Founded in 1869, the Mungsolkanas Mosque is the oldest mosque in the city of Bandung

This mosque is located in Gang Mama Winata, Jalan Cihampelas RT 02 RW 05, Cipaganti Village, Coblong District, Bandung City. This mosque was founded in 1869 and is the oldest mosque in the city of Bandung.

This mosque was founded by a cleric named Kiai Haji Abdulrohim or often called Mama Aden.

Unlike most mosques in Indonesia, which are named in Arabic, after Islamic figures, friends of the Prophet or Asmaul Husna. The name of this mosque actually uses an acronym from a Sundanese sentence.

As explained by Didin, Marbot Mungsolkanas Mosque.

“Mungsolkanas is actually an abbreviation of the Sundanese phrase 'Mangga Urang Ngaos Sholawat Ka Kanjeng Nabi SAW'. Taken from the philosophy of prayer contained in the book Tankibulkaul. "This means that everyone who reads and practices prayers to the Prophet SAW, God willing, their prayers will definitely be accepted and granted by Allah SWT," explained Didin.

Founded in 1869, this mosque, which is located in a densely populated residential area in the Cihampelas area, was originally just a stilt building made of booths.

Currently the mosque has undergone significant changes into a two-story building which is mainly made of walls, there are no remains of the old building so this mosque looks very sturdy and modern.

"This mosque building was built on land donated by Lantenas, Pak Zakaria's grandmother, who also served as the first administrator of this mosque. "Now it has been renovated many times, until the biggest one was in 2009," said Didin.

"When it was first built, the mosque building was not like it is now. The shape was still a platform from a billik with one floor. Previously there was a pool below which has now been converted into an office for mosque purposes. Currently, the capacity of the mosque has increased and can accommodate around 100 worshipers ," he added.

Even though the shape of the building has changed, the Mungsolkanas Mosque has several remains that still exist today. One of them is a handwritten Al-Qur'an which is still stored in a glass display case on the second floor of the mosque.

Another relic is a large black stone engraved with the name and year the mosque was built, which is placed in front of the entrance. It says, "Mungsolkanas Mosque/ Founded in 1869/ Mangga Urang Ngaos Sholawat ka Kanjeng Nabi SAW."

Didin revealed that during the holy month of Ramadan, programs at the Mungsolkanas Mosque took place as usual, as in previous years.

“Here, there are many programs. Including for Kindergarten (TK), children's recitation every afternoon, mothers' recitation every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. The express Islamic boarding school, tadarusan, provides collective takjil and also performs tarawih prayers. "Recently, an official governor also participated in congregational tarawih prayers at the Mungsolkanas Mosque," he said. (rah.job)**

Head of the Bandung City Communication and Information Office

Yayan A. Brilyana