1. The History

The mosque of Sultan Suriansyah was built in ranging about 1526 to 1550 C.E. Its time of establishment indicates that it is the oldest mosque in Kalimantan, Indonesia. Sultan Suriansyah, the first Muslim king of Banjar, converted to Islam in 1526. His childhood name was Raden Samudera. After having converted into Islam and occupied the throne of Banjar kingdom, he was titled Sultan Suriansyah. Penembahan and Susuhunan Batu Habang were his other famous titles.

2. The Location

The mosque is located in Kuin Utara village, Banjar Kota, Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, Indonesia. As it was built close to the riverbank, the mosque can be clearly seen by everyone who passes the area on water transportations. The grave of Sultan Suriansyah is located about 500 meters from the mosque.

3. The Measure

The mosque measures 589, 86 square meters in total.

4. The Architecture

The architectural style of the mosque such as panggung and tiered roof is influenced by traditional panggung houses in Banjar.

Before it was renovated, the mosque has a pinnacle, called sungkul made of ulin wood, surmounting its roof. Today, the sungkul has been taken off from the roof and preserved in the museum of Lambung Mangkurat. It is believed that the age of the sungkul was more than three centuries.

A pulpit placed in the main room is also made of ulin wood. Ornament of arch at the front part of the pulpit is decorated with Arabic calligraphy, La ilaha illa Allah Muhammad Rasulullah (there is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the prophet of Allah). In addition, its right side is carved in form of writing that tells about date: Krono Legi: Hijrah 1296 bulan Rajab hari Selasa tanggal 27, and its left side is written Allah subhanu wal hamdi al-Haj Muhammad Ali al-Najri.

Pulpit appearance is more beautiful with nine storeyed stair carved in form of stylization of flora, placed under the seat of the pulpit. Each step is carved as stylization of flower form. The mosque also has mihrab (chamber in mosque indicating the direction of Mecca) roofed separately from the main building.

The door leaf at right and left side of the mosque building are carved with an Arabic inscription in Malay language. The inscription is written within an octadic circle measuring 50 by 50 centimeters. The inscription at the right door leaf is written, “Ba‘da hijratun Nabi Shalallahu ‘alaihi wassalam sunnah 1159 pada Tahun Wawu ngaran Sultan Tamjidillah Kerajaan dalam Negeri Banjar dalam tanah tinggalan Yang mulia”, and at the left side, “Kiai Damang Astungkara mendirikan wakaf Lawang Agung Masjid di Nagri Banjar Darussalam pada hari Isnain pada sapuluh hari bulan Sya‘ban tatkala itu (tidak terbaca)”. Date written in the inscription (Senin, 10 Sya‘ban 1159 Hijriah) shows us that Kiai Demang Astugkara was the carver of the door leaf in the period of Sultan Tajmidillah I (1734-1759).

Spatial aspect of the mosque of Sultan Suriansyah resemble that of Demak mosque in Java. Demak mosque architecture was probably introduced by Khatib Dayan during the dissemination of Islam in the region. It had been known that Sultan Suriansyah converted to Islam due to the influence of Demak Sultanate. And the Demak mosque architecture is largely influenced by Java-Hinduism.

The very features of Java Hindu architectural style are three elements of building: tiered roof (meru), sacred room (cella) and timber master column (soko guru) circling the sacred room. Meru is regarded as roof of sacred building in both Java and Bali. The shape of roof symbolizes vertical move and power to above (God). The most sacred building has the highest and the biggest number of tiered roof.

The mosque of Sutan Suriansyah has tiered roof that indeed make it to be regarded as the most important building in the area. The big and dominant roof indicates that the sacred room (cella) lays under the roof. Additionally, timber master columns (soko guru) are circling the cella. The cella built in front of the mihrab to symbolize that cosmologically the cella is more important than the mihrab.

5. The Planning

According to local source, Patih Anom, a miraculous religious figure, was the initiator of the establishment of the mosque. It is believed that Patih Anom himself who took and collected timbers from the surrounding jungle.

6. The Renovation

The first renovation is led by Kiyai Demang Astungkara in the period of Sultan Tajmidillah, the grandchild of Sultan Suriansyah. In the meantime, Kiyai Demang made and carved a door leaf, called now lawang agung.

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