Al-Azhar Great Mosque

Coordinates: 6°14′07″S 106°47′58″E / 6.2351614°S 106.7993264°E / -6.2351614; 106.7993264
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Al-Azhar Great Mosque
Masjid Agung Al-Azhar
Masjid Agung Al-Azhar in 2021
Religion
AffiliationIslam
OwnershipAl-Azhar Islamic Dormitory School Foundation [id]
Location
LocationKebayoran Baru, Jakarta, Indonesia
Geographic coordinates6°14′07″S 106°47′58″E / 6.2351614°S 106.7993264°E / -6.2351614; 106.7993264
Architecture
TypeMosque
StyleMiddle East
GroundbreakingNovember 19, 1953
Completed1958
Specifications
Capacity10,000[1]
Dome(s)1
Minaret(s)1
Site area43.755 M2
Website
Masjid Agung Jakarta

Al-Azhar Great Mosque (Indonesian: Masjid Agung Al-Azhar) is a mosque located in Jalan Sisingamangaraja, Kebayoran Baru, Jakarta. The mosque was constructed between 1953 and 1958. It was originally known simply as Mesjid Agung (Great Mosque). It was Jakarta's largest mosque when it was built until it was surpassed by the Istiqlal Mosque which was completed in 1978. Al-Azhar mosque and the mosque complex is best known for its educational works.

History

Al Azhar Great Mosque.

The idea for a building of a mosque and a school in Kebayoran Baru was initiated by 14 people from the

Masyumi Party. Under the recommendation of Syamsudin, Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs at that time, the 14 figures founded the Islamic Dormitory School Foundation (Yayasan Pesantren Islam or YPI) on April 7, 1952. The Ministry of Religious Affairs had provided a limited start-up fund for the construction of a mosque and a school, while the mayor of Jakarta donated a 4 hectares of land in the new suburb of Kebayoran Baru.[2] Under the advice of Hamka - an Indonesian ulama and political activist - it was suggested that a mosque was built first before the school, "but with plenty of office space and meeting rooms so that while the school building is still under construction, the mosque can initiate a full round activities, including classes."[2] With the society established, construction of the mosque commenced on November 19, 1953. The mosque was completed in 1958 and officially inaugurated as Masjid Agung Kebayoran or Kebayoran Great Mosque.[3]
At the time of its completion it was the largest mosque in Jakarta.

The Great Mosque became the Al-Azhar Great Mosque following the suggestion of the

1965-1966 crisis following the 30 September Movement, Al-Azhar Great Mosque became the centre of anti-communist campaign among the Muslims.[6]

In 1967, a kindergarten was established in the Al-Azhar Mosque complex. The educational works of the Al-Azhar finally culminates with the establishment of the nearby Al-Azhar University Indonesia in 2000.[3]

Al-Azhar Great Mosque was made a Jakarta heritage site and a national cultural heritage on August 19, 1993.

Building

Al-Azhar Great Mosque is topped with a white onion dome, following the architecture of mosque in the Middle East. It has one minaret.

Al-Azhar Great Mosque was established not just as a mosque but also as a center of social activities and dakwah. It was among the first "modern" mosques of Indonesia in which a mosque building is completed with modern facilities such as an Islamic library, a lecture and a seminar hall, a health clinic, classes for both religious and secular subject, and dormitories.

See also

References

  1. ^ AGUNG AL-AZHAR. SIMAS. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  2. ^ a b Rush 2016, p. 126.
  3. ^ a b Merrillees 2015, p. 129.
  4. ^ Rush 2016, p. 127.
  5. ^ Rush 2016, p. 128.
  6. ^ "Al Azhar, Masjid". Ensiklopedi Jakarta (in Indonesian). Dinas Komunikasi, Informatika dan Kehumasan Pemprov DKI Jakarta. 2010. Archived from the original on November 9, 2016. Retrieved November 9, 2016.

Further reading