Religious Tourism at the Giant Al Qur'an Museum in Palembang, South Sumatra.

Museum Al Qur'an Al Akbar in Palembang.

Palembang as the capital of South Sumatra Province is not only known for its culinary tourism. In the city that was once the center of civilization of the Sriwijaya Kingdom, there are also many high-value tourist objects.One of them is the Giant Al Quran Museum which is located at Jalan M Amin Fauzi, Soak Bujang, RT 03, RW 01, Kelurahan Gandus, Gandus District, Palembang, South Sumatra.

The Akbar Al-Quran Museum is a giant Koran in the form of a wooden sheet mounted like a window in a five-story building. 30 juz of the Koran are carved beautifully on Iron wood measuring 1.77 × 1.4 meters and 2.5 centimeters thick.

The museum has become the pride of South Sumatra Province and is not only an alternative tourist destination for local residents.Even tourists from abroad, especially from Arab countries, have come to visit to prove for themselves the work of art that is second to none.

For those of you who come from outside the city of Palembang, access to the location of the museum can be started from the landing at Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II International Airport (SMB II) Palembang.Furthermore, the choice is yours, whether to use a taxi or take the pride of Palembang's public transportation, namely Trans Musi.

If using a taxi, you may need to pay around IDR 150.000 as the fare, which will take about 30 minutes.But if you use Trans Musi, you only need to pay IDR 5,500. The trick, at the airport, take the Trans Musi Corridor 7 via Soekarno Hatta. Then get off at the Jambat Musi II Stop. Well, from here the journey continues by taking an angkot that goes to Gandus where the museum is located.

If come to Palembang using private car, the best route is starting the Toll Gate. Leaving the toll gate, then your first destination is Musi 2 Bridge. Crossing the bridge then make the first u turn heading back to the bridge, make a slight left turn then turn right under the bridge. You are on the right tract to the museum. Check it out that on your left will be Musi River all the way before making the last right turn to the location of your destination. You will find a board of Al Qur'an Al Akbar when approaching.   

Once they arrive at the Giant Koran museum, visitors only need to pay IDR 20.000 per person for Adults and IDR 15,000 per person for children to enter. In the pandemic times, there are five tour guides who are ready to assist you if needed; there used to be around twenty.Not only seeing pieces of the Koran arranged in a multi-storey building, you will also get an explanation of the Koran.

(Courtesy YouTube)

A Glimpse of the Giant Quran

The Giant Al Quran is the work of art of  Sofwatillah Mohzaib.This man is known to have a great interest in calligraphy.Even asthe people's representatives, he has become one of the local figure who have great concern for the Great Mosque of Palembang.

One day, Opat, his nickname, has just fallen asleep after he finished carving the ornamental calligraphy on the door of the Great Mosque of Palembang.In his sleep he dreamed. This dream signals him to make the largest Koran in the world. With various considerations, accompanied by unanimous determination and determination, he also made his dream come true by starting with Surah  Alfatiha.

The idea of making the Koran was sparked in 2002, after Opat had completed the installation of calligraphy for doors and ornaments at the Great Mosque of Palembang.From there it was also inspired to make a Mushaf of the Koran with typical Palembang ornaments.

Exactly on 1 Muharram 1423 or 15 March 2002 the Koran was exhibited at the bazaar on the commemoration of the Islamic New Year. However, it was officially launched on May 14, 2009 at the Great Mosque of Palembang.

 Construction Constraints

The manufacturing process was carried out at Opat's residence, namely Jalan Pangeran Sido Ing Lautan, Lorong Budiman, No. 1.009, Kelurahaan 35 Ilir, Palembang."Why Tembesu wood? Because this type of wood is found in the South Sumatra region. Besides, this type of wood is strong," said Sarkoni.

However, the making of the Giant Koran is not without obstacles.The initial target for completion is four years, stretching to seven years. Due to constraints on funds and raw materials of Iron wood . "Initially, the price of Iron wood was only around Rp. 2 million per cubic of land, but increased to Rp. 7 million and even Rp. 10 million," he said.

However, thanks to the flow of donor funds, the making of the Koran can continue.In making the Koran itself, it involved as many as 35 people. Five people served as carvers, the rest as cutters and so on.The manufacturing process is also not easy.Before being engraved on a board, the verses of the Koran must be written on cardboard.Then this writing was traced onto the wax paper.

After all the verses are written, the correction team checks the writing. If the writing is correct, the sculptor team is welcome to sculpt on the board.A total of 315 planks that use up wood up to 40 cubic meters of the Giant Koran can be completed.The total funds spent were not less than IDR 1.2 billion.

Source :https://www.tribunnews.com/travel/2015/05/20/