Masjid Al-Akbar

Whispers of devotion echo around the grand Masjid Al-Akbar. Here, beside the Surabaya-Gempol Highway, stands Indonesia’s second-largest mosque. Masjid Al-Akbar is a testament to faith and resilience. Its story begins in 1995, a vision of then-Mayor Soenarto Soemoprawiro. Vice President Try Sutrisno laid the first stones. The 1997 Asian financial crisis threatened to halt the project. Yet, like a prayer answered, construction resumed in 1999. The mosque opened its doors in 2000, inaugurated by President Abdurrahman Wahid. Masjid Al-Akbar is an architectural marvel. It sprawls across 22,300 square meters. The main building stretches 147 meters long and 128 meters wide. A magnificent dome, almost egg-shaped, crowns the mosque. Four smaller blue domes surround it. A towering minaret, reaching 99 meters towards the heavens, symbolizes the 99 names of Allah. This unique dome, 27 meters high, shares its design with the Selangor Grand Mosque in Shah Alam, Malaysia. Step inside Masjid Al-Akbar, and you’ll find Indonesia’s largest mihrab. The towering entrance welcomes worshippers into a vast, column-free prayer hall. This design ensures an unobstructed view for all, fostering a sense of unity. Masjid Al-Akbar is more than just a building. It is a beacon of faith, a symbol of perseverance, and a testament to the power of community.