Gedek bambu walls. That’s how Masjid Jami Al Ma’mur Cikini started. It is a story of community, faith, and resilience.
Masjid Jami Al Ma’mur Cikini stands as one of Jakarta’s oldest mosques. Its history stretches back centuries. It is a cultural heritage site.
The story of Masjid Jami Al Ma’mur begins in the late 19th century. Raden Saleh Syarif Bustaman built it around 1890. He was a renowned Indonesian painter. The mosque is also known as Masjid Raden Saleh Cikini. Initially, it was a simple prayer house. It stood on Raden Saleh’s expansive estate. This estate stretched from Cikini to Tugu Tani, Menteng.
After Raden Saleh’s death, the mosque changed hands. Sayed Abdullah bin Alatas bought the land. Later, he sold it to Koningen Emma Ziekenhuis. This was a foundation of the Dutch colonial government. The foundation planned to build a non-profit hospital. They wanted to carry out missionary activities on the land. Local residents strongly opposed these plans.
National figures intervened to save Masjid Jami Al Ma’mur Cikini. HOS Tjokroaminoto and Agus Salim stepped in. KH Mas Mansyur also helped.
In 1930, the community decided to renovate the mosque. Previously, it was made of woven bamboo. The community moved it by carrying it together. Sarekat Islam assisted the residents. They collectively contributed to the mosque’s construction. KH Agus Salim inaugurated the renovated Masjid Jami Al Ma’mur in 1932.
Land disputes arose after Indonesia’s independence. The Ministry of Agrarian Affairs issued land rights to the Indonesian Council of Churches. This led to negotiations. The government and mosque officials were involved. In 1991, the land was finally returned. It went back to the Al Makmur Mosque Foundation.
The mosque was built without architects. The community used milk cans. They collected rice from households. The rice was sold to buy building materials.
Masjid Jami Al Ma’mur has unique architectural features. It still has wooden carvings. Some original tiles remain in the mosque’s center. These have been preserved.
The Governor of Jakarta designated Masjid Jami Al Ma’mur as a cultural heritage site. This happened under Regional Regulation No. 9 of 1999. The mosque has about seven main doors. It has ten original teak windows. The two-story building can accommodate up to 700 worshipers. Both floors serve as prayer spaces. The Al Makmur Mosque Foundation also runs a school. It manages a madrasah.
Today, Masjid Jami Al Ma’mur stands as a testament. It shows the community’s enduring spirit. It embodies Jakarta’s rich Islamic heritage. It’s a place where history and faith intertwine.