Azizi Grand Mosque anniversary combines with national holiday
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.