Religious Tourism to “Menara Kudus” Mosque

Menara Kudus Mosque, better known to the public as the Al Aqsa Mosque or the Mosque of Al-Manar is one of the mosques with unique characteristics in its architecture and even has a special characteristic that is beyond the grip in the construction of mosques in the Arabian peninsula. The presence of the tower building environment of the mosque with its unique design, making it more known to the public as the Menara Kudus Mosque. As the mosques in Java that has a unique design, such as Demak mosque - see the writing on religious tourism Demak Grand Mosque, as well as the Menara Kudus Mosque, is unique both in terms of design and its history. The mosque is uniquely shaped, because it has a similar tower of the temple. This mosque is a combination between Islamic culture with Hindu culture. Al Aqsa Mosque or the Menara Kudus Mosque located at Kauman, District Kota, about 1.5 km to the west of downtown (Simpangtujuh). When we visited to Kudus, no complete visit us if you have not visited the Menara Kudus Mosque, which has become one of the landmarks of the Kudus city. Is situated not far from downtown, make the Menara Kudus mosque visited by people every day. The history of the founding of theMenara Kudus Mosque not separated from the Sunan Kudus role as the founder and initiator. As the others Wali songo, Sunan Kudus has a very prudent way in his preaching. Among them, he is capable of adapting Islamic teachings in the community who have an established culture of the majority Hindus and Buddhists. The way this is recognized by many religious leaders and cultural experts as one of the keys to successful propagation of Sunan Kudus and Wali songo in spreading Islam in the archipelago. The mixing of Hindu and Buddhist culture in the propagation performed Festival, one of which can take a look at this Menara Kudus mosque. The tower building as one element that stands out, adopting the model of religious buildings of Hindus and Buddhists. The tower building, made of brick with a tower-shaped head section overlapping or canopy roof of teak wood with four pillars. At the top of the tower, put the drum and kentongan as a sign of time and certain events. Well, on Kudus’s tradition known "dandangan", a tradition marking the beginner of fasting Ramadhan and that's when the bedug and kentongan sounded.

Not only there, in the environment of the Menara Kudus Mosque, there is a gate which is similar to the temple, constructed of brick without cement, that are characteristic of temples in East Java. There is also a place in the form of showers wudlu totaling eight from the statues that are placed on it , Supposedly adapted from the Buddhist belief, "Eight ways of truth" or "Asta Sanghika Marga". 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 which is composed of bricks without cement are characteristic of no other temple in East Java. There is also a fountain for ablutions which amounts to eight. Above the fountain was placed statues. Number eight showers, supposedly adapted the Buddhist belief, namely 'Eightfold Path' or Asta Sanghika Marga.

According to the history and signs contained in the Menara Kudus Mosque, there is a belief that the mosque was founded in the year 956 H or 1549 AD This can be seen from the encryption (password) on the stone of a width of 30 cm and length 46 cm, located on the mosque mihrab written in Arabic language support.

That story of my religious tourism to the Menara Kudus Mosque, most importantly, that we as a nation has a diverse culture and naturally maintained and preserved. Well, if you are still curious about the beauty and uniqueness of the Holy Mosque Tower, please visit and do not forget, also enjoy Kudus’s culinary, like Pindang Rice, Soto Kudus and Sate Buffalo.