Acheh Mosque
March 20, 2009 by: admin
The Great Baiturrahman Mosque is the biggest and the most splendors mosque in the Province of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam. This mosque has a beautiful architecture and located in the center of the city. It is not only function as a religion place but also has a deep historical meaning related to the history of the Dutch occupation in this region. Before the Dutch occupied it, the Acehnese warriors used it for defense headquarters.
The history tells us that prior to the present appearance, according to several historical articels about this mosque; it was built during the Aceh Kingdom under Sultan Iskandar Muda’s administration (1607-1636). However, some also estimate that it was built for the very first time during Sultan Alaidin Mahmud Syah’s administration in 1292 (612H). The expation was done during the period of Nakiatuddin Khinayat Syah in the year 1675-1678.
Old people in Aceh claimed that the mosque used to have wooden structure, Rumbia leaf roof, a floor made of flat clay that hardened like dried cement. The prayers put on mats to cover the floor for sitting layers. The shape of the roof resembled a cone consisting of a terrace of three layers with the slant of about 30.
Recorder in the history, Baiturrahman mosque has been burnt twice by the Dutch. First, on April 10, 1873. In this battle General Major J.H.R Kohler dead in front of the mosque, under a shady tree called “geulumpang” which later the Dutch called “Kohler Boom”. The second attack launched on January 6, 1874. Although the Acehnese defended the mosque with all efforts, but due to the lack of weapons they had, the Dutch finally beat them. The Dutch succeeded seizing the mosque and burnt it down. Not long after that, the Dutch declared Aceh had been successfully conquered.
Four years later, in the middle of Safar month 1294 H (early March 1877), in view of Van Swieten promise, Governor General Van Lansberge stated that he would rebuild the Baiturrahman mosque at the same location. On Thursday 13 Syawal 1296 or 9 October 1879, the Governor General Van Der Hejden officially started the reconstruction of the mosque. Teungku Qadli Malikul Adil and witness by the Achenese people, who where around the mosque at that time, represented the laying of the cornerstone. On 24 Safar 1299 or 27 December 188, the construction of the mosque was declared to have been finished and could be used by the Acehnese people.
The Architect of this mosque was a Dutchman called Bruins from Department van Burgelijke Openbare Werken (Department of Public Work) in Batavia. Architectural aspects reflecting Islamic nuances were controlled by the great village chief of Garut, so the pattern would not againts Islamics rules. The contractor of the construction was a chinese named Lie A Sie ( a Chinese liutenant living in Banda Aceh at the same time). Some of the construction materials were imported from Penang, marbles from China, iron for window from Belgium, woods from Burma and iron bars from Surabaya.
The construction of the mosque was finished in 1881 and it has one dome. In 1936, when Y. Jongejans was the resident, two more buildings were added, one on the right and the other one was in the left of the mosque, making it three domes. The expansion plan cost 35.000 Gulden and it was designed by Ir. Mohammad Thaher, an Acehnese architect, and the Public Work Office did it. During the independence period, under Governor Ali Hasjmy’s administration, this mosque was expanded again and two minarets were built in each side, making it five domes altogether and hold 10.000 prayers. The expansion was entrusted to N.V. Zein from Jakarta. Indonesian Minister for Religious Affairs, K.H. M. Ilyas, did the laying of the cornerstone on Saturday 1 Safar 1387 or 16 August 1958. With the expansion, which finished in 1967, this mosque has five domes and two minarets.
Nowadays, we can find Tugu Modal minaret in front of the mosque. Tugu Modal minaret is a symbol for Aceh because it had been stated that Aceh is a capital area in the independence struggle of Indonesia. The minaret consist of six floors and can be reached by elevator or stair.
