Beneath the Jakarta sky, Masjid Al-Anwar stands as a testament to time. It is a place where history and faith intertwine. The story of Masjid Al-Anwar begins in the mid-18th century.
Masjid Al-Anwar is officially known as Masjid Jami Angke. It is one of Jakarta’s oldest mosques. Historian Denys Lombard called it “one of the most elegant of the old town.” The mosque’s history reflects Jakarta’s multiethnic origins.
The kampung around Masjid Al-Anwar was once Kampung Goesti. Balinese people led by Kapitan Goesti Ktut Badulu settled here. By the mid-18th century they converted to Islam. Masjid Al-Anwar was founded on April 2 1761. Nyonya Tan and Syaikh Liong Tan were the main benefactors. Both were Muslim converts from Batavia’s Chinese community.
Masjid Al-Anwar sits near the Angke canal. Angke means “blood” and “carcass” in Hokkien. The stream was near a slaughterhouse. The area is still known as Pejagalan or slaughterhouse. Prince Syarif Hamid from Pontianak was captured by the Dutch. He was held at Manggadua and buried in front of Masjid Al-Anwar in 1858. People from Pontianak often visit his grave.
Many Chinese in this area are devout Muslims. Tombstones near Masjid Al-Anwar have Chinese and Arabic inscriptions. The oldest tombstones show Islamic Banten and Aceh origins. Masjid Al-Anwar has been restored several times. These restorations happened in 1970, 1985-1987, and 2016. The building is a protected cultural heritage.
Masjid Al-Anwar is the only mosque in Jakarta that remains unaltered since its construction. It has a two-level roof a typical Javanese style for places of worship. The architecture mixes Javanese Balinese Chinese and Dutch elements. Balinese elements appear in the window shutters. The roof’s tips curve like traditional Balinese architecture. The roof’s bracketing follows Chinese norms. Some decorations take the form of a Chinese lotus. Dutch colonial influences are in the main door and window ornamentation.
Masjid Al-Anwar is small 15 x 15 meters on a 400 square meter land. The mosque complex includes a cemetery. According to historical sources, the mosque was built by Ny. Tan Nio. She was a Chinese Muslim woman married to a man from Banten. Syaikh Liong Tan was the architect. His tomb is behind Masjid Al-Anwar.
During mass killings some Chinese hid and were protected by Muslims from Banten. They lived together until 1751. They founded Masjid Al-Anwar in 1761 as a place of worship. It was also a headquarters for fighters against the Dutch. The mosque was used for discussions by fighters from Banten and Cirebon.
The kampung around Masjid Al-Anwar was also home to people from Banten and Chinese. They lived together since the mass killings of Chinese by the Dutch. Even today many Chinese still live in this area. The building is a mix of Javanese Chinese and European styles. Javanese style is evident in the square layout and tiered roof. Chinese style is in the roof’s details. European style is in the doors windows and vents.
One unique element is the mimbar. This is a pulpit shaped like a sculpture. The mosque also features unique decorations. These include wood carvings of floral designs and calligraphy. The main entrance steps are made of red temple stones.
Near Masjid Al-Anwar is the tomb of Prince Hamid Al-Qadri from Pontianak. He was exiled to Batavia. The oldest gravestone belongs to Ny Chen a Chinese Muslim woman. It is now stored next to the mosque.
Masjid Al-Anwar stands as a symbol of Jakarta’s diverse history. It is a blend of cultures and faiths. A place where the past and present meet.