Abdul Gafoor Mosque
An ornate mosque in Little India whose entrance carries a sunburst sundial with the names of prophets in Arabic calligraphy.
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Abdul Gafoor Mosque was completed in 1907, replacing an earlier wooden building, and it mixes Moorish, Indian and European elements in a way particular to Singapore of that period. Over the main entrance is its most notable feature: a sunburst with twenty-five rays, each bearing the name of a prophet in Arabic calligraphy, arranged as a sundial. A restoration in the 2000s won a UNESCO Asia-Pacific conservation award.
What you actually see
- The sunburst sundial - twenty-five rays carrying prophets' names in calligraphy.
- The mixed architecture - Moorish, Indian and European elements together.
- The prayer hall - the interior with its arcades and green detailing.
- The restoration - conservation work recognised by UNESCO in the 2000s.
When to go
Year round; visitor hours are outside prayer times and are posted. Friday prayers close it for longer. Ramadan brings evening activity to the surrounding streets.
Honest expectations
Visitors are admitted only outside prayers and hours are short. Robes are provided and dress rules are enforced. The mosque is small and takes half an hour.
Nearby
Little India surrounds it, and Tekka Centre is west.
What to pack for Abdul Gafoor Mosque
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.