Sultan Mosque, Singapore

Sultan Mosque, also known as Masjid Sultan, is a religious building dedicated to Sultan Hussain Shah. It holds the status of a National Monument since 1975.

This mosque's history is linked to Singapore's colonial era. In 1819, when Singapore became British territory, Temenggong Abdul Rahman and Sultan Hussain Shah received compensation for giving up power. Sir Stamford Raffles, a key British official, granted them an annual stipend and the use of Kampong Glam as their residence.

As Sultan Hussain's status grew, he decided to build a mosque befitting his position. Between 1824 and 1826, he used funds obtained from the East India Company to construct a mosque adjacent to his palace. This mosque had a two-tiered pyramidal roof and followed a typical architectural style. However, it was later replaced with a new mosque.

The management of the mosque was initially overseen by Alauddin Shah, the Sultan's grandson, until 1879 when it was handed over to five community leaders. In 1914, the government extended the lease for 999 years, and a new board of trustees was appointed, consisting of two representatives from each segment of the Muslim community.

As Islamic activities in Singapore, including commerce, culture, and art, flourished in the early 1900s, Sultan Mosque began to feel inadequate for the growing community. In 1924, coinciding with the mosque's centenary, the trustees approved a plan to build a new mosque, as the old one had deteriorated. Architect Denis Santry from Swan & Maclaren designed the new mosque in a Saracenic style, incorporating minarets and balustrades. The construction was completed in 1928 after four years of work.