Masjid Alkaff Upper Serangoon
Historic mosque in Potong Pasir, Singapore
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
| Masjid Alkaff Upper Serangoon مسجد الكاف أعالي سيرانغون | |
|---|---|
| |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Sunni Islam |
| Location | |
| Location | 66 Pheng Geck Avenue, Singapore 348261 |
| Country | Singapore |
.svg)  Location in Singapore | |
| Coordinates | 1.3330372°N 103.8704843°E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Mosque |
| Style | Indo-Saracenic architecture Moorish architecture Ottoman architecture |
| Founder | Alkaff family |
| Established | 1920s |
| Completed | 1932 2014 (renovation) |
| Specifications | |
| Minaret | 1 |
| Minaret height | 24 metres |
| Designated as NHL | |
| Designated | 19 December 2014 |
| Reference no. | 68 |
Background
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]
Gallery
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]
