Palembang - Traces of Admiral Cheng Ho`s journey through this country hundreds of years ago are still remembered even today.
After three years of painstaking efforts, Muhammad Cheng Ho Sriwijaya Mosque now stands proudly in the Jakabaring neighborhood in South Sumatra`s capital city Palembang.
Strategically located near the Jakabaring marketplace, this mosque is always packed with worshipers, even though the construction project is not entirely finished.
Ahmad Afandi, regional coordinator for South Sumatra`s Pembina Iman Tauhid Islam organization, said the idea to build the mosque in Palembang was first broached following a visit to the Cheng Ho mosque in Surabaya, East Java, several years ago.
"At first, the idea was hard to put into action. Limited funds and unavailable land were the main obstacles," he said.
Historical accounts describe how the Ming Dynasty legend Cheng Ho, also known as Zheng He, embarked with an entourage of 30,000 soldiers, officials, accountants, merchants, healers, fortunetellers and interpreters on a world voyage to advance trade, exploration, diplomacy and exchange of scientific and cultural knowledge.
The devout Muslim set out on seven missions of exploration all told, reaching Sri Lanka, India, the Middle East, Africa and many parts of this country.
The Palembang mosque, originally planned for the Simpang Patal area, ended up in Jakabaring when a Muslim of Chinese descent granted his plot of land for the purpose.
The mosque, large enough to accommodate 2,000 people, has a unique architectural design with touches of Palembang, Islam, China and the Middle East.
Its main dome resembles the Prophet`s Mosque in Medina whereas its 17-meter minarets employ a Chinese pagoda style with octagonal perimeters.
Rooms for ritual ablutions are located on both sides of the main building. That symmetry is reinforced by the exterior stairways on the left and right sides.
The mosque gate is topped with a typical Palembang pyramidal roof.
"The mosque`s architecture is designed to symbolize the unity and harmony of the Muslim community," Ahmad said.
Muhammad Cheng Ho Sriwijaya Mosque is larger than Surabaya`s Cheng Ho mosque.
Built on a plot of 4,995 square meters, its structure measures 625 square meters with four small domes framing its corners.
"It followed the concept of Cheng Ho in Surabaya but ours has more varied colors," Ahmad said.
The combination of red as China`s distinct color and green which invokes Islam is prominently featured in the mosque, which construction started in June 2005 to commemorate the centenary of commander Cheng Ho`s arrival in the country.
Its main dome is 12 meters in diameter and about six meters high. The tip of the dome will later be decorated with the transparent word "Allah", through which light from inside can escape, illuminating the night sky.
With construction ongoing, the mosque will also have an office, a multipurpose room and a library.
"We wish to see this mosque provide more than just a place of worship and serve other religious and social activities. We hope it will be a religious center for those interested in deepening their knowledge of Islam," Ahmad said. Khairul Saleh
Source: http://old.thejakartapost.com (October 30, 2008)
