Istiqlal Mosque's 48th Anniversary: Minister of Religion Announces Continued Beautification as National Pride
Jakarta — The Grand Imam of Istiqlal Mosque and Minister of Religion Nasaruddin Umar announced that Istiqlal Mosque will continue to be beautified during celebrations marking the 48th anniversary of Southeast Asia’s largest mosque.
“Istiqlal Mosque is now 48 years old. At 48 years, one reaches an ideal age for achievement. If this were a person, they would be at their peak performance years. Hopefully, Istiqlal reflects the vitality of its age,” Umar said at Istiqlal Jakarta on Monday.
The Minister outlined several renovation and development plans currently being prepared, including landscaping, lighting improvements, and enhancements to the surrounding area.
According to him, a tender process is currently underway for updating the main dome to display dynamic visual ornaments, particularly illuminated at night. “When viewed from a distance, the ornaments will be able to change. Istiqlal will light up not just during Ramadan, but continually as a symbol of pride for the Indonesian nation and Jakarta,” he stated.
The mosque will also feature a multipurpose hall equipped with underground parking and two lifts leading to the main prayer hall. These facilities are designed to support community activities, including wedding ceremonies and receptions.
Additionally, two bridges will be constructed on the mosque’s southern and northern sides to facilitate access for worshippers and morning joggers, allowing them to circumambulate the Istiqlal area without venturing onto main roads.
The ministry also plans to relocate the western fence across the river, creating the impression that the mosque sits on an island surrounded by the river running from east to west.
“This is what we will witness—Istiqlal growing more beautiful with age. This is good news for us all,” the Minister said.
In terms of services, Istiqlal offers free religious consultation regarding zakat and Islamic matters, led by doctors who are graduates of Al-Azhar University. Family counselling services involving psychologists are also provided free of charge.
The mosque additionally runs various language courses, including English, French, Mandarin, Arabic, Indonesian for foreign speakers, and Aramaic. Various skills training programmes are also conducted for worshippers.
Minister Nasaruddin invited congregants to jointly maintain the mosque’s cleanliness, tranquillity, and beauty whilst actively using it for prayers, particularly during the final ten nights of Ramadan.
The celebration, organised by the Istiqlal Mosque Management Board and the Istiqlal Global Fund, concluded with a ceremonial rice cone cutting and communal breaking of the fast.