Whispers of history rise. They swirl around the Alif Muslim Cemetry. It is more than a burial ground. It is a chronicle etched in stone.
The Alif Muslim Cemetry mirrors Singapore’s rich Muslim heritage. Muslim cemeteries existed here long before the colonial period. Today, only one remains active. That is the Pusara Aman Cemetery. It shares space within the Choa Chu Kang Cemetery complex.
But let’s delve into the stories of cemeteries past. These sites reveal the evolution of Singapore’s Muslim community. Consider the Jalan Kubor Cemetery. It sits near Victoria Street. It borders the Kampong Glam area. This historic site comprises three Muslim burial grounds. One section was reserved for Johor Sultanate royalty. Another was for Singapore’s Muslim community. The last was the Tittacheri Muslim Cemetery. The Malabar Mosque stands on that ground now. Aristocrats connected to the Johor Sultanate rest here. Also, early Bugis and Arab traders lie in peace here. Ambo Sooloh is also buried here. He helped found the Malay-language newspaper Utusan Melayu.
Then there is Kubur Kassim. It is in Siglap. Ahna Mohamed Kassim bin Ally Mohamed founded it. Burials stopped here in 1970. Hafeezudin Sirajuddin Moonshi rests here. He was the first to open a Muslim-owned clinic in Singapore.
The Marang Road cemetery offers another glimpse into the past. It is next to Mount Faber and VivoCity. This cemetery is what remains of Kampong Marang. Urbanisation led to the village’s demolition. The cemetery was left untouched. Over 200 tombs stand here. Their stories remain unclear.
Kampong Wak Selat cemetery echoes a similar tale. It is the only remnant of Kampong Wak Selat. The village was cleared for urbanisation. It is in the Kranji suburb.
These cemeteries also hold shrines. These are called Keramats. They honor Muslim holy figures. Keramat Habib Noh is dedicated to Habib Noh. Locals regarded him as a wali. Some considered him the patron saint of Malay sailors. His mausoleum is on Mount Palmer.
Consider Iskandar Shah’s mausoleum. It is on Fort Canning Hill. He may have been the leader of pre-colonial Singapore. Or he may have been the son of Melaka’s founder. His identity is debated.
Even Bidadari Cemetery tells a story. It once served Christian, Muslim, Hindu, and Sinhalese communities. It closed in 1972. All known graves were exhumed by 2006. This made way for the Bidadari Estate development.
These sites fade with time. But they remind us of Singapore’s multilayered past. Each tombstone whispers a story. Each cemetery reflects a community’s legacy. The Alif Muslim Cemetry stands as a reminder. It connects us to generations gone by. It links us to the heritage beneath our feet.