Singapore - The first Friday Prayer was performed at the gleaming Muhajirin Mosque, which reopened on Friday after a $6.9 million tranformation.
The rebuilt mosque is set in the Singapore Islamic Hub, a new complex in Braddell Road. Also in the cluster are the Islamic school Madrasah Al-Irsyad and the 11-storey headquarters of the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis).
The mosque will `be plugged into the wider community` to enrich lives of Muslim and non-Muslim residents in Toa Payoh and beyond, said Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim.
Toa Payoh, he noted, is uniquely filled with grassroots and religious groups that the mosque can work with.
`I am happy with our achievement today. We have been able to optimise land use with three facilities,` said Dr Yaacob, who is Minister for the Environment and Water Resources.
Also, the fact that funds had been raised for the mosque reflects the desire of Muslims to be in step with the wider Singapore society, he said.
Mufti Syed Isa Semait led the perwakafan or consecration of the mosque, which first opened its doors in 1977 and is now a three-storey contemporary Islamic building clad in glass and black granite.
The Mufti also preached a sermon on compassion before 2,500 of the Muslim faithful. He urged them to help meet the $2.8-million shortfall in mosque funding.
In the congregation was businessman Raden Abdul Rahem, 51, who had visited the mosque since his teenage years. He still visits every day, as his 10-year-old son is studying at the madrasah.
`The mosque has changed with the generations. But it still brings back all the memories,` he said.
Redevelopment began in Nov 2006. The barrier-free building is now equipped with modern facilities and a lift. Inside are an imam room, board room, office and basement carpark. By Lee Siew Hua
Source: http://www.straitstimes.com
The rebuilt mosque is set in the Singapore Islamic Hub, a new complex in Braddell Road. Also in the cluster are the Islamic school Madrasah Al-Irsyad and the 11-storey headquarters of the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis).
The mosque will `be plugged into the wider community` to enrich lives of Muslim and non-Muslim residents in Toa Payoh and beyond, said Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim.
Toa Payoh, he noted, is uniquely filled with grassroots and religious groups that the mosque can work with.
`I am happy with our achievement today. We have been able to optimise land use with three facilities,` said Dr Yaacob, who is Minister for the Environment and Water Resources.
Also, the fact that funds had been raised for the mosque reflects the desire of Muslims to be in step with the wider Singapore society, he said.
Mufti Syed Isa Semait led the perwakafan or consecration of the mosque, which first opened its doors in 1977 and is now a three-storey contemporary Islamic building clad in glass and black granite.
The Mufti also preached a sermon on compassion before 2,500 of the Muslim faithful. He urged them to help meet the $2.8-million shortfall in mosque funding.
In the congregation was businessman Raden Abdul Rahem, 51, who had visited the mosque since his teenage years. He still visits every day, as his 10-year-old son is studying at the madrasah.
`The mosque has changed with the generations. But it still brings back all the memories,` he said.
Redevelopment began in Nov 2006. The barrier-free building is now equipped with modern facilities and a lift. Inside are an imam room, board room, office and basement carpark. By Lee Siew Hua
Source: http://www.straitstimes.com
