Masjid Al-Abrar Semabok, Melaka -1900

"Any fool can criticize,condemn and complain - and most fools do. But it takes character and self-control tobe understanding and forgiving..." Dale Carnegie

(Masjid Al-Abrar Semabok, Melaka)

The Muslim population of Semabok has existed since the 18th century so it was a necessity to build a mosque for the Muslim community. A mosque was constructed around 1900, its tower in 1905. The founder, Tuan Haji Ahmad bin Abd Rauf was a famous scholar and the first Mufti of Melaka during the British era. When the First Penghulu was appointed during the British colonial period, together with the mosque officials, they had brought many changes to Kampung Semabok and made Masjid Semabok even more prestigious and many people are attracted to reside in area. This is proven by rows of old graves with wood and red granite stones around the mosque that reach hundreds of years. With this discovery, it was deduced that there was a mosque around the area dated in the 17th and 18th centuries. According to the old folks, the current site of the Masjid Semabok is also the site of the original mosque.

 

(The mosque is sharing the compound with a school)

Since 1905, the Masjid Semabok used building materials from shingle roof stones. The construction architecture was in tandem with the construction of other old mosques in the city of Melaka such as Masjid Kampung Hulu, Masjid Tranquerah and Masjid Kampung Keling.

 

(Ample parking area around the mosque)

The original shape and size of the mosque were not the same as today because the mosque has been renovated and expanded to accommodate the growing population. Until 1940, the structure of the Masjid Semabok still maintains its original shape, consisting of the main prayer room and the minaret. While the inside has main pillars and an attic to provide air circulation. The outside of the mosque has a spacious verandah without windows similar to the Melaka traditional Malay houses.

(A beautiful green and white minaret)

Masjid Semabok has a large ablution pool. The shape of this pool is similar to that of Masjid Kampung Hulu. The congregation of the mosque use the water from this well to take ablution and also to bathe especially during dry season. While other mosques in the nearby villages still use wood and zinc, Masjid Semabok has taken the lead to use stone, cement and concrete for its construction.

(The history in phases)

The mosque was renovated in the 1970s through the Melaka State Government's allocation and was inaugurated by Y.B. Tun Abdul Ghafar bin Baba. In 1977 it was renovated again.