Istiqlal Mosque, Indonesia

islamic_cosmology (Photo credit: williamcromar)

Pancasila Sakti – Indonesia (Jakarta) (Photo credit: Chez Julius Livre 1)

In the name of Allah (Photo credit: Hossam Rida)

Eid ul-Fitr prayer at Istiqlal Mosque, Jakarta, Indonesia 日本語: イド・アル＝フィトルのお祈りする信者達、イスティクラルモスクにて (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The interior of Istiqlal mosque. The grand domed prayer hall supported by 12 columns covered with stainless steel plates. The design is minimalist, simple and clean cut, with minimal adornment of alumunium geometric ornaments. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

English: Jakarta, taken from Istiqlal mosque Jakarta panoramic view around Medan Merdeka (Merdeka square), the center of Jakarta and the nation. Monas (National Monument) on the foreground with rising Jakarta skylines on the background. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Southeast Asia Mosaic (Photo credit: Recovering Vagabond)

Istiqlal Mosque (Photo credit: Matthew Kenwrick)

English: A fountain by the Istiqlal Mosque, Jakarta 日本語: イスティクラルモスクの噴水 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

English: mosque in Jakarta (Indonesia) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The architecture of Indonesia reflects the diversity of cultural,historical and geographic influences that has shaped Indonesia as a whole.Invaders,colonizers,missionaries and traders brought cultural changes that had profound effect on building styles and techniques.Traditionally the most significant influence is Indian.However Chinese,Arab—and since the 18th and 19th centuries —European influence have played significant roles in shaping Indonesian architecture

Istiqlal Mosque or Masjid is in Jakarta, Indonesia. It is the largest Mosque in Southeast Asia in terms of capacity to accommodate people and building structure. This national Mosque of Indonesia was built to commemorate Indonesian independence ,as nations gratitude for God’s blessings.The name Istiqlal is an Arabic word for independence. After the independence of Indonesia from the Netherlands in 1949, the idea became popular to build a Mosque for a country with the largest Muslim population in the world.

There are seven gates to enter the mosque,each named after Al-Asmaul-Husna the names of God in Islam. The number 7 represents 7 Heavens in Islamic Cosmology. The ablution fountains are located on the ground floor.The main prayer hall and the main courtyard are on the elevated first floor. The main rectangular prayer hall is covered by 45 metre diameter central spherical dome. The number “45” symbolizes the year of proclamation of independence 1945.the main dome is adorned with stainless steel ornamental pinnacle that took form of a crescent and star,the symbol of Islam. The smaller secondary dome is also adorned with stainless steel pinnacle with Arabic calligraphy Allah.

The dome is supported by twelve round columns and the prayer hall is surrounded by rectangular piers carrying four levels of balcony. Twelve columns represent the birthday of Prophet Muhammad on twelfth Rabi-al- Awwal. The main building of Istiqlal consists of five floors,’5′ represents the Five Pillars of Islam .It also represents Pancasila ,the five principles of Philosophical foundation  of the Indonesian nationhood.

On the main wall on qibla there is a mihrab and minbar in the center. On the main wall there is also a large metal work of Arabic calligraphy of Surah Taha 14th verse in the center.

Wudu at the Istiqlal Mosque, Jakarta, Indonesia. 日本語: イド・アル＝フィトルのお祈りの前に身を清める信者達 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The dazzling alabaster marbled Istiqlal mosque of Jakarta, Indonesia, seen from the base of its tower. The national mosque of Indonesia, also the largest mosque in Southeast Asia. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)