“Blood” and “carcasses”. Those words might seem out of place when you are standing in front of the Masjid Jami Arroghibin. Yet, they are a clue to understanding the rich history of this area. Today we will explore the Masjid Jami Arroghibin and its surroundings.
The Angke Mosque is also known as Masjid Jami Angke or Masjid Al-Anwar. It is one of Jakarta’s oldest mosques. Denys Lombard called it one of the most elegant in the old town. The history of the Angke Mosque shows Jakarta’s multiethnic origin.
Around the Angke Mosque was Kampung Goesti. Balinese people settled here under Kapitan Goesti Ktut Badulu. By the mid-18th century this community converted to Islam.
The Angke Mosque was founded on April 2, 1761. Nyonya Tan and Syaikh Liong Tan were its main benefactors. Both were Muslim converts from Batavia’s local Chinese community.
The Angke Mosque is near a canal. The canal was called Angke from Hokkian. Ang means “blood” and ke means “carcass”. The stream was near a slaughterhouse and contaminated. The area is still known as Pejagalan meaning “slaughterhouse”.
In 1856 Prince Syarif Hamid died. He was a Sultan from Pontianak. The Dutch captured and held him at Manggadua. He was buried in front of the Angke Mosque on July 17, 1858. People from Pontianak visit his grave. Many stay in Angke. Many Chinese in this area are devout Muslims. Tombstones near the mosque have Chinese and Arabic inscriptions. The oldest tombstones show Islamic Banten and Aceh origins.
The Angke Mosque has been restored several times. This happened in 1970, 1985–1987 and 2016. The building is a protected cultural heritage site.
It is Jakarta’s only mosque unaltered since its construction. Its roof has two levels. This is typical Javanese style for worship places. The Angke Mosque’s architecture is traditional Javanese. Its tiered roof shows this. Balinese, Chinese and Dutch elements are also visible.
Balinese elements are clear in the window shutters. The roof tips curve up like Balinese punggel. The roof’s bracketing follows Chinese norms. Some roof decorations are Chinese lotuses. This is a symbol of Buddhist enlightenment. Dutch colonial influences appear in the doors and windows.
The Angke Mosque is small. It measures 15 x 15 meters on 400 square meters of land. The mosque complex includes a cemetery.
Another mosque in the area is also very old. The Jami Kampung Baru Inpak Mosque is also known as Masjid Kampung Baru or Bandengan Mosque. Muslim merchants from India built it. It is located close to Masjid Al-Anshor. The provincial government of DKI Jakarta designated it as cultural heritage.
Syeikh Abubakar built Jami Kampung Baru Mosque. He was a Muslim merchant from India. Construction began in 1743 and finished in 1748. A Dutch article in 1829 called it the Moorsche Tempel or Temple of the Moors.
At present the building is not in the original shape. The remaining central square still has carved setandan grapes. Some pillars remain on the windows. In the late 1980s old buildings in Pekojan were dismantled for a flyover. Kampung Baru Mosque suffered damage during this. The mosque’s basic plan is a square with a pyramid-shaped roof. This shape resembles traditional Javanese buildings.
The mosque covers about 1050 square meters. The floor is covered with a white-colored head. Green and red mats are spread over it. An antique lamp hangs in the sky. This lamp has been there since the mosque was built. This mosque once had a beautiful pulpit made of carved wood. The pulpit has been replaced and stored in the Jakarta History Museum.
The Masjid Jami Arroghibin stands as a testament. It reflects Jakarta’s diverse past. It embodies cultural harmony. Its walls have witnessed centuries of change. It continues to be a place of worship and a symbol of Jakarta’s layered history. As you leave take a moment. Remember the stories. Remember the blood and carcasses. Remember the blend of cultures. It is all part of what makes this place so special.