“Obligation” is a strong word. Praying or sholat is an obligation upon every Muslim. We must do it five times a day. Welcome to Musholla Blok A. This place reflects a significant shift in Jakarta’s mall culture.
Let’s step back about a decade. Many shopping malls placed the musholla in the basement near the parking lot. These spaces were often small. Men and women had to share the room without separation. It could get hot like a sauna with only a regular fan. Amenities were limited. Prayer clothes and carpets might be dirty and smell. It was an inconvenient feeling, making it hard to concentrate on salat.
This situation was shameful. Indonesia, especially Jakarta, has a majority Muslim population. You would think mall operators would prioritize a decent prayer room. But times have changed. Today shopping malls are giving their progress in terms of providing a decent prayer room or musholla for its visitors.
Most malls no longer place the musholla in the basement. The lowest floor they placed musholla, either on the lower or ground floor. They also separate the room for male and female. The musholla is bigger and clean with proper amenities. These include prayer clothes, mirrors, prayer mats, sandals, and air conditioning. Air freshener is present too. I would say it has improved a lot. Several shopping malls built more than a musholla. They built a masjid.
As a practicing Muslim, I am very happy with this improvement. I hope many Muslim shoppers will no longer hesitate to pray in a mall’s musholla. Many mall owners now realize that a musholla is as important as a restroom for practicing Muslims. Sholat is an obligation. We shouldn’t skip or miss it under any circumstances.
Take Masjid Al-Latief on the 5th floor of Pasaraya Grande Blok-M. This masjid is named after the founder of Pasaraya, Mr. Abdul Latief. It accommodates more than 1000 people. Its design is beautiful. Red dominates. The entire floor is covered with a high-quality red carpet. A crystal chandelier decorates the domed ceiling. There is even a special room to dry feet after wudhu.
Consider Masjid Nurul Amin in Blok M Square on the 7th floor. It is claimed to be the biggest masjid in the mall. The interior design is quite similar to Masjid Al-Latief. Red dominates. There is a crystal chandelier on the Masjid dome ceiling. The exterior design reminds you of Masjid in Mekah and Madinah. A miniature of kaba’ on the front yard attracts many people. They come for praying, Islamic lectures, Manasik Haji/Umroh or taking pictures.
Or look at Masjid Nurul Anwar in Plaza Blok M on the 5th Floor. These examples show a commitment to providing comfortable and dignified prayer spaces. Musholla Blok A represents this positive trend. It acknowledges the importance of faith in daily life. It makes prayer accessible and convenient.
So, as you continue your shopping or activities here, remember that Musholla Blok A. It symbolizes a broader cultural shift toward accommodating religious needs in public spaces. It is a testament to Indonesia’s growing recognition of its Muslim population’s needs.