March 16, 2026 | 10:07 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The clock hand was nearing 1pm when the chanting of dhikr (chants in praise of God) by students echoed through the mosque of the Pesantren (Islamic Boarding School) Pabelan in Magelang, Central Java. Alongside the students and teachers, several local residents joined the congregational prayer. Although the sun blazed on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, the mosque interior remained cool.
The building resembles other old Javanese mosques, marked by the use of four main pillars—known as saka guru—as the primary structural support. Meanwhile, the ceiling features rows of wooden ribs that hold up the clay roof tiles. No additional lighting was needed that afternoon thanks to several glass tiles that channel sunlight into the room. A few electric fans were installed to maximize air circulation through the wooden windows.
The Javanese mosque atmosphere grows even stronger with a wooden pulpit painted in green and gold. At the top sits carved woodwork and a pyramid-shaped roof.
There is also an attached veranda. The terrace is built wider and higher than the mosque’s main structure. This veranda area stands open without walls. As a result, airflow and natural lighting flow freely without the need for electricity.
The mosque and its veranda function like the heart of Pabelan Islamic Boarding School. Religious worship and learning activities take place there. The structure sits at the center of the 7-hectare complex. Other buildings, from dormitories and the library to classrooms, stand separately and at some distance.
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