One of the challenges faced in making Jakarta a smart city is ensuring easy access to public spaces through public transportation, including mosques as places of worship. Fortunately, several strategically located mosques in Jakarta are close to stations or public transportation stops. To help people easily perform their prayers during times when they need to travel, particularly in the month of Ramadan, Jakarta Smart City has compiled a list of five mosques near public transportation. Here is the list:

Istiqlal Mosque

Located on Taman Wijaya Kusuma Street in the heart of Jakarta is the famous Istiqlal Mosque. It holds the distinction of being the largest mosque in Indonesia and Southeast Asia, with a capacity of accommodating 200,000 worshippers. Due to its strategic location, the mosque is easily accessible via public transportation. Juanda Station is just 650 meters away, while the Juanda Transjakarta Bus Stop is only 550 meters away. If you're looking for a place of worship while traveling through Jakarta on public transportation, the Istiqlal Mosque is a great option to consider.

Source: Central Jakarta Administrative City Government

The Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta is more than just a place of worship, it is an iconic structure with scientific, educational, religious, and historical significance. The construction of the mosque began in 1961, almost two decades after Indonesia gained independence in 1945. The idea for the mosque was sparked by the first Minister of Religion of the Republic of Indonesia, KH. Wahid Hasyim, and several clerics, wanted it to be a symbol of Indonesia. The construction process involved many important figures, including President Soekarno, who headed the Mosque Construction Engineering Section and erected the first pillar, and the Chairman of the Istiqlal Model Contest Jury Board. Unfortunately, construction was halted, and the mosque was only completed 17 years later. On February 22, 1978, President Soeharto inaugurated the use of the mosque. The name "Istiqlal" was chosen because it means "independence" in Arabic, in line with the mosque's purpose of commemorating Indonesian independence.

The Istiqlal Mosque is not only a significant religious site but also holds historical importance. Its architecture is a reflection of the philosophy of both Islam and Indonesian independence. The mosque is designed with great attention to detail, and every corner has its unique meaning. For instance, the seven gates at the Istiqlal Mosque represent the seven layers of heaven in Islam. The dome of the mosque is 45 meters in diameter, symbolizing the year of Indonesia's independence. Another notable feature of the mosque is the 12 sturdy pillars in the main room, which depict the 12 Rabiul Awal, the date of birth of the Prophet Muhammad SAW. It is worth mentioning that the architect behind the mosque's design is Friedrich Silaban, a Protestant Christian architect. This fact exemplifies the pluralism of the Istiqlal Mosque and Silaban's iconic contribution to it.

The Istiqlal Mosque now serves as a hub for community, national, and communal empowerment, as well as hosting offices for various Islamic organizations in Indonesia. The mosque is bustling with activities, such as recitations, sermons, and celebrations of Islamic holidays. Additionally, the mosque provides necessities, supports the development of Islamic-based educational institutions, and promotes interfaith dialogue. During the month of Ramadan, the Istiqlal Mosque is even more active, hosting iftar (breakfasting), tarawih (night prayers), lectures from prominent speakers, and tadarus (Quranic recitations).

K.H. Hasyim Asy'ari Mosque

Can you believe that the first grand mosque in Jakarta is located near the Pesakih Flat, in the Daan Mogot area of West Jakarta? This magnificent mosque is known as the K.H. Hasyim Asy'ari Mosque, named after the revered Islamic scholar. It was President Joko Widodo, during his tenure as the Governor of DKI Jakarta in 2012, who initiated the construction of this grand mosque. The project commenced on 26 September 2014, when the first stone was laid and was finally completed on 15 April 2017, when the mosque was inaugurated.

If you're planning to visit the impressive K.H. Hasyim Asy'ari Mosque using the Transjakarta bus, you can alight at the Pesakih Flat stop, which is just 260 meters away from the mosque, or at the Pesakih stop, which is a bit further at 900 meters away. Once you step into the mosque premises, you'll be seeing a unique architectural style that incorporates Betawi influences. This can be seen from the gigi balang ornaments and balustrades with a distinctive triangular roof design. Additionally, Islamic nuances can be seen through the five minarets of the mosque, which symbolize the five pillars of Islam. Sprawling across an area of 2.4 hectares, the mosque can accommodate up to 12,500 worshippers, making it a grand and spacious religious landmark.

Mosques serve as more than just religious venues, as they often host various other functions. The K.H. Hasyim Ansyari Mosque, for instance, utilizes its first floor to facilitate community meetings, along with an Early Childhood Education (PAUD) school, which is under the supervision of the Jakarta Provincial Education Office. On the second floor, you'll find the main prayer hall, along with social spaces that are currently being utilized for the Mosque Prosperity Council (DKM). During Ramadan, the mosque is bustling with various activities, such as tarawih, recitations, and food distribution, making it a lively and bustling hub for the community.

Al-Azhar Mosque

The Al-Azhar Mosque is located in the Kebayoran Baru area of South Jakarta. It was initially built under the name Great Mosque of Kebayoran and constructed from 1953-1958. The mosque is part of a residential complex project with a satellite concept in Kebayoran Baru, which offers housing with complete facilities. This project was initiated by President Soekarno. Today, the Al-Azhar Mosque is conveniently located near several public transportation options. The Transjakarta Masjid Agung Stop is located just across from the mosque, and the ASEAN MRT Station is only 500 meters away. This makes it a great choice for those looking to travel via public transportation to attend prayers

In 1960, the Chancellor of Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Prof. Dr. Mahmut Shaltut visited and gave a lecture at the Great Mosque of Kebayoran Baru. He was amazed by the splendor of the mosque, so he named it the Al-Azhar Mosque. Since then, the Great Mosque of Kebayoran Baru has been known as the Al-Azhar Mosque. The architecture of the Al-Azhar Mosque, dominated by the color white on the facade and a large dome with the same color, adds a sacred and majestic impression to the building.

Not only worship activities, but the Al-Azhar Mosque also accommodates various types of activities, such as religious centers, community activities, and education, to the economy. In the Al-Azhar Grand Mosque complex, currently stands the Al-Azhar Islamic Education Foundation which consists of Islamic-based kindergartens to universities.

The activities carried out at the Al-Azhar Mosque are also very diverse, ranging from religious lectures, majlis taklim, lectures, courses, funeral services, health services, guidance for Hajj and Umrah trips, banking services, travel agents, to many others. These activities are inclusive and attended by people from various backgrounds and regions. Later in Ramadan, the Al-Azhar Mosque will continue to hold tarawih and distribute hampers to the congregation.

Al-Hurriyah Mosque

If Smartcitizens move around Pasar Minggu Baru Station, South Jakarta, from the platform, you can already see the Al-Hurriyah Mosque building. This mosque was built on Jalan Batu Merah IV, Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta by the MNC Group.
 

The Al-Hurriyah Mosque in Pasar Minggu features an industrialist theme, with grey, black, and white dominating both the exterior and interior. Despite the lack of air conditioning, the mosque stays cool due to its high ceilings. The mosque's roof is also unique, consisting of three smaller sloping segments that divide the foyer, terraced places of worship, and the main worship area. The interior is spacious, well-lit, and features good air circulation. Although relatively new, the mosque is already being used for various religious activities. During the month of Ramadan, the mosque hosts events before breaking the fast, such as marawisan, Islamic lectures, and food distribution.

Cut Meutia Mosque

Another mosque located in Central Jakarta that's easily accessible by public transportation is the Cut Meutia Mosque. It's just 120 meters away from Gondangdia Station, making it a convenient option for those looking to pray while commuting via the Commuter Line. The mosque is housed in a European-style building without a dome, which used to be an office building during the Dutch colonial era. The mosque's unique features include the mihrab, which is positioned to the left of the prayer hall, unlike other mosques where it's placed in the middle. Additionally, the position of the saf is tilted because the mosque doesn't point to the Qibla. Despite these differences, the Cut Meutia Mosque still provides a comfortable and welcoming space for prayer.

Over the years, the building that now houses the Cut Meutia Mosque has served many different functions. Originally, in 1912, it was the office of the Bureau of Architecture and Development known as N.V. De Bauploeg. Later, it was used as the office of the Mayor of Central Jakarta, the Regional Drinking Water Company, the Post Office, the Jakarta Housing Agency, and the Provisional People's Consultative Assembly (MPRS). Eventually, after the MPRS moved, the building was transformed into the Cut Meutia Mosque.

The management of the Cut Meutia Mosque has organized various activities to empower its congregation. These include recitation sessions for mothers, "tri in one" recitation sessions for employees around Menteng, courses for orphans, monthly recitations, and even a Ramadan Jazz Festival targeting young people, millennials, and Generation Z to bring them closer to the Islamic environment.

Those are the five mosques with easy access to public transportation that you can visit if you need to pray while on the move. To check the schedule for Transjakarta, MRT, LRT, or Mikrotrans while traveling by public transportation, you can use the Public Transport feature on the JAKIapp. You can download the JAKI app from the Google Play Storeor Apple App Store. We hope this article serves as a reliable source of information for you.