Masjid Jami’ Alwasthiyah

Built in 1743 Masjid Jami Kampung Baru Inpak also known as Masjid Kampung Baru or Masjid Bandengan stands proudly. It’s one of Jakarta’s oldest mosques. Located on Jalan Bandengan Selatan in Pekojan Tambora it’s near Masjid Al-Anshor. Imagine the bustling port city of Batavia. Muslim merchants from India built this mosque. They journeyed far settling in Batavia. They needed a place to pray. A place to connect. Masjid Jami Kampung Baru Inpak was their answer. Sheikh Abubakar an Indian Muslim merchant spearheaded the construction. It took five years. The mosque was completed in 1748. An 1829 Dutch article refers to it as the Moorsche Tempel the Temple of the Moors. This likely reflects its origins. Moorish then likely referred to Indian Muslims. The term Moor though also refers to North African Muslims. They once ruled parts of Europe establishing an empire in Andalusia Spain. Today Masjid Jami Kampung Baru Inpak isn’t exactly as it was. Only the central square frame remains. Grapevine carvings and some window pillars survive. In the late 1980s nearby buildings were demolished for a bridge. Renovations damaged the mosque. Its original beauty was sadly compromised. The mosque’s layout is square with overlapping roofs. The top roof is pyramid-shaped. This resembles traditional Javanese architecture. Four central pillars support the pyramid roof. The mosque covers about 1050 square meters. Its floor is ceramic tiled. Green and red mats lie atop. Antique lamps hang from the ceiling. They’ve been there since the mosque opened. The mosque once boasted a beautiful carved wooden pulpit. It’s now in the Jakarta History Museum. Masjid Jami Kampung Baru Inpak stands as a testament to faith. It’s a survivor. A reminder of Jakarta’s rich multicultural past. The mosque’s story is one of perseverance adaptation and enduring faith. It’s a place of peace. A place of worship. A place of history.