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), rather than Singapore's local Islamic council, the Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS). Nevertheless, as both MUIS and JAIJ strictly adhere to Sunni Islam and follow the Shafi'i school of Islamic jurisprudence, their core Islamic teachings, prayer structures, and fundamental theological interpretations are identical.

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 built on state land leased from the Singaporean government, nor do they constitute a local perpetual endowment (Wakaf) under Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS) trusteeship. Instead, the land is private property owned by the State of Johor, with the facility administered by the Jabatan Agama Islam Johor (JAIJ). Consequently, the Imam, muezzin, and senior staff are typically Malaysian citizens deployed from overseas who require valid work permits from Singapore's Ministry of Manpower (MOM). Furthermore, the Friday sermons (khutbah) are written and produced by the ulama of Johor rather than local ones, and include specific prayers of blessing for the reigning Sultan of Johor.

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

Notes

References