Masjid Omar Kampong Melaka
{{short description|The oldest mosque in Singapore}}
{{Infobox religious building
|name = Masjid Omar Kampong Melaka
|native_name = مسجد عمر کمڤوڠ ملاکا
Omar Kampong Malacca Mosque
|religious_affiliation = Sunni Islam
|image = Masjid Omar Kampong Melaka, Mar 06.JPG
|caption = Masjid Omar Kampong Melaka in 2006
|coordinates = {{coord|1.2879|103.8441|display=inline,title}}
|location = 10 Keng Cheow Street
Singapore 059607
| country = {{flag|Singapore}}
|tradition = Sunni Islam
|heritage_designation=Historic Site|website =
|architecture_type = Mosque
|architecture_style = Islamic architecture
|established = 1820
|construction_cost = S$936,000 (2009 Upgrade)
|capacity = 500
|dome_quantity =
|dome_height_outer =
|minaret_quantity = 1
|minaret_height =
}}
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
File:History plaque at Masjid Omar Kampong Melaka.jpg
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.{{Citation |last=Sharifah Zahra binte Syed Junied Aljunied |title=A Reverent Journey: Masjid Omar Kampong Melaka, 1820–2020 and Beyond |date=2022 |work=Masjid Omar Kampong Melaka |editor-last=Abdul Rahman Aljunied |editor-first=Abdullah |place=Singapore |publisher=Opus Editorial Pte. Ltd |isbn=9811483663}}Fern, O.S, "Five of Singapore's Oldest Places of Worship" The Straits Times. 13 March 2014.{{Citation|title=Street Smart Singapore |date=1991 |author= Brazil, David |place=Singapore |publisher=Times Books International |isbn=9789812040657}}{{Cite news |date=12 November 2001 |title=Mosque built in 1820 now an historic site |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/today20011112-2.2.10.4 |work=TODAY Newspaper |pages=8}}{{Cite web |title=Memperingati 200 tahun Masjid Omar Kampong Melaka - masjid tertua dan tempat ibadat pertama S'pura |url=https://berita.mediacorp.sg/singapura/memperingati-200-tahun-masjid-omar-kampong-melaka-masjid-tertua-70481 |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=BERITA Mediacorp |language=en}} Then in 1855, his son funded the construction of a new brick structure to replace the wooden prayer hall.{{Cite web |title=Masjid Omar Kampong Melaka |url=https://www.roots.gov.sg/places/places-landing/Places/surveyed-sites/Masjid-Omar-Kampong-Melaka |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=www.roots.gov.sg |language=en}} 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.
The mosque received a major reconstruction in 1981 and 1982, which added an administrative building to the mosque grounds.{{Cite news |date=30 May 2009 |title=Upgrading for oldest mosque here |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes20090530-1.2.52.10.2 |work=The Straits Times |pages=47}} The only minaret of the mosque was erected in 1985. In 2009, a further renovation added a female prayer hall as well as a block for classrooms.
File:Masjid Omar Kampong Melaka 2, Mar 06.JPG 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.National Heritage Board (2002), Singapore's 100 Historic Places, Archipelago Press, {{ISBN|981-4068-23-3}} It has also been regarded as the oldest mosque in Singapore that has survived to the present day.{{Cite news |last=Zaccheus |first=Melody |date=29 January 2019 |title=Remembering community histories |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/remembering-community-histories |work=The Straits Times}} Its establishment in 1820 predates the establishment of the Sultan Mosque, which was built in 1824 but officially established in 1929.
Burials
In a corner of the mosque's courtyard are the tombs of Syed Omar Aljunied and members of the Aljunied family. 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.
Gallery
= Exterior =
File:Masjid Omar Kampong Melaka.JPG|The main building of Masjid Omar Kampong Melaka which contains the main prayer hall.
= Minaret =
File:Masjid Omar Kampong Melaka 2.JPG|The minaret in 2006.
File:Minaret of Masjid Omar Kampung Melaka at Clarke Quay area.jpg|The minaret in 2025, with the yellow colours more prominent.
= Interior =
File:Interior of Masjid Omar Kampong Melaka, Singapore - 20100815.jpg|The prayer hall of Masjid Omar Kampong Melaka.
File:Masjid Omar Kampong Melaka, Singapore - 20100815-02.jpg|Corridor outside the prayer hall of the mosque.
File:Porch of Masjid Omar Kampong Melaka, Singapore - 20100815-02.jpg|A porch outside the prayer hall.
File:The minbar of Masjid Omar Kampong Melaka.jpg|The minbar.
= Tombs =
File:Tombs at Masjid Omar Kampong Melaka.jpg|The tombs of the Aljunied family within the mosque grounds.
File:Tomb of Syed Omar Aljunied.jpg|The tomb of Syed Omar Aljunied, with some older tombstones exhibited behind it.
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Masjid Omar Kampong Melaka}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20060226213051/http://livelife.ecitizen.gov.sg/culture/heritage/social_detail.asp?plc_id=19 The mosque's entry on the eCitizen website]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070610214516/http://www.nhb.gov.sg/PE/FOF_2003/sites_omar.html National Heritage Board article regarding the mosque]
- [https://www.google.com/maps/@1.2881066,103.8440109,3a,90y,131.32h,100.69t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1scZNSwL1nNvTtpHGTfmUykg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 GoogleMaps StreetView of Masjid Omar Kampong Melaka]
{{Mosques in Singapore}}
Category:1820 establishments in Singapore
Category:Mosques completed in the 1820s
Category:Religious buildings and structures completed in 1820