This charming little mosque is resplendent, thanks to a loving restoration completed in 2003. Nestled behind a row of shophouses, you really can’t see it until you arrive at the gate. Inside the compound, the bright yellow and green facade and minarets reflect an Indian Muslim architectural preference, most likely imported with the mosque’s builder Sheik Abdul Gafoor.
The original mosque on this site, called Al-Abrar Mosque, was constructed of wood in 1859, and is commemorated on a granite plaque within the compound above what could have been either an entrance gate or part of the mosque itself. The newer mosque on the site was built in 1907 and includes some unusual features, including ornate European-style columns and the sunburst above the main entrance. This “sundial” has 25 rays in Arabic calligraphy relief said to represent the 25 prophets in the Koran.
Inside the courtyard, an information office provides robes for those in shorts and sleeveless tops. As in every mosque, the main prayer hall is off-limits to non-Muslims.