Masjid Al-Mu'min Muqarrabin Syafyi Shaful better known by the name of the Great Mosque Wolio fortress complex located in the royal palace Buton, Baubau, Southeast Sulawesi. This mosque was built during the government of Sultan Sakiuddin at Darul Nature 1712.
Experts believe the Great Mosque Wolio is the oldest mosque in
Southeast Sulawesi. However, there is actually a mosque that was built over the old government in the first Sultan of Buton, Kaimuddin Khalifatul Thursday Murhum or Sultan (1427 - 1473). Only, the mosque was burned in the civil war in the Sultanate of Buton. Next, Sakiuddin Darul Sultan Alam, who has won the war, built the Great Mosque Wolio to replace the destroyed mosque burnt. Many local people who believe, the Great Mosque Wolio built on pusena ground (earth center). Pusena land a door in the underground cave that is located right in the back of the mihrab.
Pusena land called because the door is a vertical cave reputedly heard the sound of the azan Mecca, Saudi Arabia. There is another myth that says, if melongok in pusena hole, one can see the parents or relatives who have died.
However, all the stories that people be debated Imam of Masjid Agung Wolio, La Ode Ikhwan, 65 years old. According to him, that there are holes in the mosque that is actually a secret door that was built purposely to save his family and the Sultan of Buton if the enemy attacked.
Ikhwan had confessed to entering the hole. In the hole, he said, there are five secret way that leads to a number of places in the fort complex. One way is the secret to the south through the fort, not far from the tomb complex of Sultan Buton.
When the mosque was first rehabilitated in the period of Sultan Muhammad Hamidi the 1930's, before I closed the door so that the cement liangnya become small and rounded ball of foot. "To have no other cause of public perception, and the hole is closed at the top made the priest led the prayers," said Ikhwan.
In the architecture of the Great Mosque Wolio measuring 21 x 42 meters kentalnya envisaged that the influence of Islamic architecture in the Java Island in the Sultanate of Buton. Evidence is a form of the roof of the mosque pile (Joglo).
Mosque architecture has a philosophical meaning closely related to humans. When people have a head, body, and feet, the Great Mosque Wolio have a representative on the framework of the head, the main building as a symbol of the body, and the foundation as the embodiment of feet.
Same with the Buton fortress palace which has 12 gates, the
number of windows in the Great Mosque Wolio 12 units. Figures 12 is a symbol that in the human body there are 12 holes. The main pillar of the amount of buffer mosque or 313 units with the same number of bones in the joint body. Unlike the other mosques that are usually put beduk outdoor mosque, the Masjid Agung Wolio beduk placed in the middle of the room mosque. This placement is a parable in the heart of the human body. Meanwhile, the mosque is the mihrab symbol organs human heart. There is a four step toward mihrab are four main friends of the Prophet. Great Mosque Wolio arranged over three floors, all connected with the wood stairs. Floors one and two was used for prayers, while the third floor as a place to store goods inventory. But now, one floor living that is still used for worship. "We are concerned about two-storey building will collapse if many members of the congregation prayed on it," said Ikhwan.
To enter the room to the mosque, visitors must go through a round of 19 units. Simbolisasi happen again. Number of children of 17 is the symbol of the overall number of rakaat in prayer five times two plus tahiyyatul mosque rakaat Prayer (Prayer when entering the mosque).
At the top of the stair, there is a crock containing the water. Formerly crock this work as a place to accommodate the water that is used to berwudu. But now functions only as a decoration the mosque.
Current ditiupkannya spirit by the Creator in the creation of man is represented with the management of the mosque amounted to 16 people, consisting of a caddy (lakina religion), a priest, preacher four (hatibi), and 10 people Bilal (moji).
Number 16 is considered as the number of life (sperm). Because, at the time of embryo aged 160 days, God breathed the spirit of life to him. Up to now, the mosque, both names, tasks, and the amount, still maintained as the Sultanate of Buton.
According to the Mayor of Baubau Amirul Tamim, not any person can be appointed into the device mosque. "They selected and be incused by religious and community leaders," he said. Therefore, the device was selected as the mosque is a thing that plume.
Besides as a place of prayer, the Great Mosque Wolio where the religious traditions of the local community that can be packed as a tourist attraction. One tradition that is still turned on haroa (ceremonies commemorate the birth of Prophet Muhammad) and selamatan Idul Fitri and Idul Adha.
Traditionally, haroa conducted individual or group of families who are blood related. Individual organizers invite one another, are quite far to the family, friends, and acquaintances. The ceremony filled with lyric-poetic reading praise of the Prophet Muhammad (litany) and closed with prayer.
Up to now, the mosque that he more than three centuries that is still used by the community. Not limited to live around the mosque, but residents and city Baubau Buton Regency. "If the Sunday, the prayers here are coming from far away," said Ikhwan. (Koran tempo edition 5 Nov 2006)
Jati Muna 'giant' this can still be witnessed in the area to grow reserves Napabalano District Tampo, Kabupaten Muna. Unfortunately, this live giant teak sole remaining often occur due to illegal logging p
ractices in the area. Unfortunately, the government and the local security apparatus is not considered to maintain the maximum sustainable teak forest area in the region. 1964, teak area in Kabupaten Muna of 70 thousand hectares. However, when this area is estimated to not only to 1.000 hectares. photo: Green Press
