Beneath Jakarta’s sprawling skyline stands Masjid Annur. This mosque is a testament to faith. It is a blend of architectural styles. Have you ever seen a building that embodies Malay, Turkish, Arabic, and Indian influences?
Masjid Annur is not just a place of worship. It’s a landmark. Its story begins in 1963. Construction finished in 1968. Governor Arifin Achmad inaugurated it.
Fast forward to 2000. Governor Saleh Djasit oversaw a major renovation. The mosque’s area tripled. It expanded from 4 hectares to 12.6 hectares. The renovation provided more open space. It became a green garden. A large parking area was added.
But there’s more to Masjid Annur than meets the eye. Did you know it once housed a university faculty? From its early days until 1973, it was the campus for the Faculty of Ushuluddin State Islamic Institute. This institute is now the State Islamic University of Sultan Syarif Kasim.
The mosque’s architecture is particularly striking. Some even call Masjid Annur the Taj Mahal of Riau province. Ir. Roseno designed it. The building spans 50 x 50 meters. It sits within a yard of 400 x 200 meters. It can accommodate 4,500 worshipers.
Masjid Annur has three levels. The upper level is for prayer. The lower level houses offices and meeting rooms. The mosque has three staircases. One is at the front. Two are on the sides. The upper level has 13 doors. The bottom level has 4 doors.
Inside, you’ll find calligraphy by Azhari Nur from Jakarta. He wrote it in 1970. The bottom floor hosts the mosque’s secretariat. It also has management offices. There are youth spaces and classrooms for Islamic education. An escalator connects the first and second floors.
Masjid Annur offers more than just religious services. It provides education from playgroups to high school. It has a library. You can find halls and meeting rooms. Office spaces are also available. The mosque even has a radio station. It’s called LPK An-Nur FM. It broadcasts on 107.7 MHz.
At night, Masjid Annur transforms. Lights reflect on the pool’s surface. The domes and towers glow. The mosque becomes a stunning sight. It’s a popular hangout spot. This is especially true during Ramadan. Food stalls and merchants fill the area.
So, as you stand before Masjid Annur, consider its layers of history and design. It embodies the spirit of Pekanbaru. It represents a fusion of cultures and a center for faith and community. It is a place where architecture tells a story.