Masjid Al-Abrar, Singapore

Al-Abrar Mosque, Singapore (1 August 2017)


Masjid Al-Abrar (GPS: 1.28036, 103.84722) is an Indian Muslim mosque in downtown Singapore. It is also known as Al-Abrar Mosque, Kuchu Palli and Masjid Chulia, and one of the oldest mosques in Singapore. The name Kuchu Palli means "hut mosque", due to the mosque's original rather modest structure. It is located at 192 Telok Ayer Street, the Masjid Al-Abrar is a short distance from Thian Hock Keng Temple and Nagore Durgha Shrine.

Masjid Al-Abrar has been at Telok Ayer Street for a very long while, even before the land on the opposite side of Telok Ayer Street was reclaimed. In those very early days, Teluk Ayer Street used to overlook the sea. It was here that the Chulias who arrived from the Coromandel coast of South India built their village. They are similar to the Chulias of Penang, after whom the Chulia Street there was named.

The history of the Masjid Al-Abrar goes back to 1827, or perhaps even earlier. There was already a makeshift mosque on the site at that time. The thatch mosque was replaced with a brick structure around 1850-1855.

In 1890, the mosque trustee was granted a 999-year lease on the land. In 1910, five trustees were appointed to the board. They are the same trustees for the Jamae Mosque and the Nagore Durgha Shrine.

The Masjid Al-Abrar occupies an area equal to the width of three shophouse. Although it follows the alignment of the street, it also manages to face Mecca. The architecture is Indian-Islamic, reflecting its original owners. There was little change to the appearance of the mosque, with only minor repairs done in the 1950's and mid-1980's. However, in 1986 and 1989, major renovations were carried out that changed the appearance of the mosque as we see it today. Nevertheless, the changes were sensitive to the original style.

The Masjid Al-Abrar was gazetted as a National Monument of Singapore on 29 November 1974.

Address

192 Telok Ayer Street
Singapore 068635

Getting there

Take the MRT East-West Line to the Tanjong Pagar Station (EW15). From there, walk east along Chong Guan Street, with Anson Building on your right. At the junction, turn left and walk north along Anson Road. Cross Maxwell Road and continue along Cecil Street. When you see a park on your left (Telok Ayer Park), turn left to Telok Ayer Street. Follow it until you arrive at Masjid Al-Abrar on your left.

Masjid Al-Abrar is on the Map of Telok Ayer, Singapore

Front view of Al-Abrar Mosque, Singapore (1 August 2017)


Masjid Al-Abrar on Telok Ayer Street. (8 July 2006)


Inside the Masjid Al-Abrar (8 July 2006)

Al Abrar Mosque Singapore on Google Street View

Al Abrar Mosque Singapore (Dec 2022)

List of the Mosques in Singapore; Discover Singapore

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About this website

Dear visitor, thank you so much for reading this page. My name is Timothy Tye and my hobby is to find out about places, write about them and share the information with you on this website. I have been writing this site since 5 January 2003. Originally (from 2003 until 2009, the site was called AsiaExplorers. I changed the name to Penang Travel Tips in 2009, even though I describe more than just Penang but everywhere I go (I often need to tell people that "Penang Travel Tips" is not just information about Penang, but information written in Penang), especially places in Malaysia and Singapore, and in all the years since 2003, I have described over 20,000 places.

While I try my best to provide you information as accurate as I can get it to be, I do apologize for any errors and for outdated information which I am unaware. Nevertheless, I hope that what I have described here will be useful to you.