Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Singapore declares Muslim shrine as national heritage centre

A 182-year-old replica of a dargah in India built by Tamil Muslims here in memory of a revered 16th century Sufi saint has been declared a national heritage centre.
A 182-year-old replica of a dargah in India built by Tamil Muslims here in memory of a revered 16th century Sufi saint has been declared a national heritage centre.
The Nagore Dargah, dedicated to Sufi saint Shahul Hamid, would be reopened in May next year after a two-year renovation costing about SGD 500,000, Islamic Religious Council of Singapore announced yesterday.
The shrine was built around 1828 by Chulia Tamil Muslims in Singapore's Central Business District.
The Dargah is a replica of the original shrine of Sufi saint Shahul Hamid in Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu.
The shrine would feature exhibits and artefacts of Indian-Muslim community, the council said.
The 60,000-strong Indian Muslim community in the country reveres Shahul Hamid, considered a descendant of Prophet Muhammad.
The saint is considered as the one who helped spread Islam in India.
The shrine is one of 61 Singapore buildings gazetted and protected for their historical value under the Preservation of Monuments Act.

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