Doesn’t the history of Masjid Jami’ At Tawakkal in Jakarta intrigue you? This city holds many old mosques. Let’s step back in time. We’ll uncover the story of one of Jakarta’s unique houses of worship.
Masjid Jami Kampung Baru Inpak is also known as Masjid Kampung Baru or Bandengan Mosque. It is one of the oldest mosques in Jakarta. This mosque is located at Jalan Bandengan Selatan in Pekojan Tambora Jakarta. It is near Masjid Al-Anshor.
Muslim merchants from India built it. They used to travel to Batavia. They also lived there. The provincial government of DKI Jakarta has designated the mosque as a cultural heritage site.
Traders from Arabia and India settled in this area of Batavia. Traders from India built a mosque here. This fulfilled their need to worship together. Sheikh Abubakar built Masjid Jami Kampung Baru Mosque. He was a Muslim merchant from India. He lived in the area. Construction started in 1743. It finished in 1748.
In 1829 a Dutch article called the New Kampong mosque the Moorsche Tempel. This means Temple of the Moors. Muslim Moors likely built the mosque. The term Moorish later identified Indian Muslims. Moorish terminology usually identifies a Muslim ethnic group in North Africa. This includes Morocco and its surroundings. They conquered Europe and established an empire of Islam in Andalusia Spain.
Today the building is not in its original shape. Only the central square keranka remains. Some pillars and carved setandan grapes on the windows also remain. Old buildings in the Pekojan area were dismantled in the late 1980s. This was for a flyover. Kampung Baru Mosque suffered damage from this. Historical values and architecture were ignored.
The mosque’s basic plan is a square. Its roof overlaps. The upper roof is a pyramid shape. This shape resembles traditional Javanese buildings. These buildings usually have four soko guru pillars. These are in the middle of the building. They buffer the pyramid-shaped roof.
The mosque area is about 1050 square meters. The floor has white-colored head coverings. Green and red mats spread over it. An antique lamp hangs in the mosque. It has been there since the mosque was built.
This mosque once had the most beautiful pulpit. It was made of carved wood. The pulpit has been replaced. The original pulpit is now in the Jakarta History Museum. Masjid Jami Kampung Baru Inpak stands as a testament. It shows the rich Islamic history of Jakarta. Its walls hold stories of merchants faith and cultural exchange.
As you stand here can you feel the echoes of prayers? They resonate through the centuries. This mosque is more than just a building. It’s a living piece of Jakarta’s past. A past where faith and trade shaped the city we know today. Let the story of Masjid Jami Kampung Baru Inpak inspire you. Let it deepen your appreciation. Value Indonesia’s diverse heritage.