Masjid Hajjah Fatimah

Masjid Hajjah Fatimah

I learnt about Masjid Hajjah Fatimah on my earlier visit to Kampong Glam Park when its fascinating minaret caught my attention.

The following information is obtained from the website of MUIS. [source: Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS), also known as Islamic Religious Council of Singapore]

Masjid Hajjah Fatimah is an old generation masjid (mosque) built from donation from a wealthy lady named Fatimah. Located at Beach Road next to Kampong Glam Park, Masjid Hajjah Fatimah was completed in 1846.

I was attracted to the mosque because of its architectural design. Walk around Masjid Hajjah Fatimah and you will notice the blend of local and European influence on its architecture. I later learnt that Masjid Hajjah Fatimah bore the imprint of a colonial architect by the name of J T Thomson.

Masjid Hajjah Fatimah is one of Singapore’s national monuments which had a leaning minaret that was righted during an extensive renovation work. It was gazetted on 6 July 1973 as a National Monument of Singapore, making it the first mosque to be listed as Singapore's National Monument.

The Masjid Hajjah Fatimah can accommodate up to 600 people. Religious lectures are conducted on its premises.

To get to Masjid Hajjah Fatimah, use the nearest MRT Station at Lavender (EW11).

The type of mosque is Wakaf*.

*What is Wakaf?

[Wakaf is the dedication of properties by a Muslim through a will or otherwise for purposes recognised by Islamic law as pious, religious or charitable. Once this is done, the ownership is transferred to Allah (God).

The dedicator is called the wakif and the person he appoints to manage the properties to ensure that the purposes are carried out is called the mutawalli or trustee.

The income derived from these properties is used in accordance to the wakif's wishes for the benefit of the beneficiary.

Since 1968, under the Administration of Muslim Law Act (AMLA), these properties must be vested with MUIS. MUIS' role is to manage wakaf properties which have no trustees and to monitor other wakaf properties with trustees to ensure that the wakif's wishes are carried out.]

More pictures of Singapore mosques can be found at my blogger friend yg's site.