Country of 'A million' Mosque: Indonesia

Dian Al Mahri Mosque in Depok, West Java : Built personally

This is the uniqueness of Indonesia that may not be found elsewhere: a million mosque. The house of God is spread in almost every area of the island nation of Indonesia, in the middle of town, on the roadside, in the countryside, and the corners of the settlement.

For myself, the existence of mosque always creates a feeling of security and peace. Although, the fact  I met come to a new place, but the mosque creates a feeling of closeness and trust. Closeness because it means I was in such my brother region, and believe as fellow Muslims.

When in a strange place,  the mosque not just as a place of worship praying and praising God, but also as a resting place that reassuring. In short, wherever the house of God called the Mosque, the feeling I say it is my home too. It is a great feeling!

Grateful, Indonesia is the largest Muslim country in the world. With a population of about 200 million people more, 85% of them are Muslims. Thus, the existence of 'a million' Mosque was indeed real. Actually, there are no exact data how many mosques are there in Indonesia. However, according to the Indonesian Council of Mosques in the 2011 census, the number of Mosques in Indonesia reached 800 000 units.

However, this figure is not yet certain. Because, many mosques are simple, small-sized to accommodate only a dozen people, called Musholla - also serves as a mosque. In addition, as the population number will increase in the Mosque was natural, too.

Most of the mosque was built at the initiative of its own citizens. There is also built by the government and individuals. Mosques are also many historic old who is still preserved to this day.

Extraordinary strength Mosque
So, if you travel in Indonesia, believe that the mosque stood firm is a sign of security. Many facts show the mosque always have the unusual strength in the face of natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, and even the atomic bomb.

For example, the tsunami that hit Aceh in 2004, which originated from an earthquake measuring 9 on the Richter scale and tsunami waves killed hundreds of thousands of people. However, there mosques still stand. Like the Great Mosque of Aceh Baiturrahman visible remains strong among the ruins of other buildings in the vicinity of the ground.

Baiturrahman Mosque after tsunami 2004

Elsewhere in the world, wonders of the Mosque is also a fact. As Kobe Mosque which is the first mosque built in Japan in 1928. Kobe itelf in Japanese means the gate of the Lord (God's gate)

When Japan's involvement in the Second World War, 1945, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in American ports and has made the U.S. government decided to drop the first atomic bomb in war.

Two Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were bombed by the U.S. Atomic. At that time, the city of Kobe is missing from the planes bombing American B-29, and Kobe was razed to the ground.

When the buildings around it is almost flush with the ground, there is a miracle. Kobe Mosque building is still standing upright. This mosque suffered only cracks on exterior walls and all the broken glass window, too.

Kobe Mosque after bombing in World War II

The exterior of the mosque to be very black from the smoke bomb. Even the Japanese troops joined the shelter in the basement of the mosque, survivors of a bomb threat, along with concealed weapons. This mosque was eventually became a refuge for war victims.

Kobe Mosque force re-tested with a large earthquake that struck Kobe city in 1995 and then in March 2011. However, the fact mosque is still standing last. Subhanallah.