Syed Haroon Mohamed Aljunied

Syed Haroon Mohamed Aljunied (b. 4 April 1947, Singapore - d.27 November 2024, Singapore) served as Secretary of the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) from 1985 to 2007, where he led modernisation efforts and revitalised under‑utilised waqf land into community assets. Under his leadership, MUIS also built new mosques in housing estates and won international recognition for innovative waqf initiatives.

Leadership at the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS)
Syed Haroon was appointed Secretary of MUIS in 1985, a position he held until 2007. Prior to the organisation’s leadership restructuring in 2013, this role was among the highest within MUIS.¹

He was widely respected by colleagues for his calm demeanour, principled leadership, and significant contributions behind the scenes. MUIS leaders described him as a pillar of the organisation, instrumental in guiding its development into an institution characterised by strong governance and professionalism.²

During his 22-year tenure, MUIS underwent a comprehensive process of modernisation, with administrative procedures, accounting systems, and mosque operations across Singapore systematically upgraded. He ensured that staff received structured training to enhance their capabilities and facilitated collaboration with other ministries and agencies, enabling MUIS to incorporate external expertise into its operations.³

His contributions also included overseeing the development of numerous new mosques in residential areas across Singapore, including Masjid Ar-Raudhah (Bukit Batok), Masjid An-Nahdhah (Bishan), and Masjid Darul Ghufran (Tampines).⁴

Modernisation of Wakaf Management
One of Syed Haroon’s most significant contributions was his transformative approach to wakaf management.⁵ Recognising the need to revitalise underutilised wakaf lands, he was among those who amended the AMLA and initiated reforms to professionalise their administration, maximising benefits to the Muslim community. ⁶

This led to the establishment of Warees Investments Pte Ltd, a corporate entity under MUIS set up to manage wakaf assets in a sustainable and commercially viable manner.⁷ The strategic reforms later earned MUIS the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum Award in recognition of its innovative approach to wakaf development. ⁸

Other Contributions to the Community
Beyond his work at MUIS, Syed Haroon was actively involved in social development. He was one of the founding members of Casa Raudha, a charitable organisation established in 2008 to provide shelter for women and children affected by domestic violence.⁹

The organisation was founded at a time when numerous unconventional issues, including domestic violence, had yet to be properly addressed, and the community was not yet prepared to engage with them.¹⁰ Casa Raudha has since expanded its outreach programmes and, according to its official website, has supported more than 1,600 survivors of domestic abuse.¹¹

Death
Syed Haroon Mohamed Aljunied passed away from pneumonia on 27 November 2024 and was laid to rest at Pusara Aman the following day. A highly respected and beloved figure in Singapore’s Muslim community, his funeral prayer at Ba’alwie Mosque on 28 November was attended by over 300 mourners and led by former Mufti, Ustaz Dr Mohamed Fatris Bakaram, with Minister Masagos Zulkifli among those present.¹²

Awards
The late Syed Haroon’s dedication was further recognised with the Public Service Medal and the MUIS 40th Anniversary Award¹³.

Legacy
The late Syed Haroon left a lasting legacy marked by his dedication to education, family, and personal development. According to his niece, Sharifah Farah Syed Mahamood Aljunied, he was known for consistently offering guidance and encouragement, particularly in education, urging his nieces and nephews to prioritise completing their postgraduate studies. Demonstrating his commitment to their academic success, he even established a small scholarship fund to reward them for good results, fostering a strong culture of motivation and excellence within the family.¹⁴

Authors
Nur Fitri Muhammad Syafran & Nur Eliqah Ali

References
1. Muhaimin Suzaini. “Pemergian tokoh berwawasan rendah hati.”Berita Harian, 28 November 2024. Accessed from https://www.beritaharian.sg/singapura/pemergian-tokoh-berwawasan-rendah-hati
2. Azman, N., & Rahmat, R. (2024, November 28). Allahyarham Syed Haroon Aljunied dikenang sebagai pemimpin berwawasan, bawa perubahan positif di MUIS. BERITA Mediacorp. Retrieved from https://berita.mediacorp.sg/singapura/allahyarham-syed-haroon-aljunied-dikenang-sebagai-pemimpin-berwawasan-bawa-perubahan-positif-di-muis-896236
3. Azman, N., & Rahmat, R. (2024, November 28). Allahyarham Syed Haroon Aljunied dikenang sebagai pemimpin berwawasan, bawa perubahan positif di MUIS. BERITA Mediacorp. Retrieved from https://berita.mediacorp.sg/singapura/allahyarham-syed-haroon-aljunied-dikenang-sebagai-pemimpin-berwawasan-bawa-perubahan-positif-di-muis-896236
4. Azman, N., & Rahmat, R. (2024, November 28). Allahyarham Syed Haroon Aljunied dikenang sebagai pemimpin berwawasan, bawa perubahan positif di MUIS. BERITA Mediacorp. Retrieved from https://berita.mediacorp.sg/singapura/allahyarham-syed-haroon-aljunied-dikenang-sebagai-pemimpin-berwawasan-bawa-perubahan-positif-di-muis-896236
5. Muhaimin Suzaini. “Pemergian tokoh berwawasan rendah hati.”Berita Harian, 28 November 2024. Accessed from https://www.beritaharian.sg/singapura/pemergian-tokoh-berwawasan-rendah-hati
6. Azman, N., & Rahmat, R. (2024, November 28). Allahyarham Syed Haroon Aljunied dikenang sebagai pemimpin berwawasan, bawa perubahan positif di MUIS. BERITA Mediacorp. Retrieved from https://berita.mediacorp.sg/singapura/allahyarham-syed-haroon-aljunied-dikenang-sebagai-pemimpin-berwawasan-bawa-perubahan-positif-di-muis-896236
7. Muhaimin Suzaini. “Pemergian tokoh berwawasan rendah hati.”Berita Harian, 28 November 2024. Accessed from https://www.beritaharian.sg/singapura/pemergian-tokoh-berwawasan-rendah-hati
8. Mantan Setiausaha MUIS Syed Haroon Aljunied meninggal dunia. BERITA Mediacorp, 27 November 2024. Accessed from https://berita.mediacorp.sg/singapura/mantan-setiausaha-muis-syed-haroon-aljunied-meninggal-dunia-896021
9. Muhaimin Suzaini. “Pemergian tokoh berwawasan rendah hati.”Berita Harian, 28 November 2024. Accessed from https://www.beritaharian.sg/singapura/pemergian-tokoh-berwawasan-rendah-hati
10. Muhaimin Suzaini. “Pemergian tokoh berwawasan rendah hati.”Berita Harian, 28 November 2024. Accessed from https://www.beritaharian.sg/singapura/pemergian-tokoh-berwawasan-rendah-hati
11. Muhaimin Suzaini. “Pemergian tokoh berwawasan rendah hati.”Berita Harian, 28 November 2024. Accessed from https://www.beritaharian.sg/singapura/pemergian-tokoh-berwawasan-rendah-hati
12. Muhaimin Suzaini. “Pemergian tokoh berwawasan rendah hati.”Berita Harian, 28 November 2024. Accessed from https://www.beritaharian.sg/singapura/pemergian-tokoh-berwawasan-rendah-hati13. Azman, N., & Rahmat, R. (2024, November 28). Allahyarham Syed Haroon Aljunied dikenang sebagai pemimpin berwawasan, bawa perubahan positif di MUIS. BERITA Mediacorp. Retrieved from https://berita.mediacorp.sg/singapura/allahyarham-syed-haroon-aljunied-dikenang-sebagai-pemimpin-berwawasan-bawa-perubahan-positif-di-muis-896236
14. Azman, N., & Rahmat, R. (2024, November 28). Allahyarham Syed Haroon Aljunied dikenang sebagai pemimpin berwawasan, bawa perubahan positif di MUIS. BERITA Mediacorp. Retrieved from https://berita.mediacorp.sg/singapura/allahyarham-syed-haroon-aljunied-dikenang-sebagai-pemimpin-berwawasan-bawa-perubahan-positif-di-muis-896236

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The information in this article is valid as of October 2025 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.If you have any feedback on this article, please submit it here.