Indonesia is a country with the biggest population of moslem in the world. The religion has existed in this country since hundreds years ago. So, there are many heritages of Islamic culture we can find in this country. One of them is the Great Mosque of Demak (Masjid Agung Demak). It is one of the oldest mosques located in Demak City, Central Java. The mosque is very popular with its great architecture as well as the history. Inside The Great Mosque of Demak, there are some facilities to support it. There are museum, clinic, center of Islamic education, and library. There is also kings’ graveyard inside the mosque area. Some kings’re buried in the graveyard are Raden Patah
(Soultan Demak I) and Soultan Trenggono (Soultan Demak III).

The Great Mosque of Demak was built in nineteenth century, in the era of Raden Patah, the first king of Demak. Demak kingdom was the first Islamic kingdom- commonly called as sultanate- in Java Island. People visiting it not only for praying but also for pilgrime and observance. It is believed that the Great Mosque of Demak’s built by the Nine Moslem Saints. They were the nine people who taught Islam in Java Island and the local people called them Walisongo. Based on the legend, they built the mosque just in one night. The Great Mosque of Demak is proof of the succeed acculturation between islamic culture and the local culture. Javenesse people were Hindu and Budhist before the coming of Islam. We can see the style of Hindu and Budha architecture in the mosque.

The Great Mosque of Demak has many uniqueness. It is different from another mosques which mostly adopt arabian style for the architecture. The Great Mosque of Demak adopted Javanesse culture. Instead of timber, the mosque was built of wood. The Great Mosque of Demak was built with the values of Islam. All the buildings’ structure have meaning. The uniqueness of the Great Mosque of Demak can be seen from its doors. If we enter the mosque, we can see that it has five doors. These five doors were built to represent the five times of praying in Islam tradition that must be done by all mouslems. They are Shubuh, Dhuhur, Ashar, Maghrib, and Isya. The main entrance of Masjid Agung Demak consists of two doors carved with motifs of plants, vases, crowns and an animal head with an open wide-toothed mouth. It is said
that picture depicts the manifested thunder caught by Ki Ageng Selo, hence their name “Lawang Bledheg” (the doors of thunder). On the Lawang Bledheg, it is carved a sentence which says Nogo Murat Sariro Wani. This sentence has a meaning the year 1388 Saka or 1466 M, or 8887 H (islamic year). Its pyramid roofs represents the three of Aqidah Islamiyah, they are: Believe, Islam, and Ihsan. The roof is supported by four pillars which are called as Saka Guru. These four pillars are the symbols of the four main mahzabs in Islam. They are Mahzab Maliki, Mahzab Hanafi, Mahzab Hanbali, and Mahzab Syafii.

With all the history and the uniqueness of its architecture, The Great Mosque of Demak has to be in your list if you are visiting Demak City. Visit the mosque and feel its greatness.

By Amin Cheng