Wander with me as we stand before Masjid At-Taqwa. This Jakarta mosque wasn’t always the grand structure you see today. Once, it was a small prayer space.
Back in 1930, a tiny mosque stood by Jalan Raya Pasar Minggu. It served the Muslim community of Pejaten Barat and Pejaten Timur. As the congregation grew, community leaders donated land.
In 1997, Masjid Raya At-Taqwa was built. The Governor of Jakarta at the time, Soerjadi Soedirja, inaugurated it. For over 25 years, the mosque has served its community. The administrators work hard to maintain the trust of Muslims in Pejaten Timur and Pejaten Barat. They manage the mosque according to its ideal function.
Let’s move to Kemanggisan, Palmerah, in West Jakarta. Here stands another Masjid At-Taqwa. This one is recognizable by its large dome. The mosque’s white color and blue-green mosaic dome are striking. A tall minaret stands proudly on its right side. Lush trees and a garden filled with yellow flowers surround the mosque.
This Masjid At-Taqwa began as a small prayer room in 1976. Ustaz Ishaq Ismail, the head of the mosque council, shared its history. Generous tax employees living in the Kemanggisan complex helped expand it.
The original musala held only about 300 people. In 1985, a total renovation transformed it into the larger mosque you see now. Residents of the Kemanggisan tax complex needed a bigger place to worship. They used a kindergarten hall for large prayers like Tarawih. This created difficulties for the children’s studies.
Around 1972 or 1973, an Islamic madrasah from Al-Azhar Kebayoran Baru was established nearby. This allowed the children of the tax complex to study religion. A consensus emerged to expand the musala into a mosque. It would serve as a practical learning space for the children.
Today, Masjid At-Taqwa can accommodate 2,000 worshippers. It is managed by the Taqwa Bhakti foundation. The mosque often hosts government officials for prayers. Tax officials, the Minister of Religious Affairs, and the Minister of Finance have all prayed here.
Both Masjid At-Taqwa mosques reflect community spirit. They began small, grew with their congregations, and continue to serve. These mosques embody faith, unity, and service to Jakarta’s Muslim community. They stand as testaments to the power of collective effort and devotion. They provide not only places of worship. But they also are centers of community life.