Masjid Abdul Gaffoor is located in the area known as Kampong Kapor, which was an active business hub for Indian merchants and for those who worked at the old race course at Farrer Park.

The mosque on this site was originally a building with timber partitions and a tiled roof known as Masjid Al-Abrar, built in 1846 to serve the religious needs of the South Indian Muslim merchants and Baweanese syces and horse trainers residing in Kampong Kapor.

The deed of assignment also placed in trust several other properties including a Muslim burial ground and a house in Race Course Road.

Today, the mosque stands facing a row of shophouses that are now used for Qur'an classes and other subjects, as well as for communal activities.

Although the wakaf was beleaguered by problems, the resulting Masjid Abdul Gaffoor is rich in architectural features.