“A house of peace.” That’s what comes to my mind as we approach Mushallah Nurul Ikhsan. But how does a place of worship get its start? Let me share some stories linked to similar places.
In Batam Indonesia a place named Musholla Nurul Ilmi MIN 2 Batam stands. It serves as a place for worship and other religious activities. This Musholla was built with donations. Students of MIN 2 Batam contributed every Friday. As the student population grew the Musholla was expanded and renovated. In January 2024 two stainless steel windows were installed. This followed the installation of three previous windows. The total cost was Rp.30.000.000. The project needed 12 windows in total with an estimated cost of Rp 72.000.000. Funds came from Friday donations and contributions from parents and donors. Before the window installation ceramic tiles were placed on the Musholla terrace. This made the area cleaner and more comfortable. Nurkhalim the head of the Musholla said improvements aim to enhance worship comfort. He also noted this aims to improve the Musholla’s appearance.
Another mosque named Masjid Nurul Islam Muka Kuning is unique. It is located in Batam. Tarawih prayers during Ramadan happen in two shifts. This accommodates workers with different ship schedules. The mosque is so popular that worshippers fill every inch of the floor. They even spill into the yard and parking area. Muka Kuning is an area in Batam. It transformed into an industrial park through cooperation between Indonesia and Singapore. The park has complete facilities including housing for workers. There are dormitories for single employees and special blocks for married couples. The Masjid Nurul Islam Muka Kuning is visible from the main gate of Batamindo. Its tower stands out among the blooming sakura trees.
The industrial park also features a community center and a supermarket. There is also a hospital and food court. A notable facility was the Wartel or Warung Telekomunikasi. This was important before cell phones became popular. People would wait in line to communicate with distant family members. Masjid Nurul Islam was inaugurated on October 26 1991 by Prof. DR. B.J. Habibie. It became a central place for worship and Islamic activities for employees. Initially the mosque was the only place of worship in the area. Activities were lively every Saturday night with Islamic studies. Later the mosque’s activities expanded. A workgroup named Nurul Islam Group or NIG was formed.
The managers of the Batamindo Industrial Park planted various trees to make the area green. One type of tree planted was the sakura which blooms beautifully. Its blooming season coincides with Japan’s sakura season. These beautiful flowers add to the beauty of Muka Kuning. They also add to the beauty of Batam.
While Mushallah Nurul Ikhsan may have its own story it shares a common thread. It serves as a sanctuary for the community. These places support spiritual growth and community bonding. Each brick and each prayer adds to the rich cultural tapestry of Singapore.