Grand Mosque of Baiturrahman
Grand Mosque of Baiturrahman
- The original Masjid Raya (“Grand Mosque”) was built in 1612 during the reign of Sultan Iskandar Muda. Some say the original Musjid was built even earlier in 1292 by Sultan Alaidin Mahmudsyah. The original royal Musjid featured a multi-tiered thatched roof, a typical feature of Acehnese architecture.
- When the Colonial administration of the Dutch East Indies attacked the Kraton during the First Aceh Expedition on 10 April 1873, the Acehnese attacked the KNIL from the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque. From some flares shot onto the thatched roof, the Musjid caught fire. General van Swieten promised the local rulers he would rebuild the Musjid and create a warm place for mercy.
- In 1879, the Dutch rebuilt the Mosque Baiturrahman as a gift to — and to reduce the anger of — the Acehnese. Construction only began in 1879, when the first stone was laid by Tengku Qadhi Malikul Adil, who became its first imam, and was completed on 27 December 1881 during the reign of Muhammad Daud Syah, the last sultan of Aceh.
- Many Acehnese initially refused to pray at Baiturrahman because it was built by the Dutch, whom they were warring against. Nowadays, however, it is a source of pride for Banda Aceh.
- At first, the Musjid featured only one dome and one minaret. More domes and minarets were added in 1935, 1958 and 1982. Today, the Musjid has seven domes and eight minarets, symbolizing the seven verses and four main pillars of Islam. During the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, the Musjid was one of the few buildings that remained standing, a testament to its strength and durability.,
