Indonesia’s New National Mosque: Big Shoes to Fill

Construction is underway for Indonesia’s new national mosque in the country’s future capital, Nusantara (IKN), in East Kalimantan. Spanning 32,000 sq m, with a capacity to hold 60,000 worshippers, the mosque is set to replace Jakarta-based Istiqlal as the national mosque. The government reportedly plans to complete this project before Idul Fitri, which occurs at the end of March this year, so that the mosque can host Eid prayers. Initiated in November 2023, the large-scale project — which includes the mosque building and commercial and water retention areas — is funded by the state budget at a cost of 940 billion rupiah (US$590 million). These statistics are impressive, but the more important question is, can the new national mosque in IKN match the religious and symbolic significance of Istiqlal Mosque?

Being designated as Indonesia’s national mosque means that the new mosque, which is yet unnamed, will take over Istiqlal’s role as a national religious icon. However, this alone does not guarantee that it will match Istiqlal’s stature and significance. Much work needs to be done by the new mosque’s stakeholders, including its Grand Imam, the mosque’s management and other related government officials, to ensure that the new mosque can meaningfully replace Istiqlal and live up to its name.  

As the largest mosque in Southeast Asia, the Istiqlal Mosque has played a crucial role in Indonesian society. First, like other national mosques around the world, Istiqlal contributed significantly to Indonesia’s nation-building process. Both state and religious leaders from Indonesia’s post-independence administrations often promoted the Istiqlal Mosque as a symbol of religious tolerance; it was designed in 1961 by a Christian architect at the order of a Muslim president, Sukarno. Istiqlal was strategically built near the Jakarta Cathedral (the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption) to demonstrate Indonesia’s commitment to religious tolerance. Completed in 1978, it can accommodate up to 200,000 people.

To strengthen Istiqlal’s symbolism for religious tolerance, the Joko Widodo government even built a tunnel connecting Istiqlal with the Jakarta Cathedral. Officially opened by President Prabowo Subianto on 12 December 2024, Terowongan Silaturahmi (the Tunnel of Friendship) provides easier access for Muslims and Catholics to visit both places of worship.

The current Grand Imam, Nasaruddin Umar, promoted to be the Minister of Religious Affairs under Prabowo’s administration, has been a beacon of tolerance, further cementing the positive reputation of Istiqlal. Nasaruddin Umar is actively involved in interfaith dialogues and has warmly welcomed dignitaries from around the world to Indonesia, including during the visit of Pope Francis in September 2024.

Being designated as Indonesia’s national mosque means that the new mosque, which is yet unnamed, will take over Istiqlal’s role as a national religious icon.

Second, the Istiqlal Mosque has done well in setting the tone for Islamic religious activities across the archipelago. This is evident in its organisation of key community events such as cattle slaughtering for religious sacrifice during Idul Adha, free public iftar (breaking of fast) during Ramadan, and the Idul Fitri prayer. These large-scale events consistently attract media and public attention due to the mosque’s status, while Indonesia’s presidents rarely miss attending Idul Fitri and Idul Adha prayers at Istiqlal. The sermons delivered by Muslim preachers on these occasions reverberate to other regions in Indonesia through media coverage. Thus, Istiqlal has influenced or shaped religious practices and agendas in even the most remote regions of the archipelago.

All these accomplishments leave the new mosque in IKN with big shoes to fill: Istiqlal has set a high standard.

For the new mosque to follow in Istiqlal’s footsteps, certain conditions must be met. First, it is important for state leaders, especially President Prabowo, to demonstrate the social and political will to use the new national mosque to promote positive causes related to religion and humanity, such as advocating tolerance. The less frequently the nation’s leaders visit and use the national mosque to promote human welfare or state agendas, the less significant the mosque will likely be. Istiqlal has regularly hosted many social and religious events with national and international significance. The new mosque must do the same to gain a similar reputation. So far, however, there is no clear sign when Prabowo and the rest of his cabinet will start living and working in IKN.   

In addition, the Grand Imam would play an important role in maintaining the social and religious stature of the new national mosque. To be sure, the Grand Imam of the new national mosque must have an inclusive and tolerant outlook, not only towards the diverse streams of Indonesian Muslims but also people of other faiths. This is crucial for gaining the acceptance of a broad range of religious communities, which will, in turn, foster public support for the mosque. The Imam must be able to effectively work with the media, as the media plays a key role in spreading the mosque’s messages to the public.

Istiqlal has not only witnessed important events in Indonesia’s history, which included the chaotic days of 1998 surrounding Suharto’s resignation and subsequent reform. It has been part of history itself, gloriously hosting world leaders, including then-US president Barack Obama in 2010 and Pope Francis last year. It has been bombed twice: in 1999, during the tumultuous post-Suharto power transition, and much earlier, in 1978, when Suharto faced the wrath of Indonesia’s university student protestors. These good and bad times show how the national mosque rises above differences, political and religious. When it is finally completed, the caretakers of the new national mosque — and the nation-state — will have much to do to emulate the success of Istiqlal.      

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