The Struggle Of Baiturrahman Grand Mosque

Baiturrahman Grand Mosque currenty has only one tower

In 2004, world shocked by news from Asia, included Srilanka,India, and more  specially from Indonesia. 

A big wave broke and destroy everything in a long of the side beach, big water wave come from the sea and swipe everything, human, house, building, included life, hope, and dream. The big tsunami has change the world eye focus, the humanity shock, and the same time, sympathy, love, affection, togetherness come to Aceh, North Sumatera, Srilanka, and India.  

20.000 more poeple died, thousand house gone, thousand mother lose her son, her daughter, and thousand son lose his brother, his mother, and his father. The beautiful landscape has change become a hell, dead body find everywhere. 

The Tsunami 2004 in Aceh and North Sumatera, is the one of biggest disaster in the world history.

Among the deadly efect of the tsunami super disaster, there is some beautiful fact, some special happen to another people, another building, and another object. Some people called that is miracle, like how can a small mosque still standing and survive after the great disaster, when all building and house, broke become a ruins among that mosque.

The backyard of Baiturrahman Mosque after tsunami disaster

City, village or in the aceh language called gampong destroy. There is no leave, but tears, dead, and  sadness. City like Banda Aceh, Lhokseumave, Sabang, Bireun, and other,  totally destroy like battle field, dead body there are everywhere. Some building which still standing become a shelter for many refugee who looking for protection. Among there is so many  tent, refugee home, and temporary shelter for the victims, there is one become � hero� in the day of disaster. And that, is a mosque, The Baiturrahman Mosque. 

Baiturrahman mosque is a mosque from kingdom of Sultan Iskandar Muda in 1612 M, this mosque constitute the center of all activity of sultanate. 

Baiturrahman mosque becomimg  symbol of spirit aceh people, so many history was created in this building. Ever burned twice by deutch imprialism general, and then rebuild by themself for vague the anger of aceh people who one hundred percen is moslem. 

Since builded in 1612 M or 1022 Hijria in islam calendar, Baiturrahman mosque was became witness for so many happening in Aceh land.

In the sultanate of Aceh Darussalam, other  than Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca, Baiturrahman great mosque has also become one of the learning centers of islam are visited by people who want to learn Islam from all over the world.

On March 26, 1873. The kingdom of Netherlands declared war on Aceh Sultanate, they started firing cannons to Aceh mainland from warship of Citadel van antwerpen. On April 5, 1873, the Dutch army successful landed in Ceuremen beach in Aceh, they under commandor of general John Harmen Rudolf Kohler, and they can occupy Baiturrahman Grand Mosgue.

Kohler was carrying 3,198 soldiers, but in the first battle, Sultanate Aceh can defeat them, event in that battle, general Harmen Kohler dead by rifle from one of the sultanate warrior. Location  who general Rudolf Kohler died by shooting, built a small monument to remember that battle, and also become a warning to other people, who try to attack theBaiturrahman great  Mosque.

Monument of General Kohler died  

Baiturrahman Grand Mosque burned down in the sceond time  by Deutch military agression on April 10, 1873. Or in Safar 1202 Hijria in Islam calendar by a new general of Netherland, Van Swieten. Deutch action were burned the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque, which one is the pride of Aceh Sultanate, make people so angry, and increase the resistance Aceh peoples to expel the Dutchs from Aceh Sultanate lands.

Burning the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque by Deutch army makes one of the best women in Aceh, Cut Nyak Dien was very angry and come forward at the front of Baiturrahman Grand Mosque while still burning and blazing, and she upraiseing spirit of jeehad Aceh peoples to take they weapons, and fight to Deutch Armys.

� O the moslem of Aceh peoples, who call his name Acehnese, look !, see for your self with your eyes !, our mosques burned !, your place to worship to Allah Subhanawata�ala destroyed, they stained the name of Allah. Listen to it !, Do not forget what they did to us, are there still of you to likes forgive what they did, are there still of you still like becoming slaves of them.!. �

Cut Nyak Dien, Women Indonesian Heroes from Aceh

Four years after Baiturrahman Mosque burned, in the midle of Safar ( Month of Islam Calendar ), 1294 Hijria / in March 1877, Netherlands Governor General Van Lamberge said and promises to will rebuild the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque, as an apology to Aceh peoples because it was burned it by General before him, Van Swieten.

The promise of General Van Lamberge realized by his next miltary governor in Aceh, General Karel Van Der Heijden.  On the Thursday 13 Syawal  1296 Hijria / October 9, 1879. Laid the first stone for rebuild the Baiturrahman Mosque, represented by Tengku Qaddi Malikul Adil.

In 1991 � 1993, Baiturrahman Mosque undergoing expansion sposored by Governor Dr, Ibrahim Hasan, which included front and rear yard, interior, and desain the mosque it self. Part of the mosque extended, covering the floor the mosque where prayers, library, living room, office, hall and ablution place. While the expansion of the yard includes, park and parking, one big tower and two minarets, spacios room in the mosque enlarged to accomodate until 9000 prayers.

When tsunami destroy Aceh in December, 26, 2004. Baiturrahman Grand Mosque still standing proudly, tsunami wave cannot to destroy this house of God. And at that time, like we talk before, Baiturrahman Grand Mosque became a refuge for the peoples of Aceh to evacuations the victims.

After passing throught various historical events, Baiturrahman Grand Mosque still standing strong as a symbol of religion, culture, spirit, strengh, struggle, and nationalism of Aceh Peoples.

 Baiturrahman Grand Mosque now

The Baiturrahman Grand Mosque 

Location : Banda Aceh, the capital city of Aceh province.

Acces : Because the location in the capital city, we can acces this mosque by many kinds of vehicles.


Source Image  : Google
Data and history : Wikipedia, Book Jelajah Wisata Nusantara, Sejarah Aceh.

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