Masjid Tentera Diraja

Masjid Tentera Diraja (Jawi: مسجد تنترا دراج; Royal Army Mosque) is a mosque located off Clementi Road in Clementi, Singapore. Adjacent to the National University of Singapore, the single-story mosque was built in 1961 by Muslim soldiers serving in the British army during colonial rule over Singapore.

The word Tentera Diraja means "Royal Army" in the Malay language; the word Tentera means army or soldiers and the word Diraja means of royalty, indicating the mosque's British origins; alternative translations include King's Army.^[1][2] The name of the mosque generated some controversy in 1962 as the usual worshippers visiting the mosque were mostly villagers from nearby villages instead of Malay soldiers.^[3]

Masjid Tentera Diraja was built in 1961 by the Muslim soldiers of the Royal Malay Regiment serving in Singapore; at the time the regiment was under the control of the British colonial government.^[4][5][6] The official opening ceremony of the mosque was held on 30 March 1962 by Yusof Ishak, the former President of Singapore who was then Yang-Di-Pertuan Negara in 1962.^[4][5][7] When the British began departing from Singapore, the mosque went under the management of the Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS).^[4] After the British departure, the mosque received a second opening ceremony in 1969 led by Yusof Ishak (this time as President) to re-establish it as property of Singapore.^[8]

The minbar of the mosque was a gift from Sultan Salahuddin of Selangor, given to the mosque in 1968.^[9] After 1980, the mosque would be frequented by Muslim students of the adjacent National University of Singapore.^[6][7] In 1985, the mosque held a religious forum with scholars Ahmad Sonhadji Mohamed, Haji Hussein Suradi and Haji Maarof Saleh.^[10]

Starting in 2006, the mosque hosted the Mudik ke Hulu program which provides former convicts a chance to reintegrate into society with no additional costs or fees.^[11] The mosque was also upgraded in the same year and has not been upgraded since then as of 2022. The mosque serves bubur (porridge) during the Islamic month of Ramadan.^[12]

The mosque is on a hilltop within walking distance of the National University of Singapore.^[1][5][6] There is also a dedicated bus stop leading to the foot of the hilltop where the mosque stands on.^[13][14] The mosque is able to hold 700 worshippers.^[1]

• The main entrance to the mosque.
• The main hallway of the mosque, with the entrance to the prayer hall visible on the right and the customer service office on the left.
• Place for ablution in the mosque.
• The qibla wall, in the prayer hall of the mosque. The wooden mihrab and minbar are visible.

• List of mosques in Singapore