Picture this a three-story building rising majestically in Kebon Jeruk West Jakarta. This is Mushalla Al Husna a place of worship that transformed from a humble structure into a magnificent house of prayer. Before its stunning renovation Mushalla Al Husna was a small prayer hall. It could only accommodate about 80 worshippers. The old building was even sold for a mere 2 million rupiah. But that was then.
Today Mushalla Al Husna stands tall. It underwent a complete renovation starting in January 2010. The total cost was 2 billion rupiah a testament to the community’s dedication. This included 1.6 billion rupiah in cash and 400 million rupiah in materials. All funds came from community donations. The transformation is breathtaking. Now Mushalla Al Husna can comfortably house around 250 worshippers.
Its architecture is striking. Inspired by mosques in the Middle East particularly in Turkey and Morocco Mushalla Al Husna’s design is instantly recognizable. The building is rectangular with three floors. The ground floor initially used for parking now serves as a prayer space. During Ramadan the basement is used for women’s Taraweh prayers. The second and third floors are for male worshippers. Marble-clad pillars add to the building’s elegance. The roof features two small green domes and a larger central dome of the same color. From the roof you can see the entire Kebon Jeruk and Kebayoran Lama districts including several large mosques.
Mushalla Al Husna lacks a yard or garden. Visitors arriving by car must park on the roadside. Only a few motorcycles can fit near the building. To add some greenery six large brown pots with Pucuk Merah plants and other decorative plants are placed around the building. The name Al Husna meaning beauty or the best was given by a local scholar.
Although the mushalla’s appearance has drastically changed its status remains unchanged. To become a mosque Mr Syarif Usman the chairman explains it needs the endorsement of religious scholars. He notes many large mosques already exist in the area. One requirement for building a new mosque is if existing ones cannot accommodate all worshippers for Friday prayers and other services. Despite its current status Mushalla Al Husna is one of Jakarta’s most impressive prayer halls. Its future might hold a change in status but for now its beauty serves the community.