Masjid Temenggong Daeng Ibrahim

Masjid Temenggong Daeng Ibrahim (Jawi: مسجد تماڠڬوڠ دايڠ إبراهيم) formerly known as the State of Johor Mosque, is a mosque located in Telok Blangah, Singapore. Adjacent to the VivoCity shopping centre, the present day mosque was built in 1993 as a reconstruction of an 1845 structure. It is named after Daeng Ibrahim bin Abdul Rahman, the fourth Temenggong of Johor, during whose reign the original mosque was completed. Next to the mosque is the Makam Diraja Johor Telok Blangah, a burial ground which includes a mausoleum for the Temenggongs of Johor, including Daeng Ibrahim himself. The mosque is administered by the Islamic council of Johor, the Jabatan Agama Islam Johor (JAIJ) and not by Singapore's local Islamic council, the Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS). Etymology The mosque is named after Temenggong Daeng Ibrahim bin Abdul Rahman (r. 1841–1862), who was the fourth Temenggong to rule Johor and also the father of Sultan Abu Bakar. He is notable for his diplomacy with the Sultans of Riau and Lingga, as well as cultivating the plantation of beneficial crops and assisting the British colonial government in combating piracy. The mosque was also known as the State of Johor Mosque before it was reconstructed. History The original structure present at the site was a balairong (Malay for reception hall) of the Istana Lama, which was converted into a mosque in 1845. The mosque fell into disrepair by the late 1980s and thus Iskandar of Johor funded a complete reconstruction of the mosque, with the intention of replacing the dilapidated wooden prayer hall with a new cement and brick structure. The mosque was completely rebuilt from the ground up and was finished by 1993. In 2019, the mosque was affected by the nationwide COVID-19 pandemic and hence it was closed down. It was reopened in mid 2020, although it was still under extensive safety measures and hence limited spaces were available in its prayer hall. The mosque resumed its normal functionality in 2021, with former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Najib Razak visiting the mosque in that same year to attend Friday prayers during a family-related trip to Singapore. Makam Diraja Telok Blangah The royal burial ground, Makam Diraja Telok Blangah, is located next to the mosque although it is technically not a part of the main mosque. The burial ground contains several old graves from the colonial era as well as a mausoleum containing the tombs of most of the Temenggongs of Johor and members of the Bendahara dynasty. Ownership The mosque and its adjoining burial ground, despite being located in Telok Blangah, are not owned by the government of Singapore. Rather, the land is private property that is owned by the State of Johor, while management of the mosque is undertaken by the Jabatan Agama Islam Johor (JAIJ). The Imam, muezzin, and most senior staff in the mosque are typically Malaysian citizens assigned to work full-time overseas, and require work permits under the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) to work in Singapore. The khutbah during the Friday prayer is not written or produced by local ulama, rather it is produced by the ulama of Johor and also includes a prayer for the reigning Sultan. Gallery Mosque Aerial view Transportation The mosque is within walking distance from the VivoCity shopping centre and the HarbourFront MRT station. See also List of mosques in Singapore References