Istiqlal Mosque – Jakarta, Indonesia

Istiqlal Mosque, or Masjid Istiqlal, (Independence Mosque) in Jakarta, Indonesia is the largest mosque in Southeast Asia. The rectangular main prayer hall building is covered by a 45 meter diameter central spherical dome. The dome is supported by twelve round columns and the prayer hall lined by rectangular piers carrying four levels of balcony. Staircases at the corners of the building give access to all floors.

The main hall is reached through an entrance covered by a dome 10 meters in diameter. The interior design is minimalist, simple and clean cut, with minimal adornment of aluminium geometric ornaments. The 12 columns are covered with aluminium plates.

On the main wall on qibla there’s a mihrab and minbar in the center. On the main wall, there is a large metalworks of Arabic calligraphy written the name of Allah on the right side and Muhammad on the left side, and also the calligraphy of Shahadah in the center.

History

The government of Indonesia constructed the national mosque in 1975. More than 120,000 people can congregate at the mosque at one time.

The latter structure is directly connected to the arcades which run around the large courtyard. The mosque also provides facilities for social and cultural activities, including lectures, exhibitions, seminars, conferences, bazaars and programmes for women, youth and children.

Some Muslims in Indonesia regarded Istiqlal’s dome and minaret structure as too Arabic in style. They regarded the architecture to be out of harmony with the Islamic culture and architecture in Indonesia. In response, former president Suharto began an initiative to construct more mosques of the Javanese triple-roofed design.

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