How about stepping back to 1743? That’s when the story of Masjid Jami Kampung Baru Inpak began in Jakarta. It is a tale of faith, community, and cultural fusion.
Masjid Jami Kampung Baru Inpak also known as Masjid Kampung Baru stands as one of Jakarta’s oldest mosques. You will find it on Jalan Bandengan Selatan in Pekojan, Tambora. This location is near Masjid Al-Anshor.
Muslim merchants from India built it. They used to travel to and live in Batavia. The provincial government of DKI Jakarta has recognized the mosque as a cultural heritage site.
These merchants from Arabia and India settled in this area of Batavia. Syeikh Abubakar, an Indian Muslim merchant living here, initiated the construction. Building began in 1743 and concluded in 1748. An 1829 Dutch article refers to it as the Moorsche Tempel meaning Temple of the Moors. This suggests the mosque was built by Muslim Moors. The term “Moorish” later became associated with Indian Muslims.
Originally, Moorish identified a Muslim ethnic group from North Africa like Morocco. They had conquered Europe and established an Islamic empire in Andalusia, Spain.
Today, much of the original structure is gone. However, the keranka central square, carved setandan grapes, and some window pillars remain. In the late 1980s, the construction of a flyover caused damage. This happened despite the mosque’s historical and architectural importance.
The mosque’s basic design is a square shape. It features a layered roof, with the upper roof shaped like a pyramid. This style echoes traditional Javanese buildings. Typically, four soko guru pillars support the pyramid-shaped roof in the building’s center.
The mosque covers about 1050 square meters. The floor has white-colored head coverings topped with green and red mats. An antique lamp has hung in the mosque since its beginning. Once, Masjid Jami Kampung Baru Inpak boasted a beautiful carved wood pulpit. This pulpit is now in the Jakarta History Museum.
Consider this mosque. It is not just a place of worship. It is a testament to Jakarta’s rich history. It shows the blend of cultures and the enduring power of faith. It stands as a reminder of the merchants from India. They built a place of solace and community in a new land.