Historic Mosque in Aceh Heritage

The first time you get the influence of Islam, Aceh has many historic relics, especially the mosques hundreds of years old.

Both in the Kingdom of Pasai Ocean - the first Islamic kingdom in the archipelago, as well as in the colonial period, the mosques are not just as a place of worship, but also as a place of social activity, including education. Even as well as a center of Islamic culture.

"For that Directorate Value of History, Department of Culture and Tourism of RI, trying to create awareness of community history is finally able to strengthen the integration of people with a way to publish the function and role of historic mosques," said Director of The History of the ministry, Sabri, some time ago.

To reintroduce the historic mosques in the province was nicknamed the Veranda of Mecca, the ministry invited some journalists to visit the old mosques in the city of Banda Aceh, Aceh Besar, Pidie, Aceh Barat district, and Sabang.

Spiritual Tours

The existence of the mosque after the tsunami, December 26, 2004, as a miracle that disclosed the Creator. Imagine, when the building collapsed and drifted around the tsunami wave hit, but the mosque stood firm, only slightly damaged.

Residents who took refuge in the mosque, survived the tsunami waves. Baiturahman Grand Mosque and the Mosque Baiturrahim, in downtown Banda Aceh, for example, until now a tourist destination.

Not only in the city of Banda Aceh. In the city / other districts in Aceh Province, also has a rich repertoire of the nation in the form of an old mosque. Ancient mosques in Aceh in addition to attractive excavated and studied the history and architecture, can also be developed as a spiritual attractions.

The province has many historical mosques, hundreds of years old. It should be excavated historicity and studied architecture for the knowledge society. "It is also interesting to be a spiritual tourism," said the Governor of Aceh, Irwandi Yusuf.

Aceh Besar Regent Bukhari Daud, separately in Indrapuri say, that an old mosque in Aceh Besar, namely Fort Indrapuri Mosque, built in the 10th century AD, was also inspire Pancasila Muslim mosque architecture in different parts of the archipelago. in fact, the oldest and most famous mosque in Demak Mosque Citadel architecture was modeled Indapuri.

Changed shape

In the village Manjing, District Coast Mirror, West Aceh district, found an old mosque that is eaten by termites, which Manjing Tuha Mosque. "The mosque is a very worthy objects of cultural heritage and reconstructed," said Dahlia, Head of Preservation and Utilization of BP3 Aceh.

Who's in Sabang, mosque Jamik Baiturrahman, the mosque where the prospective Indonesian pilgrims quarantined before departure by ship to Mecca, in the days before 1924, because of lack of socialization of cultural heritage objects (BCB), has changed shape.

The mosque is very historic for Muslims in Indonesia. When the Indonesian people on the pilgrimage to Mecca, which was the only one with sea travel, prospective pilgrims from various regions in Indonesia quarantined in Jamik Baiturrahman Mosque, before it departed from the Port of Sabang. Around the mosque there were lodging-inns, Jamin said Seda, sfat Office of Culture and Tourism City of Sabang.

The Director of the Directorate of History and Ancient History Department of Culture and Tourism of RI, deeply regrets Jamik Baiturrahman Mosque conditions have changed shape.

"This is a result of less tersosialisasinya the Law on Objects of Cultural Property in the province of Aceh. Should, if if you want to build mosques, do not alter and destroy the old mosque which could be categorized BCB. But the new mosque built side by side with the old mosque," said Sabri.

If at Sabang old mosque has changed shape, then in Pidie District, an old mosque at the Tengku Chik Pasi, who built the 17th century in the Village Jar Rumpong, sub Peukan Baro, well maintained. On the right side of the new mosque was built wider.

Although well maintained, but it is unfortunate too, because striking changes such as painting whole building elements, ie walls, pillars, and decorative patterns on the tie beams.

In front of the mosque on the northern side, there are two jars glassir Siamese with dark brown color, which is placed in a cangkup, a gift from the Kingdom of China. Y ang water taken from the jar, according to local residents, believed to be mengobat any disease. The old mosque was visited by many Acehnese as well as foreign tourists, especially Malaysia.

The same thing happened in the mosque Gunong Kelang, in the Village Gunong Kleng, District Kaway XVI, West Aceh district. The old mosque built this 20 th century (not yet recorded in its construction), also painted the entire building.