From iconic landmarks to heritage shops, there are many hidden gems tucked away in Singapore’s Kampong Gelam. If you’re planning to kick start on your new reading habit, Wardah Books is where you should go.
Before making your way to Wardah Books, download our FREE self-guided Have You Met Kampong Gelam walking trail. After shopping for books, explore the surrounding landmarks, shops and halal eateries for the best time in Kampong Gelam. Don’t forget to unlock awesome discounts and secret menus that you can’t get anywhere else!
How to download Have You Met Kampong Gelam trail
- Download IPLUS Locomole app (iOS or Android) to access our FREE Have You Met Kampong Gelamtrail
- Scroll through Recommended and click on Have You Met Kampong Gelam trail
- Have fun and explore the trail at your own pace!
Besides Wardah Books, check out our featured merchants on Have You Met Kampong Gelam trail to unlock special surprises! Apart from joining new workshops and experiences, there are secret menus and challenges that are exclusive to our trail on the app! Now let’s get to know Wardah Books, and why it has a special spot in our Have You Met Kampong Gelam trail!
Wardah Books, a literary gem in Singapore
Walk along Bussorah Street and you will find Wardah Books, a bookstore dedicated to providing quality reading materials for Singapore’s Muslims. Founded by Ibrahim Tahir in 2002, Wardah means rose in Arabic, which was also Ibrahim’s late mother’s favourite flower!
The other significance of Wardah Books is the root letters of the Arabic w-r-d, which is also the root letters for ‘wirid’, the Arabic word for litany or dzikr. According to Ibrahim, sufism informs a lot of what they do at Wardah Books, so that is why the dimension of litany is important for their name.
Ibrahim is known to be a very avid reader, and this has inspired him to set up a bookstore in Kampong Gelam. "Since I have an interest in Islamic books, we opened a niche book store on English Islamic books. Since then, our range has expanded. We have books on politics, fiction, history but the focus is still very much Islamic,” said Ibrahim.
You may be overwhelmed by the selections at Wardah Books, but their best-selling books are largely centered around self-improvement. “The books that are always popular here are books that deal with the diseases of the heart; the spiritual heart. The Islamic tradition defines the diseases of the heart to be things like anger, jealousy, and pride.”
“We noticed that books that deal with the identification of those issues, and the treatment of those issues, remain very important to our readers. And this causes some optimism. So long as there are people who want to seek out ways to improve themselves then it gives you some home for our culture.”
As a bookstore owner, Ibrahim recognises the importance of reading and encourages everyone to see this activity as more than just a pastime. “Reading does so much more than giving you information. It really moulds you into a better person, a better citizen. And it is now more than ever an important activity to do. But I don't call it a hobby. Reading should be a practice that you do everyday."
Watch an interactive mural come to life in Kampong Gelam
You don’t have to look far for a spot to take some awesome #OOTD. Just around the corner from Wardah Books, check out Gelam Gallery, Singapore’s first permanent outdoor gallery that showcases a variety of vibrant artworks by local and international artists. There’s even an interactive mural that you can play with!
- Download IPLUS Locomole app (iOS or Android) to access our FREE Have You Met Kampong Gelamtrail
- Scroll through Recommended and click on Have You Met Kampong Gelam trail
- Go to Gelam Gallery and click on the Start button in the Mural at Kampong Gelam section to see the murals come to life.
- Remember to take a screenshot and show it to your friends!
If you’re looking for more things to do in Kampong Gelam, download our FREE Have You Met Kampong Gelam trail to explore the sights and sounds of the neighbourhood!
Feeling adventurous? Discover Kampong Gelam & other parts of Singapore more through their links below!