West Java prioritizes building small mosques to foster spirituality

The West Java provincial government plans to prioritize the construction of small mosques, known as 'tajuk,' in local communities to enhance residents' spirituality. Governor Dedi Mulyadi stated that these smaller places of worship are intended to be accessible spiritual centers for the community at all times.

“

We want to build mosques that have congregations, places for children to study the Quran, places for people to worship.

Mulyadi, often recognized by his white headband, explained that the initiative aims to build mosques in neighborhoods that need them, complementing the many grand mosques already present in West Java. He envisions a gradual, integrated development of these 'tajuk' with the support of various parties, eliminating the need for new Mosque Prosperity Councils (DKM) for each small mosque.

"We want to build mosques that have congregations, places for children to study the Quran, places for people to worship," Mulyadi said. He observed a shift in how mosques are utilized, moving away from spaces for contemplation and building spiritual connections with God towards becoming recreational facilities.

“

If mosques become recreational facilities, not spiritual centers, then mosques will only become places for selfies, not places for contemplation.

"If mosques become recreational facilities, not spiritual centers, then mosques will only become places for selfies, not places for contemplation," Mulyadi asserted. He stressed that the essence of worship lies in an individual's relationship with God, not in the grandeur of the location. "Contemplation can be done anywhere. Contemplation can be done in a bedroom, a small prayer room, under a tree, by the rice fields, by the lake, on the mountainside, by the ocean. The place has no meaning; the most important thing is the stillness of the soul to be able to bring God into the depths of the soul," he added.

“

Contemplation can be done anywhere. Contemplation can be done in a bedroom, a small prayer room, under a tree, by the rice fields, by the lake, on the mountainside, by the ocean. The place has no meaning; the most important thing is the stillness of the soul to be able to bring God into the depths of the soul.