Jakarta – The Menara Kudus Mosque is one of the historical mosques located in Kudus, Central Java. This mosque was built by Sunan Kudus, a prominent figure among the Wali Songo who spread Islam in Java. The Menara Kudus Mosque not only holds significant historical value but is also famous for its unique architecture. Here is the history of the Menara Kudus Mosque and its uniqueness.
The History of Menara Kudus Mosque
Quoted from the book Masjid written by Teguh Purwantari, Menara Kudus Mosque, officially named Masjid Al-Aqsa Menara Kudus, is located in Kudus Regency, Central Java Province. This mosque was founded in 1549 AD or 956 AH by one of the Wali Songo members, namely Sunan Kudus (Raden Ja’far Shadiq).
The construction of this mosque was part of Sunan Kudus’s efforts to spread Islam, using a local cultural approach to disseminate Islamic teachings. The mosque building stands on a land area of 7,505 m².
One of its distinctive features is the laying of the first stone, which used stones originating from Baitul Maqdis, Jerusalem, Palestine, which is the reason this mosque is called “Al-Aqsa Menara Kudus.” This mosque not only serves as a place of worship but also as a means of spreading Islam in the region.
Evidence of Sunan Kudus’s approach to local culture in spreading Islam can be seen in the architecture of the Menara Kudus Mosque, which resembles the shape of a temple. At that time, the majority of the Indonesian population was heavily influenced by Hindu-Buddhist beliefs and animism-dynamism, making temples familiar structures in the lives of the people.
By adapting the form of temples, Sunan Kudus utilized local culture as an effective way to introduce and spread Islamic teachings. This approach successfully facilitated the community’s acceptance of the new religion, as it utilized elements that were already familiar to them.
The Uniqueness of Menara Kudus Mosque
According to previous sources, Menara Kudus Mosque has a fairly tall structure, about 17 meters high, and is surrounded by 32 decorated discs as ornaments. On the body and base of the mosque, there are carvings and engravings with Hindu-Javanese motifs, reflecting the influence of local culture.
The mosque building is composed of three main parts: the mosque base, the mosque body, and the mosque pinnacle, arranged similarly to the structure of a temple.
This mosque has 10 entrances, with five entrances on the left side and five entrances on the right side.
In the main hall of the Menara Kudus Mosque, there is a staircase made of teak wood leading to the top of the building. The top of the mosque building is a room that resembles a pavilion.
Inside the mosque complex, there is also an ancient gate called Lawang Kembar. In addition, this mosque also has eight water spouts that were once used for ablution, made from stone. The number eight in the spouts is believed to have originated from the adaptation of Buddhist teachings, namely Asta Sanghika Marga or “the eightfold path.”
Meanwhile, quoting the book Wali Sanga compiled by Masykur Arif, on the roof pillars of the Menara Kudus Mosque, there is a candrasengkala that reads, “Gapura rusak ewahing jagad.” This sengkala means the year 1605 Javanese, which corresponds to the year 1685 AD. The implied meaning of the sengkala is as follows: gapura = 6, rusak = 0, ewah = 6, jagad = 1. If read from the back, the number becomes 1606.
Around the Menara Kudus Mosque, there is the tomb of Sunan Kudus located behind the mosque. At the entrance of the tomb, the Asmaul Husna inscription is engraved with the year 1296 H or 1878 AD. The grave and tombstone made of andesite stone still appear to be original to this day.
The tomb of Sunan Kudus is protected by a single canopy with a pyramidal shape. Inside the dome, there is a special chamber made of limestone, with carvings of vine motifs and crosses. In the center of the cross, there is a carving of a blooming flower. Inside that chamber, there is the tomb of Sunan Kudus.
The History of Menara Kudus Mosque, a Unique Acculturation of 3 Cultures
