Sunan Kudus, Mosque Tower, until the ban on cow slaughter

Ghost - Of all the historic mosque in Indonesia, the Tower of the Holy Mosque (Central Java) has its own uniqueness. A tower-like temple stands majestically in the left front of the mosque. Many ordinary people, even archaeologists who are wondering, how the elements of the mosque to adopt a model building places of worship of Hindus and Buddhists.

Not only the towers, the buildings surrounding the mosque is also much that is similar to the building of the temple. The gate in front of the mosque are made of cement bricks without the other does not is the hallmark of East Javanese temples. There is also a fountain for ablution, amounting to eight. Above the fountain was placed statues. Number eight fountains, supposedly adapted the Buddhist faith, ie 'Eightfold Path' or Asta Sanghika Marga.

The tower became the most prominent element of the mosque. Thus, the mosque which was originally named Masjid Al-Aqsa Mosque was later famous for Ghost Tower. Mixture that is so striking between the characteristics of Hindu-Buddhist culture with Islam led to many stories about the beginning of the founding of the mosque. There was a story that comes from history, but not a little too nuanced myth.

Story, both historical and myth, in truth want to explain how the founder of the mosque, Sunan Kudus, do it wisely Islamic da'wa (wisdom). The results of his preaching is incredible. Local residents who formerly devout followers of the teachings of the Hindu-Buddhist, converted to the teachings of monotheism (Islam). Sunan Kudus key to success lies in its ability to perform pribumisasi Islamic teachings in a society that already had an established culture.

Sunan Kudus is known as an expert on religion, especially in disciplines Tawheed, Hadith, and fiqh. Of the nine guardians are recognized in the Land of Java, only he who holds 'Waliyyul Ilmi' (a knowledgeable guardian).

It is said that Sunan Kudus have great respect for religious traditions prevailing in the society Loaram - old name of the Holy City. There is a religious tradition that is so entrenched, that ban cow slaughter. For Hindus, the cow slaughter is forbidden action, should not be a religion. To honor the religious traditions that have come into force, the Festival also forbade his followers to slaughter a cow.

Once binding Festival cows in the courtyard of the mosque. After the Hindus came into the yard, Sunan Kudus convey religious advice. Sunan model the propagation of such highly evocative religious consciousness of many people. They flocked to the Muslim faith switch. Until now, the ban on cow slaughter in the Sacred by custom is still valid.

Memento of Jerusalem

Islamization of society characterized by mixing the Holy Hindu-Buddhist cultural heritage with Islamic values. In addition to preserving the traditions, Sunan Kudus also maintain old cultural symbols. The goal is that Islamic values ​​can be accepted by the community without causing social upheaval.

Cultural heritage objects are most important in the Hindu-Buddhist tradition is the temple. The best example of blending local culture with the values ​​of Islam can be seen from the tower of the mosque.

Behind the temple-shaped building, the hidden story of the establishment of a mosque, which until now trusted the truth by the public. The mosque and its name, Al-Aqsa Mosque, is closely related with the city of prophets in the Middle East, the Bait Al-Maqdis, or Al-Quds in Jerusalem.

Once Shaykh Ja'far Sadiq (Sunan Kudus) was in Makkah to perform the pilgrimage. Outbreaks of scurvy suddenly rampant in the holy land. All prevention efforts have been made, but to no avail. Finally, the Amir (ruler) Makkah Sheikh Ja'far Sadiq asked to intervene to prevent disease outbreaks that were increasingly raged.

Long story short, Sheikh Ja'far Sadiq managed to stop the outbreak of scurvy. Amir of Mecca and then intends to reward him, but he refused. He just asked if it was in Palestine to be allowed to take a stone from the Bait Al-Maqdis. Makkah Emir was allowed. When he returned home to Java, Sheikh Ja'far Sadiq brings the rock and made the first stone in the construction of a mosque named Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Al-Aqsa Mosque or the Mosque of the Holy Tower was founded in 956 H or 1549 AD It can be seen from the inscription on the mosque mihrab, written in Arabic. Unfortunately, the inscription written on it is difficult to read because many letters are broken. That said, the stone inscription was brought by the Festival of Jerusalem. Width of 30 centimeters and 46 centimeters in length.

At the start of construction, the high tower of the Holy Mosque is only 13.25 meters. Once renovated, the 17.45 meter high. Then in 1925 AD, on the front porch plus a new building form. The addition of mosque space continues to be in line with the growing number of pilgrims.

On 5 November 1933 AD, a porch on the front porch was rebuilt before. Thus, the Kori Agung or Lawang Twin (room divider made of carved wood) that used to be on the porch is now in it. On top of the new foyer there is a large dome-style architecture of India.

All around decorated Arabic calligraphy containing the names of the companions of the Prophet Muhammad, such as the Khulafaurrasyidin, Ubaidillah bin Talha, Zubair bin Awwam, and Abdur-Rahman ibn 'Awf. Also contained the names of four prominent schools of scholars, Imam Hanafi, Hanbali, Shafi'i, and Malik.

Al-Aqsa Mosque or the Mosque of the Holy Tower is located in the Village Kauman, Kabupaten Kudus, Central Java Province. The location of the Holy Mosque tower is pretty close to the center of the Holy City (town square), which is located about 1.5 kilometers to the west. Rid / multiple sources


The uniqueness of the Holy Tower

Denys Lombard once wrote that the Holy City takes its name from Al-Quds, another name which means holy city of Jerusalem. In this city of the Holy Mosque tower stood. Its existence represents a visual transition from the public confidence in the Hindu-Buddhist to Islam.

When examined closely, the shape of the minarets are very similar to the temple. Many observers have commented about the unique shape of the tower. Some say its shape is similar to the temples in East Java during the Majapahit with the addition of several sections according to function.

There is also an opinion, some of the arches around the tower that looks like a building kulkul in Bali, indicate the tower was not only influenced the temples in East Java. Inside there kulkul clappers who was beaten to convey information to the locals.

The same is also contained in the Sacred Tower. At the top of the tower, put the drum and clappers who was beaten as a sign of coming times. The second opinion confirmed that the Holy Tower influenced by the architecture of Hindu Bali.

There is another element that makes the building unique shaped temple grew, namely the head-shaped tower roof or canopy overlap of teak wood with four pillars that support it. It was a typical roof-Hindu Javanese house that once adapted by Islamic teachings contain the meaning of faith, Islam, and ihsan. Rid


Sunan Kudus and the Master of Chinese Affairs

Telling the history of the founding of the Holy City, it feels incomplete without mentioning the name of a legendary figure in Chinese origin called The Ling Sing. People usually call Kiai Telingsing Java. This figure is none other than teachers Sunan Kudus. His grave is located near the mosque in Kampung Sunggingan Telingsing Kyai, Holy.

Unfortunately, there is no adequate source of history about this character, except a few sheets of records about him held by the Chinese Islamic Association of Indonesia (PITI). According to the story developed in the community, Kiai Telingsing is a carpenter of Chinese descent. He helped spread Islam in the Holy Ghost with Sunan.

There is an interesting story about the life story of Kiai Telingsing by Sunan Kudus written on a sheet of paper dated February 5, 1974 and is located at 156 Sunggingan, Holy. Once, on a day of Ling Sing The young men were playing a kite. Suddenly he was eager to go to the archipelago. So, he climbed his kite's string.

The Ling Sing When an adult, his father said to him,''If you want to be good people in the world and the hereafter, you must go to the archipelago, because I never lived there.''Then, went to the archipelago of The Ling Sing and arrive at Ghost. Later, he made Islam.

After the collapse of the Majapahit kingdom in 1478 AD, Raden Patah took power and founded the Kingdom of Demak. On one day, all the deliberation and decided to appoint guardians Ja'far Sadiq as Sunan Kudus. Since then, his preaching in Sunan Kudus and met with The Ling Sing (Kiai Telingsing) which had already preached in the area.

With a good strategy, they both finally managed to convert the entire population of the Holy. News of their success be heard by all caregivers, who then immediately came to the Holy Ghost and decided Sunan as the official representative of the Sultanate of Demak in Kudus.

One day, when the Festival entertained his guests from China, he asked Kiai Telingsing make a perfect gift. He then makes a decorative urn is located on the inside. When the Festival saw a pitcher who looked nothing special, he was angry and slammed the pitcher to the ground.

Jug that was split. After the Festival saw a beautiful ornate calligraphy in a pitcher who has broken it, then he realized intelligence Telingsing Kiai. Sunan Kudus was conscious, although he had a high religious knowledge, but Kiai Telingsing remain a teacher in terms of status as guardian