Oldest Mosque in Southern Sulawesi

THE mosque was named Al Hilal, one of the many traces of spread of Islam religion in South Sulawesi, especially in the Sultanate of Gowa. Dispite had four centuries years old, the mosque is still firmly standing.

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History of Katangka Mosque

Historians have not concurred yet on the development of Al-Hilal Mosque. Some of the historians thought, the mosque was built at 1603 or five years before Islam became the official religion of the Kingdom of Gowa. Other historians said the mosque was a work of 18th century.

However, there are not much historical records of this mosque. The stories about the development of mosque spoke from mouth to mouth, mainly by the preserver of the mosque who inherit it stories from a preservers before him.

If properly built in 1903, it should have a linkages with the spread of Islam in the region of Gowa Sultanate. The preserver said, the founder of the Mosque was Dato Abdul Makmur, a theologian from Minangkabau (west Sumatera). Dato Abdul Makmur was called Doto Ri Bandang or Daeng Bandang.

The mosque was established when Gowa Kingdom led by I Mangngarangi Daeng Manrabia, the 14th king. After he embraced Islam he was called Sultan Alauddin. He was the grandfather of Sultan Hasanuddin. Katangka is the name of a big tree that established before the mosque often used as a place to pray by Moslem merchant from Malay, Indian, and Arab.(*)

Refference
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