History of Menara Kudus Mosque

Draf 3:

MENARA KUDUS MOSQUE

Menara Kudus Mosque is an ancient mosque built by Sunan Kudus since 1549 AD (956 Hijri).The current location is in Kauman Village,Kota District,Kudus Regency,Central Java.There is the uniqueness of this mosque because it has a tower that is similsr to a temple building and an architectular pattern that combiness the concept of islamic culture with Hindu-Buddhist culture so that it shows the process of acculturation in Javanese Islamization.

The establishment of the Menara Kudus Mosque is inseparable from the role of Sunan Kudus as the initiator and founder.Like the other Walisongo,Sunan Kudus uses a cultural approach to preaching.He adapted and carried out the indigenization of Islamic teaching in the midst of a society that had established culture in the influence of Hinduism and Buddhism.Acculturation of Hindu and Buddist cultures in Islamic preaching carried out by Sunan Kudus is clearly seen in the architecture and concepts of the Menara Kudus Mosque.

This mosque was founded in 956H or 1549 AD This is based on Arabic inscriptions written on stone inscriptions measuring 30 cm wide and 46 long which are located on the mosque`s mihrab.The laying of the first stone uses stone from Baitul Maqdis in Palestine,therefore the mosque was later named the Al-Aqsa Mosque.