Azizi Grand Mosque anniversary combines with national holiday
By Junardi Harahap
MEDAN, North Sumatra (JP): Azizi Grand Mosque in Tanjungpura subdistrict, Langkat regency, had its birthday solemnly commemorated for the first time when it turned 100 on Saturday.
Thousands of Muslims from Langkat and other towns flocked to the mosque to celebrate the anniversary, which coincided with a national holiday -- the Prophet Muhammad's birthday.
Among those attending the celebration were North Sumatra Governor T. Rizal Nurdin and Langkat Regent Syamsul Arifin.
The Langkat traditional chief, Tengku Hermasyah Kamil, said the mosque's anniversary was celebrated every 100 years instead of every year.
"This is what Langkat cultural belief prescribes," he said. "Anyone wanting to attend the next celebration should come here in 100 years time," he quipped.
Built on a 18,000 square meter plot of land, the Azizi mosque boasts beautiful Middle Eastern architecture. Arabic calligraphy can be seen all over the building. It was designed such that it allows sunlight to enter the structure, even though all doors remain shut. This is possible because all the mosque's doors and windows are made of glass, allowing natural light to reach into every corner of the building.
The Azizi Grand Mosque is said to be more beautiful than the sultan's palace.
The mosque was built by Sultan Aziz Abdul Djalil Rahmad who ruled Langkat from 1877 to 1927. He succeeded his father, Sultan Haji Musa Al-Khalidy Al-Muazzam Shah, who reigned from 1862 to 1897.
A local folk tale says that Sultan Haji Musa was a wise king who brought prosperity to his subjects. People from far away places were also attracted to make their fortunes in Langkat.
Sultan Haji Musa learned about Islam from a guru named Syech Haji Sulaiman Zuhdi in Jabal Qubis, Saudi Arabia. Upon his return to Tanjungpura, he built a place of worship at his home for fellow Muslims to perform mass prayers.
He is also well remembered as an Islamic propagator who fiercely refused to cooperate with the Dutch colonial administration. He would only lease land on a short-term basis to the Dutch. The indigenous Muslim Malay and Karo peoples were discouraged from working for the colonial masters.
According to the Arabic calendar, the Azizi Grand Mosque was built on 12 Rabiul Awal, 1320 H. At the time, the building was extremely modern.
The mosque was built on five philosophical principles of power centers: the power of authority, the power of ulema, the power of the intellect, the power of wealth and the power of prayer.
Sultan Aziz established an Islamic religious organization, Al- Jamiatul Mahmudyah Litholabil Khairiah, which managed Islamic schools called Madrasah Maslurah and Madrasah Azizah. A boarding house was built next to the school. All lessons were taught in Arabic and most of the teachers graduated from Islamic schools in Saudi Arabia or Egypt.
The Islamic schools produced many Islamic scholars. The late Adam Malik, Indonesia's vice president from 1978 to 1983, was just one of the well-known graduates.
The sultan financed the teachers' education in Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
Sultan Aziz's last will stipulated the mosque be used as a base for Islamic propagation, that it open its doors 24 hours a day and that it be managed by the royal family.
Existing documents show that the mosque was built by a German contractor; 18 months were needed before completion. Building materials were purchased in Malaysia and Singapore and brought in on boats on the Batang Serangan River.
The river was big and deep enough at that time to be used by boats with a 600 ton capacity. It played a pivotal role in enabling supplies to reach the Langkat sultanate.
In today's terms, Sultan Aziz spent about Rp 20 billion building the mosque, which has a bronze dome and 160 kerosene lamps.
When he dedicated the mosque, Sultan Aziz invited four Islamic scholars from Saudi Arabia to teach local Muslims on the procedures for Friday prayers and holiday rituals.
The mosque was renovated in 1924, 1936, 1967, 1979, 1981 and 1991. Donations from individuals and organizations have continued to flow in over the years to keep the mosque in good condition.