Istiqlal Mosque — Attraction in Jakarta

After the Indonesian National Revolution 1945–1949, followed by the recognition of Indonesian independence from The Netherlands in 1949, there was a growing idea to build a national mosque for the new republic, which had the largest Muslim population in the world.The idea of constructing a grand Indonesian national mosque was launched by Wahid Hasyim, Indonesia's first minister for religions affairs,and Anwar Cokroaminoto, later appointed as the chairman of the Masjid Istiqlal Foundation. The committee for the construction of the Istiqlal Mosque, led by Cokroaminoto, was founded in 1953. He proposed the idea of a national mosque to Indonesian President Sukarno, who welcomed the idea and later helped to supervise the mosque's construction. In 1954 the committee appointed Sukarno technical chief supervisor.

Several locations were proposed; Mohammad Hatta, Indonesian vice president, suggested that the mosque should be built near residential areas on Thamrin avenue, on a plot where Hotel Indonesia stands today.However, Sukarno insisted that a national mosque should be located near the most important square of the nation, near the Merdeka Palace. This is in accordance with the Javanese tradition that the kraton (king's palace) and masjid agung (grand mosque) should be located around the alun-alun (main Javanese city square), which means it must be near Merdeka Square.Sukarno also insisted that the national mosque should be built near Jakarta Cathedral and Immanuel Church, to symbolize religious harmony and tolerance as promoted in Pancasila (the Indonesian national philosophy and the five principles which constitute the philosophical foundation of Indonesian nationhood).It was later decided that the national mosque was going to be built in Taman Widjaja Kusuma (formerly Wilhelmina park), in front of the Jakarta Cathedral. To make way for the mosque, the Citadel Prins Frederick, built in 1837, was demolished.

Sukarno actively followed the planning and construction of the mosque, including acting as the chairman of the jury for the mosque design competition held in 1955. The design submitted by Frederich Silaban, a Christian architect from North Sumatra, with the theme "Ketuhanan" (English: "Divinity") was chosen as the winner. The foundation stone was laid by Sukarno on 24 August 1961; the construction took 17 years. President Suharto inaugurated it as the national mosque on 22 February 1978. As of 2013 it is the largest mosque in the region of Southeast Asia, with a capacity of over 120,000.

In display of religious tolerance, during large Christian celebrations such as Christmas, Istiqlal Mosque helped provide parking space for worshipers of the nearby...

Istiqlal Mosque is the state mosque of the Republic of Indonesia which is located in the center of the capital city Jakarta. Istiqlal Mosque is the largest mosque in Southeast Asia. The construction of this mosque was initiated by the President of the Republic of Indonesia at that time, Ir. Soekarno. Starting with the formation of the Daily Management of the Istiqlal Mosque Foundation on December 7, 1954, with the General Chairperson H. Anwar Tjokroaminoto. The establishment of the Istiqlal Mosque Foundation was an agreement at a meeting attended by around 200 Islamic scholars and figures throughout Greater Jakarta under the leadership of K.H. Taufiqurrahman (a Masjumi figure).

On February 22, 1955 it was announced in the newspaper Istiqlal Mosque Drawing Plan Competition. The Chair of the Competition Committee is Mr. Assaat (former President of the Republic of Indonesia domiciled in Yogyakarta, formerly Chairman of the Syuhada Mosque Construction Committee), and Chairman of the Jury Board of the President of the Republic of Indonesia Ir. Soekarno. The first winner of the competition was architect Frederich Silaban (a Protestant Christian), using the code "Deity". The second winner was R. Oetoyo, using the code "Istighfar". The third winner is Hans Groenewegen with the code "Greetings". The fourth and fifth winners, five ITB students each, use the code "Ilham", and three ITB students, use the code "Khatulistiwa". The jury decided the architect Frederich Silaban's work was the winner, provided that the drawing had to be perfected.

The erection of the first stone, as a sign of the start of the construction of the Istiqlal Mosque was carried out by President Soekarno in an official ceremony, on Thursday, August 24, 1961. The construction of the Istiqlal Mosque was slow and stopped until President Soekarno's government (old order) was replaced. The Mosque Construction Committee which was established by a Presidential Decree was changed several times. In 1969 the mosque building was still standing concrete pillars without a roof. The process of building the Istiqlal Mosque was resumed during the New Order government. President Soeharto intervened as the Chairperson of the Istiqlal Mosque Support by providing a development budget from Pelita I to Pelita II.

The inauguration of the use of the Istiqlal Mosque was carried out by President Soeharto on February 22, 1978. Prior to its inauguration, for the first time President Soeharto together with his ministers and thousands of Muslims in Jakarta held Eid prayers at the Istiqlal Mosque on November 30, 1970 (1...

Istiqlal Mosque Masjid Istiqlal, lit. 'Independence Mosque') in Jakarta, Indonesia is the largest mosque in Southeast Asia and the third largest Sunni mosque in term of capacity. This national mosque of Indonesia was built to commemorate Indonesian independence and named "Istiqlal", an Arabic word for "independence". The mosque was opened to the public 22 February 1978. Within Jakarta, the mosque is positioned next to Merdeka Square and the Jakarta Cathedral.

The mosque was formerly the location of the Wilhelminapark and a 19th-century Citadel.

Several locations were proposed; Mohammad Hatta, Indonesian vice president, suggested that the mosque should be built near residential areas on Thamrin avenue, on a plot where Hotel Indonesia stands today. However, Sukarno insisted that a national mosque should be located near the most important square of the nation, near the Merdeka Palace. This is in accordance with the Javanese tradition that the kraton (king's palace) and masjid agung (grand mosque) should be located around the alun-alun (main Javanese city square), which means it must be near Merdeka Square. Sukarno also insisted that the national mosque should be built near Jakarta Cathedral and Immanuel Church, to symbolize religious harmony and tolerance as promoted in Pancasila (the Indonesian national philosophy and the five principles which constitute the philosophical foundation of Indonesian nationhood). It was later decided that the national mosque was going to be built in Taman Widjaja Kusuma (formerly Wilhelmina park), in front of the Jakarta Cathedral. To make way for the mosque, the Citadel Prins Frederick, built in 1837, was demolished.

Sukarno actively followed the planning and construction of the mosque, including acting as the chairman of the jury for the mosque design competition held in 1955. The design submitted by Frederich Silaban, a Christian architect from North Sumatra, with the theme "Ketuhanan" (English: "Divinity") was chosen...