Syed Omar Bin Ali Aljunied
BIOGRAPHY
Aljunied, Syed Omar bin Ali (1792-1852), a highly respected Arab businessman and landowner, became a leader of the Muslim community in Singapore. He gave a plot of land along Victoria Street for Muslim burials. He established Singapore's first mosque, the Omar Kampong Malacca mosque, in 1820. He also built a mosque on Bencoolen Street about 1845.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS/IMPACTS
Apart from his successful trading business, Syed Omar was also noted as one of the first religious leaders and one who was a generous contributer to charitable causes. He donated land for religious buildings such as St Andrew's Cathedral and the Masjid Kampong Melaka (a.k.a Masjid Omar Kampong Melaka or Malacca Mosque) in Chinatown. He had commissioned the building of the mosque in 1820 for the Malay fishermen, Bugis merchants and Malaccan businessmen who traded with the Chinese in Chinatown. It was the first place of worship constructed in Singapore. Another mosque in Bencoolen street is also attributed to him. He then contributed land for the Pauper's Hospital in 1844 which later would become Tan Tock Seng Hospital for which his nephew Syed Ali would also donate land between Victoria Street and Arab Street. The large plot of land between Victoria Street and Rochore Canal was originally an Arab-Muslim burial ground named afer Syed Omar himself after he was buried there. He made a socio-economic impact as he donated money (economic impact) as well as spreading the religious culture (social impact).
MONUMENT
The monument should be placed in front of the mosque on Bencoolen Street as he was the one who built it. He will be looking upwards. There would be a religious iyem in his hands which are placed to his heart, this shows that his religion always comes first and he would do anything for it.
REFLECTIVE RESPONSE
This assignment allowed me to have a deeper understanding of the life in the past. It was wonderful to kno how a person was so devoted to his religion and caring to others. He was willing to give all and nothing in return. There were difficulties in finding information about Syed Omar Bin Ali Aljunied and the websites I went to search all gave me only a brief biography.
Aljunied, Syed Omar bin Ali (1792-1852), a highly respected Arab businessman and landowner, became a leader of the Muslim community in Singapore. He gave a plot of land along Victoria Street for Muslim burials. He established Singapore's first mosque, the Omar Kampong Malacca mosque, in 1820. He also built a mosque on Bencoolen Street about 1845.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS/IMPACTS
Apart from his successful trading business, Syed Omar was also noted as one of the first religious leaders and one who was a generous contributer to charitable causes. He donated land for religious buildings such as St Andrew's Cathedral and the Masjid Kampong Melaka (a.k.a Masjid Omar Kampong Melaka or Malacca Mosque) in Chinatown. He had commissioned the building of the mosque in 1820 for the Malay fishermen, Bugis merchants and Malaccan businessmen who traded with the Chinese in Chinatown. It was the first place of worship constructed in Singapore. Another mosque in Bencoolen street is also attributed to him. He then contributed land for the Pauper's Hospital in 1844 which later would become Tan Tock Seng Hospital for which his nephew Syed Ali would also donate land between Victoria Street and Arab Street. The large plot of land between Victoria Street and Rochore Canal was originally an Arab-Muslim burial ground named afer Syed Omar himself after he was buried there. He made a socio-economic impact as he donated money (economic impact) as well as spreading the religious culture (social impact).
MONUMENT
The monument should be placed in front of the mosque on Bencoolen Street as he was the one who built it. He will be looking upwards. There would be a religious iyem in his hands which are placed to his heart, this shows that his religion always comes first and he would do anything for it.
REFLECTIVE RESPONSE
This assignment allowed me to have a deeper understanding of the life in the past. It was wonderful to kno how a person was so devoted to his religion and caring to others. He was willing to give all and nothing in return. There were difficulties in finding information about Syed Omar Bin Ali Aljunied and the websites I went to search all gave me only a brief biography.
