Oldest Mosque in Southern Sulawesi

THE mosque was named Al Hilal, one of the many traces of spread of Islam religion in South Sulawesi, especially in the Sultanate of Gowa. Dispite had four centuries years old, the mosque is still firmly standing.


Location of Object
Al-hilal Mosque is located at Syeh (Sheik) Yusuf Street, Katangka District, Gowa Regency. The distance of the location is about 10 kilometers southern of central city of Makassar (Karebosi Field).

Overview 
Al-Hilal Mosque better known as Katangka Mosque because of the location is in Katangka. Hilal (in Arabic lunar calendar method) means a new moon in the eastern horizon marking a new day or month. Al-Hilal means the mosque in the new era of Islam. 

Wide of the mosque is 174.24 square meters. At past time, the mosque was luxurious and considered important because of the construction made of brick. Only the important buildings are made from bricks at that time, such as the palaces and fortresses. 

Its main function as a place of worship. Every time to pray come, the mosque is bustling and filled by prayers. There are several graves in front of the mosque. That is the tomb of religious leaders and relatives of mosque founder. Special tomb of the founder of the mosque has a roof-shaped dome above.

One of the characterize that the mosques is an ancient building are its walls. The walls made of brick and quite thick, reached 120 centimeters (cm). There is a unique blend of two cultures at the mosque, the architecture shows China and Javanese nuance. 

It ceiling structure is similar as Joglo building (Javanese building). Has four poles. In Javanese architecture it is called soko guru. But the poles of this mosque are made from stone, not wood such a Javanese building. There are two layers of roof. Top of roof is pyramid shaped triangle which made of roof-tile. The mosque is also generally have a platform as the mosque in Java.

The influence of Chinese culture as seen on the podium roof. it is a similar form of pagoda roof. Around the podium still attached ceramics from China who reputedly brought by one of its architect originating from there. 

Access 
Al-Hilal Mosque is accessible, with the city transportation, taxi, delivery and hotel facilities. If using the city transportation, up from the Field of Karebosi to Sungguminasa. Alight at the border of Makassar city than connect the city transport to Syeh Yusuf Road and alight in front of the mosque.

History of Katangka Mosque 

Historians have not concurred yet on the development of Al-Hilal Mosque. Some of the historians thought, the mosque was built at 1603 or five years before Islam became the official religion of the Kingdom of Gowa. Other historians said the mosque was a work of 18th century. 

However, there are not much historical records of this mosque. The stories about the development of mosque spoke from mouth to mouth, mainly by the preserver of the mosque who inherit it stories from a preservers before him. 

If properly built in 1903, it should have a linkages with the spread of Islam in the region of Gowa Sultanate. The preserver said, the founder of the Mosque was Dato Abdul Makmur, a theologian from Minangkabau (west Sumatera). Dato Abdul Makmur was called Doto Ri Bandang or Daeng Bandang. 

The mosque was established when Gowa Kingdom led by I Mangngarangi Daeng Manrabia, the 14th king. After he embraced Islam he was called Sultan Alauddin. He was the grandfather of Sultan Hasanuddin. Katangka is the name of a big tree that established before the mosque often used as a place to pray by Moslem merchant from Malay, Indian, and Arab.(*)

Source:enjoy-makassar.blogspot.com