Jakarta Islamic Book Fair 2014: The Biggest of Its Kind | Prophets’ Swords Exhibition

By Irfan NugrohoWe made a visit to Jakarta, around the mid of March 2014, upon intention to attend the 2014 Jakarta Islamic Book Fair. We didn’t have enough preparation for the trip, but we made it eventually.

Departing from Solo on 5th March 2014 by Senja Utama Economic-class Train at 7PM, we got to Jakarta’s Senen Train Station at around 4:30AM in the following day. It used to be a time for the Dawn Prayer in Solo and the surroundings, but here in Jakarta, we make it at around 5:00AM.

With the remaining 30 minutes before the Dawn Prayer, I checked my Google Navigation, and found that Masjid Istiqlal is about 15 minutes by walk. So I decided to get there, the Masjid Istiqlal, the largest Masjid in Southeast Asia.

The park is neat, the building is enormous, and the architecture is wonderful, this is Masjid Istiqlal. We made it the first time to get there :)

Cultural shock note: Masjid Istiqlal’s Imam usually read parts of the Quran that contains Ayatul Sajdah in its first rakaat. Indeed such a custom is also available in the Syafi’i School of Thought, but we never found similar thing here in Solo and the surroundings. Thanks to the Masjid Istiqlal’s manager who told the custom prior to the Prayer so we could follow it.

On the second day in Jakarta, we made a visit to the 2014 Jakarta Islamic Book Fair. A friend of mine said this event is just like the Grebeg Maulid Nabi in Solo, in term of the number of people attending the event on the single day.

It was true! There were so so many people visiting the 2014 Jakarta Islamic Book Fair. But I found a place where the space was wide and the atmosphere was quite. Yes! The Prophets’ Swords Exhibition. Included herein are the photos of the collection. Enjoy…!