1. The History

Sintang (Islamic) Sultanate was the further development of Sintang (Hindu) Kingdom that was established by Demong Irawan in the 13^th Century (1262 A.D.). Following the coming of Islam to the Land of Borneo in the 17^th Century, Sintang (Hindu) Kingdom was altered into Sintang (Islamic) Sultanate that implies Islamic law at all level of social life.

Islam was brought to Sintang Kingdom by two Islamic ulemas named Muhammad Saman from Banjarmasin, and Enci‘ Samad from Serawak, Malaysia. Those two Islamic clerics were known as the very wise and polite figures; thus, Islam developed well, and was embraced by a number of both sultanate family members and Sintang ordinary people. One of those who embraced Islam in the early years of Islam‘s arrival was Pangeran Agung, the King of Sintang Kingdom.

The highest authority over the sultanate of Sintang was on the hand of Pangeran Tunggal after the death of Pangeran Agung. By increasing number of Muslim, building a greater mosque was a must at the time. Then, Pangeran Tunggal built up a mosque that might hold about 50 people in maximum. The mosque kept on being widened and revamped to be better as now it is known as the Jamae Mosque of Sultan Nata Sintang.

Following the coronation of Sultan Nata Muhammad Syamsuddin Sa‘adul Khairiwaddin, the number of Islam devotee was increasing. As well, Sultan Nata was the first ruler who used title “Sultan” in front of his name, and changed the name “Sintang Kingdom” into “Sintang Sultanate.” He established a policy on applying Islamic law as the basic regulation in the sultanate‘s administration. He also built a palace, and revamped the mosque built by Pangeran Tunggal.

The present architecture of the mosque is the masterpiece of Sultan Nata. In 1672 A.D., he underwent a major renovation and expansion to the mosque. To commemorate his merit, the mosque was named Masjid Jamak Sultan Nata (Jamae Mosque of Sultan Nata) by the Sintang Government in 187 A.D. Jamae Mosque of Sultan Nata is known as the oldest mosque in the district of Sintang, West Kalimantan Province, Indonesia.

2. Location

Jamae Mosque of Sultan Nata lies in elegance above a land in the complex of Sintang Palace, at Kampong Kapuas, Kiri Hilir Village, Sintang Sub-district, Sintang District, West Kalimantan, Indonesia.

3. Width

The entire width of Jamae Mosque of Sultan Nata is measured about 576 square meters.

4. Architecture

Jamae Mosque of Sultan Nata looks like a stage house typically Indonesian stage house that is mostly found in Kalimantan Province. Most of the mosque‘s parts were made of woods such as on its foundation, its beam, its ceiling, and its girder. The mosque is supported by eight belian-wood pillars within. Though the mosque has suffered from several refurbishments, but those pillars are kept on its original.

The mosque‘s roof is constructed with mansard roof consisting of three layers; two are pyramidal roofs, and the top one is octagonal conical roof. Such kind of roof is also found at the peak of the two minarets standing both on the left and right of the mosque. The mosque has two entrance doors; each of them faces both to the nearest river and to the palace of Sintang Sultanate.

The wall is painted white combined together with green strip on several parts as on the windows and the bottom parts of those pillars. A yellow curtain covers the windows to strengthen the Malay nuance on the mosque. On a corner on the mosque‘s terrace, there is an ancient bedug that was made of a single piece of timber. In addition, bedug is an Indonesian traditional percussion usually made of cow skin that is used to sign that Islamic prayers are coming.

5. Draftsman

The mosque is known to be built under the command of Sultan Nata Muhammad Syamsuddin Sa‘adul Khairawaddin. Unfortunately, the draftsman of the mosque is not known yet.

6. Renovation

The first renovation to Jamae Mosque of Sultan Nata was headed by Sultan Abdurrasyid in the 1790s. The renovation was based upon consideration that the mosque, at that time, began to decay, and was not capable of accommodating a large number of Muslims within. The mosque then was extended; thus it can be used by 200 Muslims in one time of prayer. Almost all the mosque‘s parts were renovated except the eight pillars underpinning the mosque‘s roof.

The second renovation was conducted in 1822 A.D. under the command of Sultan Pangeran Adipati Muhammad Djamaluddin. This time, the renovation resulted in the stronger mosque; thus the third renovation, which was commanded by Sultan Penembahan Abdurrasyid Kesuma Negara in 1855 A.D., was focused on the replacement of the mosque dome.

79 years later (1934 A.D.), Sultan Raden Abdul Bachri Danu Perdana made a small-scale renovation to several parts of the mosque. This time the renovation cost about 4,000 Dutch guilders.

By the last renovation in 1934 A.D. there is no major renovation to the mosque anymore. A small revamp was once conducted in 2000 by the Sintang Government. The mosque complex was beautified with a wide green park and a small wooden-bridge connecting the mosque to Al Mukarrammah Sintang Palace of Sintang Sultanate. Since that time, the mosque was declared as the cultural heritage of Sintang District.

Lukman Solihin (sej/02/01-09)

Translated by Irfan Nugroho (ter/101/02-09)

References:

• Wibowo, Taufik, “Kesultanan Sintang”, in Istana-istana di Kalimantan Barat, Unpublished.
• Syahzaman dan Hasanuddin (2003), Sintang dalam Lintasan Sejarah, Pontianak: Romeo Grafika.
• Pengurus Masjid Jamik Sultan Nata (1990), Sejarah Pendirian Masjid Jamik Sultan Nata Sintang, Unpublished.

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