ABSTRACT
The conversation had quickly turned from the group's own activities to the larger institutional setup of Muslim organisations in Singapore. Most prominent among them are Sufi brotherhoods, which form an important part of religious life for many Indian Muslims. The different agencies and associations involved in the organisation of religious life among Indian Muslims in Singapore do not operate in isolation. Mosques are thus independent actors in the organisation and administration of Islam in Singapore. Education has been the prime focus, even though the Federation of Indian Muslims did not aim to duplicate any of the existing self-help organisations. Given the total number of Indian Muslims in Singapore, the number of Indian Muslim associations is surprisingly high. The various Indian Muslim associations differ substantially from each other in regard to the date of their foundation and in the size and character of the communities that they claim to be representing.
