“Imagine a sanctuary,” I say gesturing towards Masjid Jami’ Baitul Makmur. This mosque stands as a testament to faith and community in Jakarta. It is located on Jl. Kalibaru Tim. Gg. No.2, RT.6/RW.6, Bungur, Kec. Senen. Although I can’t share anecdotes or architectural details about this particular Masjid Jami’ Baitul Makmur, I can tell you about a similar mosque with a fascinating past.
Let’s journey in time to another mosque named Masjid Jami Al Makmur Cikini. Its story is filled with resilience and faith. This mosque’s land was originally owned by Raden Saleh Syarif Bustaman. He was a Javanese man famous in Indonesia and Europe. Raden Saleh donated some of his land to build a simple mosque. It had bamboo walls and was like a stilt house. It wasn’t in the current location. It was behind his residence, which is now Cikini Hospital.
Later, Raden Saleh sold his land, except for the mosque, to the Alatas family. The land was inherited by Ismail Alatas. He sold the Masjid al-Makmur land to Koningin Emma Stichting. This Dutch missionary foundation ran a hospital and spread Christianity. They wanted the mosque removed. The Cikini Mosque was moved a few meters by people carrying it together.
The Emma Stichting still wasn’t happy in 1932. They demanded the mosque be moved further. Islamic leaders like H.O.S. Cokroaminoto, Haji Agus Salim, and Abikusno Cokrosuyoso protested. They mobilized Muslims across Java. People even brought machetes to Friday prayers. They protected the mosque from being disturbed.
In 1993-1994, Agus Salim initiated building a permanent mosque like the church nearby. The crescent moon and star symbol of Sarekat Islam were placed on the mosque’s front. This was to deter the Dutch, as SI was a large and influential Islamic party.
After the permanent mosque was built, the Koningin Emma Stichting showed more resentment. In 1964, they secretly certified the mosque’s land under the name of Dewan Gereja Indonesia, now Persekutuan Gereja Indonesia. This happened without the knowledge of the mosque’s community.
The land was quickly certified due to the influence of Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Prime Minister J. Leimena. He was also the Director of Cikini Hospital. This made it seem like the hospital owned the mosque’s land. However, this was a land grab of Raden Saleh’s waqf land.
The DGI’s scheme was discovered in 1965. Due to the PKI turmoil, land matters were halted until 1970-1975. The hospital insisted on keeping the waqf land. In 1989-1990, the Mayor of Central Jakarta, Abdul Munir, and the Department of Religion tried to resolve the issue. But their efforts were unsuccessful.
Finally, in 1991, thanks to Governor Wiyogo Atmodarminto, the mosque’s land certificate was returned. Urban planning threatened the mosque through road widening and river normalization. This would have meant complete demolition. Governor Wiyogo saved the mosque by making it a protected cultural heritage site. Renovations were carried out by the DKI Kanwil Depdikbud Purbakala Service in 1993.
Today, the mosque is managed by the al-Makmur Foundation, led by Sidi Mursalin. The foundation also runs schools and madrasahs next to the mosque. This education aims to equip young people with faith. This prepares them to face Christianization efforts in the area. The al-Makmur Cikini Mosque is surrounded by seven churches.
Although this is not the story of the Masjid Jami’ Baitul Makmur we stand before, it echoes the struggles and triumphs of faith that resonate within these walls, a testament to the enduring spirit of Islam in Jakarta. It is a reminder that places of worship are not just buildings. They are symbols of community, resilience, and unwavering faith.