The Mosques of Jakarta

Today we are more familiar with the minarets and domes of the Middle East, but early Indonesian mosques sometimes featured a mix of Islamic, Hindu, and Chinese architectural styles, with roofs ranging from flat to tiered domes.

Lur Batang Mosque

Jakarta's mosques reflect a diversity of architectural styles and historical and cultural influences. The Luar Batang Mosque (Sunda Kalapa) was built in 1739, although its administrators maintain that it was founded around 1700. The national hero Abdullah al-Aidrus Sayyid Hussein bin Abu Bakar, a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) through his daughter Fatima, was exiled by the Dutch but managed to return to Sunda Kalapa and found a mosque. He was later buried there in 1756, and his tomb was incorporated into the mosque's structure.

This 5,780-meter-long complex is considered a sacred site and attracts numerous pilgrims from Indonesia and abroad. Despite the presence of some European architectural elements, the main entrance of the two-story mosque is decorated with bas-reliefs similar to those found in ancient Hindu temples in Java. The mosque is closely linked to the history of Sunda Kalapa and is administered by local authorities. The architects claim that, once the reconstruction, which cost 5 billion Indonesian rupiah, is completed, the mosque will become an attractive tourist destination for all visitors to the region, while maintaining its traditional function as a place of worship, pilgrimage, education, and Islamic center.

Keban Jeruk Mosque

Not far from Sunda Kalapa is the Kebon Jeruk Mosque , located on Hayam Uruk Street. Its name is somewhat misleading and bears no relation to the sprawling neighborhood of the same name in the western part of the city. Located across the Ciliwang River and near the Jayakarta Hotel, this mosque was built in 1786 in the Peranakan style by Mr. Choa, who led the Chinese Muslim community in Jakarta between 1780 and 1797. The term "Peranakan" was applied to Chinese men who married Balinese women. At that time, many Chinese converted to Islam following the riots and massacres of 1740, which forced them to move to areas outside the old city. Lacking a mosque of his own, Choa built one on the roof of his house. Also located here is the tomb of Fatima Hu (1792), supposedly Mr. Choa's wife, notable for its eclectic fusion of Chinese style and Arabic motifs. Here you can see Arabic numerals indicating the year 1792 and dragon heads.

The mosque also once featured clay tiles depicting human figures, which is prohibited in Islam. Islamic tradition condemns figurative representations of the Prophet (PBUH) and all living beings, for fear they might lead to idolatry. Geometric or Arabic designs are preferred.

Over time, the mosque has also been used by Indians, Arabs, and other ethnic minorities. Although it was restored in 1957, it is currently in a state of disrepair, although the original appearance of the first mosque can still be recognized.

Istiqlal Mosque

The Istiqlal Mosque , the largest in Southeast Asia, is located a short walk from the National Monument (MONAS) and opposite the Catholic Cathedral of Jakarta. Designed by a Christian architect, its construction began in 1961, during the golden age of Sukarno's government (1945–1965), and reflects the taste for grandeur characteristic of that era: the mosque can accommodate 10,000 worshippers. Its expansive 9.5-hectare grounds are adorned with impeccably manicured lawns, gardens, fountains, lakes, and ponds.

Hidayatullah Mosque

Mosques, too, have had to contend with property speculators. But in the case of the Hidayatullah Mosque , located on Sudirman Street, the main commercial artery of central Jakarta, this exceptional pagoda-style mosque has acquired a unique identity. While the modern eye is more accustomed to the minarets and domes of the Middle East, ancient Indonesian mosques sometimes combined Islamic, Hindu, and Chinese architectural styles, with roofs ranging from flat to conical or flat-domed. The meticulous restoration of this mosque, obtained under concession from property speculators, has transformed it into an oasis for the faithful. This also reflects the fundamental principle that mosques should be "places of tranquility, not grandeur."

Al-Azhar Mosque

Al-Azhar Mosque is the main mosque, built independently of the majestic traditional mosques of the world's major Islamic capitals. It stands alongside universities, schools, and libraries, as was the case centuries ago in Baghdad, Isfahan, and Samarkand. The modern Al-Azhar Mosque complex, located in Kebayoran Baru, a suburb of Jakarta, includes the renowned Al-Azhar School, a large sports field, a library, and other facilities.

Governor Cohen's term has long since ended, and mosques have become an integral part of the infrastructure of many residential areas of Jakarta, being built almost immediately after roads were built. In other areas, residents are working hard to raise funds and build their own mosques. Undoubtedly, their reward for this effort awaits them in Paradise. For Muslims, building a mosque is a great act of virtue, as stated in the following hadith: "Whoever builds a mosque for the sake of Allah, Allah will build him something similar in Paradise."

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