Masjid Hajjah Rahimabi Kebun Limau, formerly called Masjid Kebun Limau, is a mosque located in the Whampoa neighbourhood within Balestier, Singapore. Originating as a surau that was built in 1959, the surau was rebuilt into a mosque in 1974, while the present day structure is a 1984 reconstruction. The mosque derives the first part of its name from Hajjah Rahima Bee, who funded the latest reconstruction of the mosque; while the second part of its name is derived from the area the mosque is built in, which was formerly near a lime plantation ("kebun limau").
The original structure at the site was a surau, built in 1959 to serve the Muslims working at the nearby lime plantation, known as kebun limau ("lime plantation").[1][2] Then in 1974, the surau was rebuilt into a full-fledged mosque.[1][2] The mosque would be overcrowded during the Friday prayers as well as festive prayers such as during Eid al-Adha, hence in 1977 the mosque committee made attempts to expand the spaces for prayers in the mosque.[3] Due to these issues, the Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura announced that Masjid Kebun Limau would be reconstructed completely to increase its capacity and serve more worshippers.[4]
In 1976, Hajjah Rahima Bee, a philanthropist from the Angullia family donated a large sum of money in memory of her late daughter, which massively helped to fund the mosque's reconstruction.[5] The donation was also made to continue her family's legacy of building mosques; her grandfather had built the Masjid Angullia at Little India, while her father had built Masjid Al-Falah at Somerset.[6] The rebuilt mosque was completed in 1984, although it was unable to host religious classes at the time due to its insufficient funds.[1][2]
Due to being situated a street opposite the NKF Centre, the mosque has often collaborated with the National Kidney Foundation Singapore to spread awareness on kidney diseases and dialysis.[7]
Architecture
The mosque is built on the riverbank of the Whampoa River. The interior of the mosque has batik-inspired decorative elements, such as carvings around the mihrab and minbar in the main prayer hall, as well as calligraphic murals.[8] The exterior of the mosque is inspired by traditional Islamic architecture, especially from the Ottoman era, but with a modern spin on it.[2] A large blue dome tops the main prayer hall, while an edge of the building is flanked by a minaret.[1][2]
Gallery
Interior
Entrance to the main prayer hall
Inside the main prayer hall
Ditto
Minbar and mihrab
A woven engraving of the Āyat al-Kursī ("Throne Verse") displayed outside the main prayer hall.
The place for the male worshippers to take their wudhu.
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