(2) Masjid Kapitan Keling 1801

Views from the minaret

18-19 November 2008

The following photographs were captured with permission from Qariyah Masjid Kapitan Keling on my second visit on 19 November 2008. They are reproduced here with the hope that people might get interested in the history of Masjid Kapitan Keling, support its activities in educating children, become interested in issues pertaining to tanah wakaf and write important things about how this mosque has & will serve us.

History

When Cauder Merican arrived in Malaya, he was not alone but came with his mother and younger brother, Nordin. An adjacent building to the mosque has been named after his brother.

Bangunan Nordin
Bangunan Nordin was previously a cluster of houses for builders of the mosque. It was renovated and eventually became Bangunan Nordin we see today.

Ancient graves
The graves of the pioneer mosque builders are in the front yard of Bangunan Nordin. A roofless mausoleum can be seen at the frontage adjoining Bangunan Nordin. Another covered mausoleum can be found at Jalan Kolam nearby, behind the buildings at Lebuh Buckingham.

Masjid Acheh
Masjid Acheh lies farther down the street and can be viewed from the Masjid Kapitan Keling minaret. The reason the two mosques are nearby is unknown. One explanation was the sermons (khutbah) at Masjid Kapitan Keling were delivered in the Indian language (Tamil or Urdu?) as the majority of the believers were Indians. The Achenese builders could not understand the Indian language and therefore constructed their own mosque. There may be other reasons.

Minaret tourguide (left) and Affandi.

Plaq of the minaret's construction. 
This minaret was erected by the Endowments Board from the funds of the Capt. Kling Mosque.

W Peel, President
HC Sells, Secretary

The Foundation Stone was laid by Haji Abdullah Imam

Committee of Management
Mas Abdul Aziz
Shaik Ishak
Haji Yahya Khatib

HA Neubronner F.R.I.B.A.
Architect

13th Rabi-al-Akhir A.H. 1334
18th February 1916

Views of the minaret built in 1916 before WWI.

Megaphone for call to prayer.

Tourguide and Affandi in the minaret.

First photo from the minaret. The 4-storey pink building nearest the reader was rebuilt after it was shelled during WWII. The sea (Atlantic Ocean) is in the far background.

Nearby Chinese temple viewed from the minaret. The pink building was shelled during WWII.

The pink building has a WWII history. It was initially a dhobi or laundry shop. The day's washing would be hung out to dry. There were carts carrying dirty and clean bundles of sheets/linen. During WWII, the Japanese bombers had mistaken the carts as carring canons under cover and shelled the carts and adjacent building. That area suffered the worst shelling for it had many carts lined up on the street!!

Masjid Acheh minaret is in far centre background.

Close-up of Masjid Acheh from Masjid Kapitan Keling minaret.

Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling viewed from the minaret. Rooftops & buildings which line Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling.

Bangunan Nordin (renovated), a centre for Islamic learning (inside the grounds, on your right as you enter through the main gate). An ancient well lies near its main entrance.

Bangunan Nordin, well and graves of the builders of Masjid Kapitan Keling in 1800s. A roofless mausoleum is partially hidden from view. A low lying periphery wall separates the graves from the mosque.

Masjid Kapitan Keling viewed from its only minaret.

Views from the minaret beyond Masjid Kapitan Keling, towards the hills.

Buckingham Street viewed from the minaret. The tower is KOMTAR (Kompleks Tun Abdul Razak).