunos, Nadzri (29 May 2001). "Masjid, badan aneka kaum ganding bahu" [Mosques, join hands with various ethnic groups]. Berita Hatian (in Malay). p. 1. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  13. ↑ "Menyalakan semangat dialog Rasulullah" [Ignite the spirit of Rasulullah's dialogue]. Berita Harian (in Malay). 1 January 2003. p. 9. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  14. ↑ "Bermulalah lembaran baru" [The start of a new chapter]. Berita Harian (in Malay). 1 January 2003. p. 5. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  15. ↑ Osman, Ahmad; Lee, Steven (4 January 2003). "Mosques facelift done, with some multiracial help". The Straits Times. p. 9. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  16. ↑ "The light of Islam in the centre of "red lights"". Berita Harian. 7 September 2007. p. 10.
  17. ↑ Yong, Clement (17 March 2025). "Rehabilitation and reintegration vital in dealing with extremist threat, says SM Teo". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  18. 1 2 "PM Lee Hsien Loong at the launch of the Religious Rehabilitation Group Majulah Gallery". Prime Minister's Office. Singapore. 3 May 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  19. ↑ Devaraj, Samuel (2 June 2026). "Algorithms and salad bars: Religious Rehabilitation Group studies impact of AI, tech on radicalisation". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  20. 1 2 3 "Khadijah Mosque, Geylang Heritage Trail". Roots. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  21. ↑ "Masjid Khadijah (Mosque) - 583 Geylang Road (S)389522". www.streetdirectory.com. Retrieved 2026-06-12.
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