Masjid Yusof Ishak was officially opened by Puan Noor Aishah, the widow of the late President Yusof Ishak. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Minister for Communications and Information, Minister-in-Charge of Cyber Security and Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim witnessed the ceremony.

The name of the mosque was first announced by Prime Minister Mr Lee Hsien Loong at the 2014 National Day Rally. Naming the mosque after Encik Yusof Ishak, the Republic’s first president, paying tribute to his contributions, and in line with the nation’s effort to remember, celebrate and honour our pioneers.

The mosque stands firmly committed to preserving the legacy and aspirations of Encik Yusof Ishak. A heritage wall at the fifth floor of the mosque accentuates the key values that the late President stood for. Chief of these is a firm commitment to multiculturalism, promoting and preserving religious harmony. This was one of Encik Yusof Ishak’s earliest contributions, as he rose to the challenge of bringing together a multiracial nation, building trust, confidence and unity among Singaporeans.

Masjid Yusof Ishak also houses the new Rahmatan Lil Alamin Foundation (RLAF) office. The Foundation’s primary work involves inspiring youth and building their competencies in undertaking humanitarian and community development work. The office will also be involved in planning, evaluation and coordination of activities to facilitate the humanitarian relief and community development projects supported by the Foundation.

Masjid Yusof Ishak is designed with a unique architecture blending traditional mosque characteristics with Nusantara heritage and elements, while also addressing functional requirements. Distinctive features of a tropical Nusantara house, such as eaves/overhangs, verandah, decorative fixed ventilation panels and beautifully crafted balustrades, are reinterpreted and expressed in a modern way befitting this new generation mosque. Islamic motifs and Nusantara pattern are also used throughout the mosque, including the prayer hall, as an integrated geometrical art form of the Nusantara Islamic heritage. The pattern are also featured prominently on the stained glass windows incorporated on the fifth floor atrium. These modern and reinterpreted features are in tandem with the aspirations of Encik Yusof Ishak, who stood for modernisation and progressiveness while keeping true to one’s heritage.