Restoration and Redevelopment of Masjid Khadijah

by Mohd Abu Bakar bin Mohd Sultan
Assistant Secretary
Khadijah Mosque Management Board


Masjid Khadijah di 583 Geylang Road.
Khadijah Mosque at 583 Geylang Road.
Masjid Khadijah is named after the late Mdm katijah Binte Mohamed. It was through this gracious lady's generosity that the mosque was actualised in Mar 1920. Like a few other Muslim pilanthropists at that time, she was driven by a sense of duty and responsibility and sought the good pleasure of God through this noble cause. May Allah bless her soul and recompense her richly for her glorious legacy.

This 76-year old mosque used to be a modest yet captivating structure stood out for its aesthetic architecture. Masjid Khadijah now is in a disconsolate state of existence, a sad semblance of its elegant past. The severe damage to the physical structure and foundation of the mosque as evident by the desolate cracksj and undulation affords neither comfort nor repose to our jamaah.

However, all is not lost, by the grace of Allah the mosque is given a new lease of life. It is now secured under the provisions of the Conservation Act. MUIS together with the mosque committee will undertake the restoration and development of the mosque.

The rationale for the project is as follows:

  • to restore the fast deteriorating structure of the mosque in order to cater to need of our jamaah;

  • to provide strategic institutional and infrastructural support for the advancement of the Muslim community in line with Masjid Khadijah's vision which is consistent with that of MUIS's, "Towards a Muslim Community of Excellence", and

  • to supplement and complement the social programmes on the moral decadence through vigorous periodic residential courses.

The scope of work that needs to be carried out under this project includes the conservation of the existing mosque structure (Block 1) according to the guidelines of the Conservation Act and erection of an additional prayer hall attic; and the erection of three additional building blocks.

The committee aspires to evolve Masjid Khadijah into an Islamic institution capable of providing current and relevant training programmes that Muslims could put into meaningful use.

The committee has organised various activities over the past two years to raise funds for the project. Having collected about $1.7 million so far, we are still a long way from meeting the targeted amount. What troub les the committee is the escalating building cost which will see us back further should it outpace our ability to come up with the necesary provision on time. A further inflation of the final valuation of the project is a real and disturbing prospect. The committee expects to raise about $1/2 million through various fund-raising projects lined up for this year.

Funding a mosque redevelopment or restoration project is a recurring headache that needs effective and permanent prescription. The Muslim community at all levels must put their thoughts together and come up with a comprehensive plan to address this problem once and for all.

The committee would like to pay its tribute to the mosque's legions of volunteers for their unflagging and selfless suport. To our generous donors, we are extremely grateful for their contribute generously towards the fruition of this noble cause.

For further information, you may contact Hj Hasan Selamat at 784 3666, Hj Mohd Saleh bin Amir Khan Surattee at 784 0183, Hj Ramelan Ibrahim at 443 7159 or Mohd Abu Bakar Mohd Sultan at 241 5426.

(Map location of mosque in the S'pore Street Directory, pg 217)