Masjid Abdul Gafoor

As you walk through Little India in Singapore, a large structure topped with minarets and an onion-domed copula might catch your eye. This impressive building, completed in 1910, is the Masjid Abdul Gafoor, a mosque originally built for the community of South Indian Muslim merchants who worked at an old race course in the area.

The impressive structure underwent a major renovation in 2003, giving it an almost cartoonish appearance. The facade exhibits an interesting mix of Moorish, Roman and Saracenic architectural elements, a fact that fits in the context of a country filled with so many ethnic enclaves. Inside the mosque, you’ll find a 25-ray sundial with the names of the 25 chosen prophets of Islam written in beautiful Arabic script. Of to the side of the main prayer hall, you’ll notice a large family tree that chronicles the genealogy of these prophets.