| Istiqlal Mosque | |
|---|---|
Masjid Istiqlal | |
 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Islam |
| Branch/tradition | Sunni |
| Leadership |
|
| Location | |
| Location | Jakarta, Indonesia |
  Location in Jakarta and Indonesia Show map of Jakarta Istiqlal Mosque, Jakarta (Java) Show map of Java Istiqlal Mosque, Jakarta (Indonesia) Show map of Indonesia Istiqlal Mosque, Jakarta (Asia) Show map of Asia | |
| Administration | Istiqlal Mosque Management Executive Board[a] |
| Coordinates | 6°10′11.29″S106°49′51.32″E / 6.1698028°S 106.8309222°E /-6.1698028; 106.8309222 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect | Friedrich Silaban |
| Type | Congregational mosque |
| Style | |
| General contractor |  Indonesia |
| Established | 1978 (renovated in 2019–2020)[2] |
| Construction cost | Rp 7 billion (US$ 12 million) |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 200,000 people |
| Dome | 2 |
| Dome dia. (outer) | 45 m (148 ft) |
| Minaret | 1 |
| Minaret height | 96.66 metres or 317.1 feet high; 66.66 m or 218.7 ft marble coated structure; plus 30 m or 98 ft stainless steel pinnacle |
| Materials | Steel and concrete structure, marble tiles on floors, walls and domes, ceramics tiles, stainless steel ornaments and metalworks |
| Website | |
| eng | |
Istiqlal Mosque (Indonesian:Masjid Istiqlal,lit. 'Independence Mosque';Arabic:مَسْجِد ٱلْإِسْتِقْلَال,romanized: Masjid al-Istiqlāl,lit. 'Mosque of the Independence') inJakarta, Indonesia is the largestmosque inSoutheast Asia and theninth largest mosque in the world in terms of worshipper capacity.[3] Built to commemorate Indonesian independence, thisnational mosque of Indonesia was named "Istiqlal", an Arabic word for "independence". The mosque was opened to the public on 22 February 1978. Within Jakarta, the mosque is positioned next toMerdeka Square, theJakarta Cathedral (Catholic), and also of theImmanuel Church (Reformed).
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The mosque was formerly the location of Wilhelmina Park and a 19th-century fortification calledCitadel.[4]
After theproclamation of Indonesian independence in 1945, the idea of constructing a grand Indonesian national mosque was raised byWahid Hasyim, Indonesia's first minister for religious affairs,[5] andAnwar 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 a national mosque to Indonesian PresidentSukarno, who welcomed the idea and later helped to supervise the mosque's construction. In 1954, the committee appointed Sukarno as technical chief supervisor.[6]: 106 The architect of the Istiqlal Mosque wasFriedrich Silaban, the winner of a design competition.[7] He is the son of aLutheran pastor from theBatak Protestant Christian Church.[8]
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 whereHotel Indonesia stands today.[9] However, Sukarno insisted that a national mosque should be located near the most important square of the nation, near theMerdeka Palace. This is in accordance with the Javanese tradition that thekraton (king's palace) andmasjid agung (grand mosque) should be located around thealun-alun (main Javanese city square), which means it must be near Merdeka Square.[10] Sukarno also insisted that the national mosque should be built nearJakarta Cathedral andImmanuel Church, to symbolize religious harmony and tolerance as promoted inPancasila.[11] 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, theCitadel Prins Frederick, built in 1837, was demolished.[12][13]
The foundation stone was laid by Sukarno on 24 August 1961;[14] the construction took 17 years. PresidentSuharto inaugurated it as the national mosque on 22 February 1978.[15][16] As of 2013[update], it is the largest mosque in the region of Southeast Asia, with a capacity of over 120,000.[17][18]: 65
On Friday night, 14 April 1978, a bomb made of plastic explosive was set off near the mimbar in Istiqlal Mosque. There were no casualties reported.[19] More than 20 years later, on 19 April 1999, a second bomb attack took place in the basement of the mosque, breaking the glass of the office rooms.[20]
Between May 2019 to July 2020 the mosque underwent major renovation at a cost of US$35 million. Works included: polishing and cleaning the marble exterior and stainless steel geometric ornamentation, a new mihrab and mimbar, upgrading electrical and plumbing systems, new lighting system using LED lamps, renovation of VIP rooms, new gates and improvements of garden, park and plaza, new kiosk for vendors, and a two storied basement parking space.[21]
A tunnel connecting Istiqlal Mosque andSt. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral has been constructed by the Indonesian authorities. This tunnel, known as the "Terowongan Silaturahmi" (Tunnel of Friendship), was expected to be finished in April 2020 before Ramadan 2020.[22]
In 2022, the mosque received EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) certification from theInternational Finance Corporation (IFC), a subsidiary of theWorld Bank. It is confirmed to be the world's first green building.[23]
In September 2024Pope Francis, on a visit to Indonesia, stated that the Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta is concrete proof of the presence of religious moderation in Indonesia.[24]And at the same time signed anIstiqlal Declaration carried out by Pope Francis, head of theCatholic Church and sovereign of theVatican City State andNasaruddin Umar, the Grand Imam of the Istiqlal Mosque who was accompanied by interfaith figures in Indonesia.[25]
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The mosque has seven entrances, and all seven gates are named afterAl-Asmaul-Husna, thenames of God in Islam.[26] The number seven represents theSeven Heavens in Islamic cosmology.[27] Thewudu (ablution) fountains are on the ground floor, while the main prayer hall and main courtyard are on the first floor. The building consists of two connected rectangular structures: the main structure and the smaller secondary structure. The smaller one serves as a main gate as well as stairs and prayer spaces.[citation needed]
There are seven entrance gates to the Istiqlal Mosque. Each door is named after one of the99 Names of Allah. Below are lists of entrance gates into the complex of Istiqlal Mosque:[citation needed]
The rectangular main prayer hall building is covered by a 45-m diameter central spherical dome; the number "45" symbolizes the 1945Proclamation of Indonesian Independence.[15][28] The main dome is adorned with a stainless steel ornamental pinnacle in the form of acrescent and star, the symbol of Islam. The smaller secondary dome is also adorned with a stainless steel pinnacle with the name of Allah (God) inIslamic calligraphy.[citation needed]
The dome is supported by twelve round columns, and the prayer hall is surrounded by rectangular piers carrying four levels of balconies. Twelve columns represent the (mostly accepted) birthday of the Islamic prophetMuhammad in 12thRabi' al-awwal.[29]
The main floor and the four levels of balconies make five floors in all; the number "5" represents theFive Pillars of Islam, within symbolizes the five daily prayers, and also of thePancasila[30] Staircases at the corners of the building give access to all floors. The main hall is reached through an entrance covered by a dome 8 meters in diameter; the number 8 symbolizes August, the month of Indonesian Independence. The interior design is minimalist, simple and clean-cut, with a minimum of stainless steel geometric ornaments. The 12 columns are covered with stainless steel. On the main wall onqibla there is amihrab andminbar in the center. On the main wall, there is a large metalwork in Arabic calligraphy, spelling the name ofAllah on the right side and Muhammad on the left side, and also calligraphy of Surah Thaha 14th verse in the center. The metalworks, stainless steel covers and ornaments were imported from Germany. Originally, as in theNational Monument nearby, the white marbles were planned to be imported from Italy. However to cut costs and support the local marble industry, it was later decided that the marbles would be fromTulungagung marble quarries inEast Java instead.[31]
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The main structure is directly connected to the arcades that are spread around the large courtyard. The arcades connect the main building with a singleminaret in the southern corner. Unlike many Arabic, Persian, Turkish and Indian mosques with multiple minarets, Istiqlal mosque has a single minaret to symbolize the divine oneness of God. It is 66.66 m tall to symbolize (incorrectly[32][failed verification]) the 6,666 verses in theQuran.[33] The 30-metre-high stainless steel pinnacle on top of the minaret symbolizes the 30 juz' of the Quran.[34] On the southern side near the minaret there is also a largebedug (large wooden drum made of cow skin).[35] In common with the entire Islamic world, traditionally Muslims in Indonesia use the drum with theadhan (call to prayer). The mosque offices, function hall, andmadrasah are on the ground floor. The mosque provides facilities for social and cultural activities.
SomeMuslims in Indonesia said Istiqlal'sdome and minaret structure was much too modern and Arabic in style. They regarded the architecture as being out of harmony with Islamic culture andarchitecture in Indonesia. In response, former presidentSuharto began an initiative to construct more mosques of theJavanese triple-roofed design.[36]
Istiqlal Mosque can hold pilgrims as many as 200,001 people consisting of:
In a display of religious tolerance, during large Christian celebrations such as Christmas, Istiqlal Mosque helped provide parking space for worshippers of the nearbyJakarta Cathedral.[37]
For the purpose of worship and information facilities, Istiqlal Mosque uses a centrally controlled sound system located on the rear glass room of the second floor, with the number of speakers as many as 200 channels spread on the main floor.
The number of speakers contained in the corridor, connecting building and preliminary building are 158 channels. The sound system is controlled by 26 amplifiers and 5 (five) mixers and is supervised by six people who take turns both day and night when in use.
To support the smooth communication at the time of worship and activity, on the main floor, there has also been installed a plasma TV system so that access information can be followed evenly by the pilgrims who are throughout the main room of the mosque and cannot directly see thepreacher.[citation needed]
Istiqlal mosque is located on former Wilhelmina Park, thus prior of mosque construction, there are numbers of decorative plants and trees planted in the garden. Some of garden's old large trees might be hundred years old. The park is also the location of a river branch, the distributary ofCiliwung river, completed with floodgates. The original river branch went westward to Molenvliet and turned northward along canal towards its estuarine inold Batavia. The other branch turned northward to a floodgate which drain eastward along a canal in front ofPasar Baru, the canal turned north along Jalan Gunung Sahari, all the way toAncol in the north.[citation needed]
In the southwestern corner of the garden surrounding the mosque, there is a large pool and a grand fountain that spouts water 45 m (148 ft) high. The fountain only operates on Fridays during congregationalsalat and during Islamic holidays such asEid ul-Fitr andEid ul-Adha. The riverCiliwung flows across the mosque complex along the eastern side of the mosque.[38]
Grand Imam Nasaruddin Umar has led efforts to make the mosque more environmentally friendly, including installingsolar panels, using slow-flow faucets, and implementing awater recycling system. The mosque's efforts have earned it recognition as the first green-certified place of worship by theWorld Bank.[39]
Istiqlal Mosque has oneGrand Imam, one Deputy Grand Imam, and seven imams. As of 2016[update], the Grand Imam is the former Deputy Minister for Religious Affairs (2011–2014), Nasaruddin Umar and the Chairman of Istiqlal Mosque is the former Indonesian Ambassador to Syria (2006–2010), Muhammad Muzammil Basyuni.The seven imams are :1. Hasanuddin Sinaga 2. Ahmad Husni Ismail 3. Martomo Malang4. Mohammad Salim Ghazali5. Ahmad Rafiuddin Mahfuz6. Ansharuddin Ibrahim7. Ahmad Muzakir Abdul Rahman[40]
Following US PresidentBarack Obama and his wife's visit to the Istiqal Mosque in November 2010, about 20 visitors per day have come to tour the mosque.[41] Among foreign dignitaries who have visited Istiqlal mosque are former US presidentBill Clinton;[42] President of IranMahmoud Ahmadinejad;[43] former Libyan leaderMuammar Gaddafi;Charles III of the United Kingdom;Li Yuanchao, former Vice President ofChina; President of ChileSebastián Piñera;Heinz Fischer, the President of Austria;Jens Stoltenberg, the Prime Minister of Norway,[44] and German ChancellorAngela Merkel in 2012.[45] KingSalman Of Saudi Arabia visited the mosque during his Indonesia tour in March 2017.[46]
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As Southeast Asia’s largest mosque, Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta has long positioned itself as a center not only for Islamic worship but also for promoting religious moderation and intercultural dialogue. The mosque administration frequently hosts discussions, seminars, and cultural events aimed at fostering better understanding among different faiths and communities in Indonesia, which is home to the world’s largest Muslim population. These initiatives align with Istiqlal’s vision to become a symbol of tolerance and national unity.
In its commitment to interfaith dialogue and the exchange of cultural knowledge, Istiqlal Mosque has also offered language classes that reflect the diversity of religious heritage. Among these initiatives, the mosque has opened Hebrew language courses intended to encourage mutual respect and deeper understanding ofJewish culture and religious texts. This effort stands out as part of Istiqlal’s broader engagement in dialogue across civilizations, which includes cooperation with scholars and religious figures from various backgrounds.
One of the most prominent figures behind the teaching ofHebrew language in Indonesia is Sapri Sale, a Muslim scholar and language instructor. Sale has dedicated much of his career to making Hebrew accessible to Indonesian students, viewing language as a bridge rather than a barrier between faith communities. His work has not only helped broaden cultural awareness but has also reinforced Istiqlal’s commitment to religious moderation and dialogue by equipping learners with tools to engage directly with Hebrew sources.
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