Bencoolen Mosque celebrates 200 years of Indian Muslim contributions
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In Singapore, Bencoolen Mosque commemorated its 200th anniversary with a book launch and ceremony, where Zaqy Mohamad, Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs, recognised the impact of Indian Muslims on the nation’s culture and society.
Indian Muslims from Bengkulu, Indonesia, established the mosque in 1825 as a place of worship and community for settlers who followed Stamford Raffles to Singapore. Originally a small, thatched-roof structure, the mosque has undergone several renovations and now accommodates up to 1,100 worshippers.
Zaqy Mohamad connected the mosque’s history to the Islamic principle of “amanah,” or trust and duty, noting that the Indian Muslim community built the mosque as an anchor in a new land. He highlighted the contributions of individuals like Mohamed Abdul Jaleel, the mosque’s vice-chairman, who embodies this spirit through service and charity. Jaleel’s family returned to Singapore from Chennai, India, in 1964 and found community at the mosque while building a business and engaging in philanthropic work.
The mosque is one of four in Singapore approaching two centuries old, alongside Omar Kampong Melaka Mosque, Sultan Mosque, and Jamae Mosque. Bencoolen Mosque leaders aim to continue its legacy by cultivating a new generation of volunteers and stewards. They hope the Indian Muslim community will build on its past contributions to benefit both their families and Singapore as a whole.
