Sultan Ma'mun Al Rasyid Perkasa Alam

Eight Facets in Al Mashun Grand Mosque Architecture

23 April 202014 April 2020travelingpersecond

That green mosque with dominant white was clearly visible from Maimun Palace gate. It’s a 111 years old mosque which is be a memory of Deli Sultanate greatness. According to story, Sultan wanted to build a mosque more beautiful than the palace where he lived as a service for religion. So the palace and mosque are an architectural package which were planned by Sultan Deli which you must visit when you are in Medan.

Impatient steps made me sweaty panting and my back was increasingly achy because burdened by a backpack which even I have carried for 4 hours since leave Kualanamu International Airport.

“One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight….Oh, eight facets“, I murmured in heart when I got around outside of the oldest mosque in Medan. The main dome with dark color is surrounded by three twin domes. A unique form and rarely found in any mosque.

Sultan Ma’mun Al Rasyid Perkasa Alam needed for 3 years for finishing the building.

Dhuhr azan reprimanded me for immediately turning off the camera and purifying myself with wudu (ablution) in a separate building at east of mosque.

After put my shoes, I walked on a rubber track into mosque’s worship room. I was looking around and admiring mosque’s interior which is very charming.

Able to accommodate 1,500 worshipers at a time.

Eight buffer pillars are coated by marble which was imported from Itali by the architect – Mr. Tingdeman -. Combined with the elegance of a chandelier from France which its form like a reverse birthday cake. Then walls on every sides consist of doors with Spanish arch style and are completed with large stained glass from China. Then islamic nuances of Taj Mahal are represented on wall motifs and pulpit (minbar) carvings….AMAZING.

Al Mashun Grand Mosque dome are black from outside.

After Dhuhr prayer, I watched an Aussie tour group who visited the mosque using hijab which were provided by the mosque. They looked fascinated when entering mosque’s door.

Some mosque worshipers were seen heading to tombs on west side and made a pilgrimage to Sultan tombs. Al Mashun Grand Mosque looked solemn inside and outside.

Do you know the meaning of word “Al Mashun”…. “maintained” is the meaning of its name.

Pedestrian bridge which its shape is influenced by mosque architecture.

I tried to approach Sisingamangaraja street to enjoy the mosque from a distance. Its beauty increasingly become when I observed it from pedestrian bridge

Madani Hotel is in across of the mosque. See!. It have a dome too….Beautiful.

See Al Mashun Grand Mosque situation here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGM70L6JeaQ

That was my adventure in Medan’s second destination….Come with me again to another good destination !.

Golden Yellow of Maimun Palace

19 April 202019 April 2020travelingpersecond

Call his name as Yunus, a young man with a Malay face with his confidence patting my shoulder from behind. My focus to snapping the palace image from the best position finally faded.

Yunus: “Can you take photo of me, brother?”

Me: “Oh, okay. Don’t stand there…. stand in the middle! “, I directed his position like a professional photographer.

He just came from Pangkalan Brandan to try his fortune in Medan after passing a vocational school with its majoring in Automotive Engineering. He want to work in automotive workshop. He was so fascinated by my appearance so he guessed me as a reporter with a camera which he thought expensive. Even though……Hahaha

“*Take my photo, boy!*“, I said. “*Oh okay, smile, smile*“, Yusuf managed…. Snap…. Am I similar to a reporter?

Our small talk was resolved when my steps were leading to a separate building at left of the palace. I looked inside, there was a cannon with a broken end. That is the “Buntung/Puntung” Cannon. Amazing, that cannon piece fell as far as 75 km at south of the palace because of cannon’s heat which was continuously fired.

It is said that this cannon was the incarnation of *Putri Hijau* (Green Princess) when Deli Sultanate was attacked by a king from Aceh who was angry because his marriage proposal was rejected.

“Dee Eerste Steen Van Dit Gebouw

Is Celeco Op Den

26 Augustus 1888

Door Z. H. Den Sultan Van Deli

Mahmoed El Rasjid Perkasa Alamsja”

I read with lips curve which is similar to dutch accent at the base of front pillar just before climbing the white gray stairs.

Fixing my backpack in preparation for whole palace exploration then was continued with buying an entrance ticket for USD 3.7 at the top of stairs. Then my steps began to tread palace floor.

Yellow color palace door which are so numerous, adopt an European style which is combined with green dominant shutters and arches at the top with Indian Mughal architecture, were the first scene which I remember.

Then “the yellow and the green” are combined with “the red” as a signify that this palace clearly belongs to whole Malay nation. Yellow represents wisdom, green represents Islam and red represents tradition colors.

Lamp ornaments above the height of palace ceiling.

So many faces of Deli Sultanate family are introduced to public through classic photographs which are neatly arranged and tightly attached to wooden walls of the palace.

As a result, I was stunned by the beautiful face of Yang Mulia Raja Noorsida who is wife of Seripaduka Sultan Osman Al Sani Perkasa Alam.

Photo of Sultan Deli who rules today: *Seripaduka Baginda Tuanku Sultan Mahmud Arya Lamanjiji Perkasa Alam Shah.*

In some corners, I diligently watched several weapons which are left by Sultan, such as Bentara Kris (Keris Bentara), Tumbok Dagger (Tumbok Lada), Cenderahati Kris (Keris Cenderahati). Also some musical instruments, jewelry, ceramic plates and Sultan’s clothes.

More noon, more visitors enlivened the whole palace. Many people were willing to queue for wearing Malay traditional clothes and pose in king and queen’s chairs. Students didn’t hesitate to sit on palace floor and listening to teacher’s explanation which loudly tell some stories until his jugular veins appeared.

My visitation to Maimun Palace really left a deep impression because this was the first time I visited a palace on Sumatra island.

See you again, the magnificent and modest palace.

See the Maimun Palace situation here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzCzrdsv978

Come on….See next creations of Deli Sultanate !…. Al Mashun Grand mosque. It’s not far …

Delapan Segi ala Masjid Al Mashun

29 February 202028 January 2021travelingpersecond

<—-Kisah Sebelumnya

Masjid hijau dominan putih itu terlihat jelas dari gerbang istana. Itu adalah masjid berumur 111 tahun yang menjadi kenangan kebesaran Kesultanan Deli. Menurut cerita, Sang Sultan berkehendak membangun masjid lebih elok daripada istana yang beliau tinggali sebagai bakti buat agama. Jadi istana dan masjid adalah satu paket arsitektur karya Sultan Deli yang harus kalian kunjungi ketika berada di Medan.

Langkah tak sabar membuatku terengah penuh keringat dan punggung yang semakin pegal karena terbeban oleh backpack bahkan telah kupanggul selama 4 jam semenjak keluar dari Kualanamu.

“Satu, dua, tiga, empat, lima, enem, tujuh, delapan….Oh delapan segi”, gumam hati ketika aku mengelilingi setiap bidang luar masjid tertua di Medan itu. Kubah utamanya yang berwarna gelap di kelilingi oleh tiga kubah kembar. Bentuk yang unik dan jarang kutemukan di masjid manapun.

Sultan Ma’mun Al Rasyid Perkasa Alam menanti selama 3 tahun untuk menunggu bangunannya selesai.

Adzan Dzuhur menegurku untuk segera mematikan kamera dan mensucikan diri di sebuah bangunan terpisah di timur masjid.

Usai menitipkan sepatu aku melangkah di jalur beralas karet menuju ruangan ibadah masjid. Aku bak orang kampung yang celingukan kesana kemari memperhatikan interior masjid yang sangat menawan.

Mampu menampung 1.500 jamaah dalam satu waktu.

Delapan pilar penyangga yang dilapisi marmer yang konon didatangkan oleh Meneer Tingdeman dari Italia. Dipadukan dengan keelokan lampu gantung bak kue ulang tahun terbalik khas Perancis. Kemudian dinding di berbagai sisi di cipta mirip lengkungan pintu Spanyol dengan kaca patri besar buatan Tiongkok. Kemudian nuansa islam Taj Mahal direpresentasikan pada motif dinding dan ukiran mimbar….MENAKJUBKAN.

Kubah Masjid Al Mashun yang dari luar tampak berwarna hitam.

Selepas shalat, aku mengamati para rombongan mudi Aussie mengunjungi masjid dengan menggunakan jilbab yang disediakan masjid. Mereka tampak terpesona ketika memasuki pintu masjid.

Beberapa jamaat masjid terlihat menuju makam disisi barat untuk berziarah ke makam para Sultan. Masjid Al Mashun terlihat khusyu’ luar dalam.

Tahukah kamu makna kata “Al Mashun”….”Diperlihara” adalah makna namanya.

Jembatan penyeberangan yang bentuknya tertular arsitektur masjid.

Aku mencoba mendekati sisi Jalan Sisingamangaraja untuk menikmati masjid dari kejauhan. Keindahan semakin menjadi ketika aku mengamatinya dari atas jembatan penyeberangan itu.

Madani Hotel di seberang masjid. Lihat dong punya kubah juga….Ishhh cuakep.

Begitulah petualanganku di destinasi kedua Medan….Yuk ikut aku lagi ke destinasi bagus lainnya!.

Kisah Selanjutnya—->

Kuning Emas Istana Maimun

26 February 202028 January 2021travelingpersecond

<—-Kisah Sebelumnya

Sebut namanya Yunus, pemuda tanggung berwajah Melayu dengan PeDe nya menepuk pundakku dari belakang. Fokusku menjepret gambar istana dari posisi terbaik pudar.

Yunus: “Bang bisa fotoin saya?”

Aku: “Oh Sinih. Jangan disitu….ke tengah aja!”, aku mengarahkan posisinya bak photographer professional.

Dia baru datang dari Pangkalan Brandan untuk mengadu nasib di kota Medan selepas meraih ijazah SMK jurusan Teknik Otomotif. Mau bekerja di bengkel tuturnya lugu. Dia begitu terpesona dengan penampilanku hingga dia menebakku sebagai seorang wartawan dengan kamera yang menurutnya berharga mahal. Padahal……

”*Ganti fotoin saya dong, boy!”,* kataku. “*Oh Okay bang, senyum bang*” atur Yusuf….Jepreeeettttt….Mirip wartawankah?

Obrolan ringan kami terselesaikan dengan langkah kakiku menuju bangunan terpisah di kiri istana. Kuintip didalamya ada meriam yang ujungnya patah. Itu adalah Meriam Buntung/Puntung . Tak tanggung, potongan meriam itu jatuh sejauh 75km di selatan istana saking panasnya meriam yang di tembakkan terus- menerus.

Konon meriam ini adalah jelmaan Putri Hijau ketika Deli diserang raja dari Aceh yang murka karena pinangannya ditolak.

“Dee Eerste Steen Van Dit Gebouw

Is Celeco Op Den

26 Augustus 1888

Door Z. H. Den Sultan Van Deli

Mahmoed El Rasjid Perkasa Alamsja”

Kubaca dengan lekukan bibir mirip pak meneer di dasar pilar tepat sebelum menaiki tangga bermarmer putih keabu-abuan.

Membenahi backpack untuk persiapan eksplorasi seisi istana dilanjutkan dengan membeli tiket masuk seharga Rp. 5.000 di anak tangga teratas maka kakiku mulai menapaki lantai istana.

Pintu istana berwarna kuning yang begitu banyak jumlahya, mengadopsi gaya Eropa dikombinasi daun jendela dominan hijau dengan lengkungan dibagian atas ala arsitektuk Mughal India menjadi pemandangan pertama yang ku ingat.

Pelaminan agung berwarna kuning keemasan.

Kemudian “si kuning dan si hijau” dikombinasi dengan “si merah”menandakan istana ini jelas milik banga Melayu seutuhnya. Kuning menunjukkan kebijaksanaan, hijau merepresentasikan Islam dan merah mewakili warna adat.

Ornamen lampu di atas tingginya langit-langit istana.

Begitu banyak wajah kelaurga Kesultanan Deli yang diperkenalkan ke khalayak melalui foto-foto klasik yang terpigura rapih dan menempel erat di dinding kayu istana.

Alhasil, Aku tertegun pada wajah cantik sendu Yang Mulia Raja Noorsida yang merupakan Istri Seripaduka Sultan Osman Al Sani Perkasa Alam

Foto Sultan Deli saat ini: Seripaduka Baginda Tuanku Sultan Mahmud Arya Lamanjiji Perkasa Alam Shah.

Di beberapa sudut, aku mengamati dengan tekun beberapa senjata peninggalan sultan seperti Keris Bentara, Tumbok Lada, Keris Cenderahati. Juga beberapa alat musik, perhiasan, piring keramik dan pakaian kebesaran Sang Sultan.

Semakin siang maka pengunjung pun semakin meramaikan seisi istana. Banyak yang rela mengantri untuk memakai baju adat Melayu dan berpose di kursi raja dan ratu. Anak-anak sekolah pun tak segan duduk menghampar di lantai istana untuk mendengarkan penjelasan pak guru yang terus bercerita lantang hingga urat lehernya menampakkan diri.

Kunjunganku ke Istana Maimun ini sungguh meninggalkan kesan mendalam karena baru kali ini aku mengunjungi sebuah istana di tanah Sumatera.

Sampai bertemu lagi Istana megah nan bersahaja.

Yuk….Lihat kreasi Kesultanan Deli berikutnya….Masjid Raya Al Mashun. Ga jauh kok…..

Kisah Selanjutnya—->