SINGAPORE – Muslims across Singapore gathered in the morning of March 21 at mosques island‑wide for Hari Raya Aidilfitri prayers, celebrating the end of Ramadan and the start of a season of forgiveness against a backdrop of widening conflict in the Middle East. At Masjid Sultan in Kampong Gelam, a packed first session drew thousands, with Acting Minister‑in‑Charge of Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim telling the media that the community has remained mindful of the uncertain global situation even as it celebrates.
The festive mood has been tempered by the fallout from US‑led and Israeli strikes on Iran and its leadership on February 28, which Tehran says have thrown markets and the international order into chaos and triggered retaliatory attacks across the region. This has forced many Muslims in the Middle East to observe Ramadan and Hari Raya under the shadow of air raids and displacement, a reality that Faishal said should deepen appreciation for the relative peace and stability in Singapore.
In remarks after prayers, Associate Professor Faishal noted that, during Ramadan, he saw a strong sense of gratitude among Singapore’s Muslims for “peace of mind and peace of heart” while performing their rituals. He urged the community to carry forward values cultivated in Ramadan, gratitude, graciousness and generosity, into Hari Raya celebrations, so that festivities remain meaningful and considerate of those celebrating away from home or facing hardship elsewhere.
On the same day, Senior Minister of State for Defence Zaqy Mohamad reflected on social media that the war has cast a long shadow over Ramadan and Hari Raya, yet highlighted how Singaporeans continue to break fast together across races and faiths and maintain warm, steady social ties even when the wider world feels unsettled. Faishal also said that community feedback on the additional prayer spaces provided during Ramadan and on March 21 have been positive, with many elderly and less mobile congregants praising the convenience of nearby venues.
The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) reported that some 240,000 prayer places were made available across up to three sessions at mosques on March 21, including dedicated spaces for female worshippers. This included 24,000 extra spaces at nearly 49 supplementary venues, an increase of almost 30 percent over 2025, specifically intended to ease access for older and mobility‑limited congregants near their homes.
Speaking at Masjid Sultan, the mosque’s vice‑chairman Mohd Puzi Mohamed said the suffering and conflict gripping many parts of the world, especially the Middle East, serve as a reminder of how precious religious harmony is in Singapore. He recalled that the mosque, built in 1819 through multi‑ethnic leadership and sustained by mutual respect, remains a living symbol of that harmony, with its call to prayer still echoing 207 years after its founding. He also asked for congregants’ patience and understanding as plans for the mosque’s refurbishment and upgrading, expected to begin by 2027, move forward.