Sinar matahari menyembul di balik menara masjid.

---

Baiturrahman Grand Mosque is a religious icon as well as the most historic tourist icon in Aceh. There is an opinion that says, it is not valid to go to Banda Aceh if you have not taken a photo at the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque. No wonder, since long ago, before there were gadgets like today, there were many photographers in the courtyard of the mosque. Now there are still some with digital cameras.

The Baiturrahman Grand Mosque is now increasingly beautiful and majestic. Its beauty has been very famous since long ago. Many calendars about mosques in Indonesia and even the world, include the Baiturrahman Mosque because of its grandeur.

After being renovated with the presence of electric umbrellas, the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque became more magnificent and majestic. The place has also become one of the tourist destinations in Banda Aceh. Not only from Aceh, from various cities in Indonesia and even abroad such as Malaysia, Brunei, and Turkey, often visit the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque.

---

Masjid Raya Baiturrahman menjelang Subuh.

---

In a history book that I read, the beauty of the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque once fooled Dutch intelligence. When the Dutch received intelligence information about the existence of a beautiful and luxurious building (at that time) in Banda Aceh City, they immediately organized an attack on the building. The Dutch suspected that the building was a royal palace. By attacking the palace, they could easily control the city.

It turned out that the intelligence report was wrong. The building they attacked was not a palace, but a mosque which is now known as the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque, one of the religious icons of Banda Aceh City.

The attack made the Acehnese people angry and ended in a long war accompanied by the death of General Kohler, the only general from the Netherlands who died in the occupied Dutch East Indies.

To commemorate the shooting of General Kohler, the Dutch planted a tree in the courtyard of the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque. Unfortunately, the historic tree was cut down when the electric umbrella was built. Ironically, the felling took place in April, where April 22 is celebrated as Earth Day.

---

---

I wrote a short story entitled Köhlerboom which I sent to enter the green short story competition to commemorate Earth Day. The short story Köhlerboom won the award.

That morning, after the Subuh prayer, I took the opportunity to photograph the sunrise with the mosque and electric umbrella in the courtyard of the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque as the background. Behind one of the umbrellas that had not been opened, the sun shone golden yellow. The moment did not last long. Photographers who often take sunrises must be very familiar with the limited time. We must make the most of it, or we will miss the moment.

Several students from outside Sumatra who participated in the Merdeka Student Exchange program also took pictures with the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque as the background. They had often heard about the greatness of the mosque and were proud to finally be able to come here.

"I have heard the name of Baiturrahman Mosque since I was little. It is so nice to be able to pray here, while watching the sunrise," said Rizky, a student from Maluku.[]

---

---

The Holy Place #6 – Sunrise di Masjid Raya Baiturrahman

Masjid Raya Baiturrahman menjadi ikon religi sekaligus ikon wisata paling bersejarah di Aceh. Ada pendapat yang menyebutkan, belum sah ke Banda Aceh kalau belum berfoto di Masjid Raya Baiturrahman. Tak heran, sejak dulu, sebelum ada gadget seperti sekarang, banyak juru foto di halaman masjid. Sekarang juga masih ada dengan kamera digital.

Masjid Raya Baiturrahman kini kian indah dan agung.Keindahannya sudah sangat terkenal sejak dulu. Banyak kalender tentang masjid di Indonesia bahkan dunia, memasukkan masjid Baiturrahman karena kemegahannya.

Setelah direnovasi dengan hadirnya payung elektrik, Masjid Raya Baiturrahman menjadi lebih megah dan agung. Tempat itu pun sudah menjadi salah satu destinasi wisata di Banda Aceh. Tidak hanya dari Aceh, dari berbagai kota di Indonesia bahkan luar negeri seperti Malaysia, Brunei, dan Turki, sering berkunjung ke Masjid Raya Baiturrahman.

---

---

Dalam sebuah buku sejarah yang saya baca, keindahan Masjid Raya Baiturrahman pernah mengecoh intelejen Belanda. Ketika Belanda mendapatkan informasi intelejen tentang keberadaan sebuah gedung yang indah dan mewah (di masa itu) di Kota Banda Aceh, mereka langsung mengatur serangan terhadap gedung tersebut. Belanda menduga gedung tersebut adalah istana kerajaan. Dengan menyerang istana, mereka bisa menguasai kota dengan mudah.

Ternyata laporan intejen itu salah. Gedung yang mereka serang bukan istana, melainkan sebuah masjid yang kini dikenal sebagai Masjid Raya Baiturrahman, salah satu ikon religi Kota Banda Aceh.

Penyerangan itu membuat rakyat Aceh marah dan berakhir dengan peperangan yang panjang disertai kematian Jenderal Kohler, satu-satunya jenderal dari Belanda yang mati di daerah pendudukan Hindia Belanda.

Untuk memperingati penembakan Jenderal Kohler, Belanda menanam pohon di halaman Masjid Raya Baiturrahman. Sayangnya, pohon bersejarah tersebut ditebang ketika dibangun payung elektrik. Ironisnya, penebangan dilakukan pada bulan April, di mana pada tanggal 22 April dirayakan sebagai Hari Bumi.

---

---

Saya menulis cerpen berjudul Köhlerboom yang saya kirim untuk mengikuti lomba cerpen hijau memperingati Hari Bumi. Cerpen Köhlerboom tersebut meraih juara penghargaan.

Pagi itu, selesai salat Subuh saya mengambil kesempatan memotret sunrise dengan latar masjid dan payung elektrik di halaman Masjid Raya Baiturrahman. Di balik salah satu payung yang belum dibuka, matahari bersinar kuning keemasan. Momen itu tidak berlangsung lama. Photograger yang sering mengambil sunrise pasti sangat paham dengan waktu yang begitu sempit. Kita harus memanfaatkan sebaik mungkin, atau akan kehilangan momen.

Beberapa mahasiswa dari luar Sumatra yang mengikuti program Pertukaran Mahasiswa Merdeka, ikut berfoto dengan latar Masjid Raya Baiturrahman. Mereka sudah sering mendengar kebesaran masjid tersebut dan bangga akhirnya bisa ke sini.

“Saya sudah mendengar nama Masjid Baiturrahman sejak kecil. Senang sekali bisa salat di sini, sambil melihat sunrise,” ujar Rizky, mahasiswa asal Maluku.[]

---

---

Seorang jamaah masjid.

---

Google Maps:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/c4YY1d4qC1Cwrp7x6