[1] The mosque's name, given by the Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura is derived from the Arabic word, مودة, which literally means affectionate.

[3] On 13 October 2017, Berita Harian, Singapore's Malay newspaper, published an article How to Deal with Stubborn Wives (translated title) by Ustaz Mohammad Zaid Isahak, the executive Imam of the Al-Mawaddah Mosque.

[4][5] The religious scholar had responded to a question on an advice column on whether a husband could "Distance himself from a wife who refuses to obey him.".

[6][7] The article sparked an outcry on social media and prompted a response from Nee Soon Group Representation Constituency's Member of Parliament, Faishal Ibrahim, and head of the Office of the Mufti, Ustaz Irwan Hadi, denouncing spousal violence of any form.

[6] Berita Harian posted clarifications from Ustaz Zaid later, saying the Quranic verse he had cited was not an excuse for a husband to physically punish or insult his wife, and "it should be interpreted in the modern context" and that the husband should express his "displeasure and anger" in lieu of physical punishment.