The weathered stones whisper tales. They tell of the Masjid Jami Al-Makmur a place steeped in history and resilience.
This magnificent mosque stands proudly in Jakarta. Its story began not here but in a humble surau. Raden Saleh a renowned painter built it around 1860. It was a simple structure of wood and gedek bamboo walls. It stood beside his home.
After Raden Saleh’s death the land changed hands. It was purchased by Sayed Abdullah bin Alwi Alatas. Then sold to the Koningen Emma Ziekenhuis a hospital. The sale agreement stipulated the mosque’s preservation. However this agreement was broken.
The surau was moved. It found a temporary home beside the Ciliwung River. This location proved problematic. Flooding was a constant threat.
In 1890 the community rallied. They moved the surau again. This time to its current location on land owned by Sayid Ismail Salam bin Alwi Alatas. Even then challenges remained. The Koningen Emma Ziekenhuis still sought to remove the mosque. A church was planned for that spot.
This dispute escalated. It even reached H Agus Salim a prominent figure. A committee formed. Supported by H Agus Salim they renovated the mosque. The renovation added a Sarekat Islam symbol to the mosque’s facade. This symbol remains a distinctive feature today. The work concluded in 1936 transforming the small surau into the mosque we see today.
The struggle didn’t end there. After Indonesian independence land disputes flared again. A land certificate was issued in the name of the Dewan Gereja Indonesia the Indonesian Church Council. This certificate included the mosque’s land. Negotiations followed. Eventually in 1991 the land certificate was revoked. The land was returned to the Yayasan Masjid Al-Makmur the mosque’s foundation. The mosque became a protected cultural heritage site in 1999.
Today Masjid Jami Al-Makmur stands as a testament to community resilience. It’s a symbol of faith perseverance and the enduring spirit of Jakarta. Its history echoes through its walls. It is a place where past and present intertwine. A story of devotion amidst adversity.