Masjid Alimsah Waley, Chulia Street

Masjid Alimsah Waley (6 May 2008)


Masjid Alimsah Waley or Alimsah Waley Mosque (GPS: 5.41889, 100.33464) is a mosque along Chulia Street that was founded by Indian Muslims. It is also called Masjid Jamek Lebuh Chulia. The mosque was named in honor of Hadjee Abdul Cader Alim.

The history of Masjid Alimsah Waley goes back to 1803 when the Muslim community under the leadership of Hadjee Abdul Cader Alim bought a piece of land on Chulia Street - which at that time was called Malabah Street - through funds pooled by the Muslim community, for the purpose of erecting a small mosque and three attap quarters. This is also mentioned in The Chulia in Penang.


Archway, Masjid Alimsah Waley (6 May 2008)


On 3 November 1811, through a deed of assignment, the land was passed to Hadjee Abdul Cader Alim, who acted as the imam of the mosque. Thereafter, the mosque was called Masjid Hadjee Abdul Cader Alim.

On 5 July 1843, Hadjee Abdul Cader Alim appointed Sahid Lebby, Muckdom Sah and Kader Meah as trustees of the mosque, and to manage the Muslim properties, on the condition that the land cannot be sold. Hadjee Abdul Cader Alim passed away in 1852. The three trustees subsequently passed away, Sahid Lebby in 1852, Muckdom Sah in 1851, and Kader Meah in 1843. None of them left an heir nor did they manage to pass on the trusteeship. As a result, from 1853 to 1901, there was a tussle among different groups over control of the mosque, so much so that the issue was drag to court.

Date palms in the courtyard of Masjid Alimsah Waley (6 May 2008)


On 14 December 1906, management of the endowment land of the mosque was taken over by the Mohammedan and Hindu Endowment Board. In 1933, a Muslim Communal House (similar I suppose to that at Club Street in Singapore) was erected on the land. It was three storeys high, and had living quarters for 36 families. Unfortunately the communal house suffered massive damage from bombings in the Second World War and remained in a dilapidated stated. In 1976, the local council issued a notice for it to be demolished, as it is no longer structurally sound.

The desire to develop the endowment land had been tabled since the late 1970's, but nothing materialized due to the lack of funding. It was only in the year 2000 that a sum of RM9.2 million was earmarked for the redevelopment of the Alimsah Waley Endowment Land. Construction of the new Masjid Alimsah Waley began in 2003 and was completed in 2007.

Getting there

The Masjid Alimsah Waley is located along Chulia Street. Rapid Penang Bus Nos. 11, 101, 104, 201, 202, 203, 204, and 206.

Masjid Alimsah Waley is on the Map of Chulia Street, Penang

Nearby Sights

References

List of Mosques in Penang and Mosques in Malaysia