Istiqlal Mosque

Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, is the largest mosque in Southeast Asia and the ninth largest in the world by how many worshippers it can hold. Its name means "independence" in Arabic, because it was built to celebrate Indonesia becoming a free country. It opened to the public on 22 February 1978.

The mosque stands next to Merdeka Square, beside the Catholic Jakarta Cathedral and the Immanuel Church, so three places of worship sit close together. Its architect was Friedrich Silaban, who won a design competition, and he was the son of a Lutheran pastor. President Sukarno laid the foundation stone on 24 August 1961, and the building took 17 years to finish.

Why are there so many numbers in the design?

Many parts of the mosque stand for meaningful numbers. The big central dome is 45 metres wide, which stands for 1945, the year Indonesia declared independence. Twelve round columns hold the dome up, matching the 12th day of Rabi' al-awwal, the generally accepted birthday of the prophet Muhammad. The main floor plus four balcony levels make five floors, a number linked to the Five Pillars of Islam and the five daily prayers.

How do visitors use it?

Visitors can enter through several named doors. Al Fattah, which means "The Opener", is the main one for visitors and sits opposite the cathedral. As of 2013, the mosque could hold more than 120,000 people. A walkway called the Tunnel of Friendship has been built between the mosque and the cathedral, as a sign that neighbors of different faiths live side by side.

On the globe

The model shows the square prayer hall with a white 45 m dome, the big arcaded courtyard, and the single tall minaret topped by a steel spire.