Azizi Mosque

Azizi mosque is the only building remains relic of  Langkat empire. located in the town of  Tanjung Pura which is the capital of the langkat empire in the past. Tanjung Pura is located 100 km from Medan City, 20 km from Stabat, capital of Langkat, North Sumatra. The mosque is located on the edge of Sumatra highway linking Medan to Banda Aceh. The greatest of the Langkat empire, now immortalized as the name of  Langkat, although the district capital was no longer in Tanjung Pura but in Stabat.

Sultanate of Langka ever each its glorious ears to become a well respected empire. Azizi mosque is a proof of its glory. Langkat built by the Sultan Haji Musa in 1899, was completed and inaugurated by his son, Sulatn Abdul Azizi Shah Djalil Rachmat on june 13, 1902 M. The beauty of this Azizi Mosque then referenced Zahir Mosque development in Kedah, Malaysia, until two Mosques have similarities to another.

Azizi Mosque (1902) Langkat, North Sumatra and Masjid Zahir (1915) in Kedah, Malaysia. two mosques were similar because it is built on the Zahir Mosque inspiration from Masjid Azizi.

Azizi Mosque langkat located at Jl. Raya Lintas Sumatera, Medan - Banda Aceh Tanjongpura subdistrict, Langkat North Sumatra Province, Indonesia.The trip can be reached by public transport(bus) intercity and inter-provincial, private car, or a ental car.

The Glimpse Historyof Sultanate langkat
Some say the name of langkat comes from the Kuala Langkat. But no one believes it comes from the name of Langkat tree that time it thrives there. This tree is tall as a Langsat tree, but its fruit is bitter and chelates. The origin of langkat’s history starting from old legends of Tambo langkat which states that the embryo bakalnya started when the Commander of Lord Shahdan, or Deva Shahdan, or Datuk langkat which is a warlord kingdom Aru, formally established the kingdom langkat in the northern part of the kingdom of Aru in 1670 year after the escape from the Aru kingdom of the Sultanate of Aceh in 1669M.

When Dewa Shahdan died, his son ascended the throne Dewa Sakti replace his father as ruler of the vast region stretching between the River Seruwai in Tamiang, until Sungai Batang Serengan. A dozen years later, Sungai Batang Sarengan meeting point with Wampu River which then becomes the new river called Sungai langkat.

When Dewa Sakti died, his position was replaced by Sultan Abdullah who later referred to as the Mahrum of the renowned Guri. Mahrum Guri replaced by Raja Kahar around 1673. Raja Kahar which then converts langkat of the empire into a sultanate on 12 Rabiull Early 1163 H, or the exact date of January 17, 1750 AD. Langkat achieve prosperity with the discovery of oil fields in Pangkalan Brandan.

Azizi mosque's design is attractive with a blend of design Architectural India and the Middle East. very distinctive dome shape, similar - with a domed mosque of Al-Masjid Al Osmani and Mashun in Medan. (Source ricky-al.blogspot.com)

When Dewa Shahdan died, his son ascended the throne Dewa Sakti replace his father as ruler of the vast region stretching between the River Seruwai in Tamiang, until Sungai Batang Serengan. A dozen years later, Sungai Batang Sarengan meeting point with Wampu River which then becomes the new river called Sungai langkat.

When Dewa Sakti died, his position was replaced by Sultan Abdullah who later referred to as the Mahrum of the renowned Guri. Mahrum Guri replaced by Raja Kahar around 1673. Raja Kahar which then converts langkat of the empire into a sultanate on 12 Rabiull Early 1163 H, or the exact date of January 17, 1750 AD. Langkat achieve prosperity with the discovery of oil fields in Pangkalan Brandan.

Azizi Mosque with its single tower 

The triumph of Empire langkat ending up dark in 1946 when the social revolution hatched by PKI devastated the empire in East Sumatra Malay sultanate including langkat sultanate centered in Tanjung Pura. In the dark tragedy that among the victims in the mass execution was one of a nobleman langkat, National Hero, hero New literati poet Tengku Amir Hamzah who then buried around Masjid Azizi with the late Sultan and other Langkat Duke.

The history of Azizi Mosque langkat

Standing on a land area of 18,000 square meters, was built at the instigation of Azizi Mosque Sheikh Abdul Wahab Babussalam during the reign of Sultan Musa al-Muazzamsyah. Was built in 1320 H (1899M) or at least 149 years since langkat officially established as Empire, but the Sultan Musa died before the construction of mosques selesari implemented. The construction was continued by his son the title of Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Djalil Rachmat (1897-1927) Sultan langkat 7th.

The old photo of Azizi Mosque (source kaskus.us)

The design of the mosque is handled by a German architect, his employees and many of the ethnic Langklat Chinese community. While the building materials were imported from Penang Malaysia and Singapore by boat to Tanjongpura. At that time the river Batang Serangan still functioning well, and ships with a tonnage of 600 tons can be sailed.

Masjid Azizi was inaugurated by the Sultan Abdul Aziz Djalil Rachmat Syah coincide with the commemoration of the Birth of the Prophet Muhammad and the warning change the kingdom into the empire langkat on 12 Rabiul Awal 1320H (June 13 1902M) spent about 200,000 ringgit, and named after the mosque Azizi in accordance with the name of Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Djalil Rachmat. In the reign of Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Djalil Rachmat also Istana Darul Aman langkat built. Sultan instill the concept of development by combining five elements of strength as a philosophy that umara strength, the power of the clergy, the power of intellectuals (zuamah), the power of the rich treasure (aghniyah) and the power of prayer (fukara).

Azizi Mosque interior (source Bahtiar hs.multiply.com)

Sheikh Abdul Wahab Babussalam, proposer the construction of a mosque cleric Azizi is an influential and respected in his day to the present, he is also a teacher of Sultan Musa al-Muazzamsyah. On 12 Shawwal 1300 H (1883M) Sheikh Abdul Wahab Babussalam establish Pondol Pesantren Babussalam in Besilam on land endowment of Sultan Musa.

Sheikh Abdul Wahab also known by the name of Tuan Guru Babussalamdikaitkan with the establishment of boarding schools, or Tuan Guru Besilam kaena stay in Besilam, or Sheikh Abdul Wahab Rokan Assyarwani which is the original name. He is a founder Thariqat Naqsyabandia in Indonesia and one of the scholars of Muslim missionaries on the island of Sumatra with his followers scattered throughout the country up to foreign countries.

Azizi Mosque

In the Dutch colonial period, Sheikh Abdul Wahab Babusalam along with a number of his followers also perform a movement against Dutch colonialism. His tomb is in the boarding school he founded in the village Babussalam Besilam, District Padang Tualang, Langkat, North Sumatra. Until now his tomb almost daily visited by pilgrims.

Architecturally Azizi Mosque

Azizi Mosque patterned mix of Middle East and India with many dome with a capacity of about 2,000 worshipers at a time. The main building measures 25 × 25 m and height of ± 30 m. The third side of the mosque is equipped with a foyer, respectively on the east side, north and south, respectively portico is directly related to the corridor on three sides of the mosque and headed straight to the entrance. Pole standing on the porch of the left and right side of the square shaped like a tower of eight small in size with the edges shaped flower buds. The porch and the porch of the mosque is equipped with pillars and arches typical middle eastern decorated with calligraphy, geometric forms and floral carvings.

(source static.flickr.com)

The main hall of the mosque walls are rectangles measuring 20 × 20 m. The main room floor was tiled but now replaced with marble, the rest tiled floor can still be seen in the middle of the main room floor. Part outside wall of the main room is decorated with Qur'anic calligraphy, geometric ornaments, and floraral. The inner walls of the main room filled with ornate, marble-coated bottom side, while the side surmounted Qur'an calligraphy, geometric and floral shapes. Azizi mosque mihrab and minbar is made of marble.

Minarets located in the northeast of the mosque with a height of about 60 meters. The bottom of the tower equipped with a door. The second part is decorated with an arched window on each side. Dome-shaped roof with the moon at its peak. Overall architectural Azizi mosque has some resemblance to the grand mosque of Al Mashun and mosque Al Osmani in the field, especially in the design dome is typical.