DIVORCE PAPERS
The Cheng Ho Mosque

On that occasion Sifa also invited her father to take pictures at a favorite selfie spot of visitors named Tugu Iwak Belido. A monument, or giant fish statue, in the form of a fish typical of the Musi River which began to be rare. Belido fish is famous as a very tasty fish, as well as raw materials to make Palembang culinary, namely Pempek. At first they took three pictures but then Sifa had the idea to take a pose photo of his father and mother with himself as a photographer and also the director. He directed his father to hug his mother from behind, the mother was directed to turn her head and they smiled sweetly face to face. Pose next posed facing each other holding hands and the father kissed the forehead of the friendly round. Sifa skillfully took aim at her father and mother and directed that her father and mother pose as she wished for a professional cameraman.

Many tourists who visit Kuto Besak Fortress with time until night. When the operational hours of Kuto Besak Fortress are closed, the excitement of tourism does not stop, even more crowded. The area is the best spot to enjoy the charm of the beauty of Ampera Bridge, and Musi River in Palembang. As a cool photo. The atmosphere outside Kuto Besak Fortress during the afternoon towards the night was getting crowded. The scenery around the area is very beautiful, combined with flickering night lights spoil the eyes of visitors.

The sun had risen when Arka and his wife's son came out of the Fort Kuto Besak building, he closed his tourism activities with his beloved family in this fort by trying cooking at a floating restaurant on the Musi River. It turns out that talking about taste, do not question how delicious the menu available there, because Palembang cuisine is already very famous for having a very high flavor. A happy beam emanated from the three. They really enjoy the togetherness that may never happen again later.

Once satisfied eat a delicious lunch on their tongue. This small family continues its tourist destination to Cheng Ho Mosque which is quite close to the city center of Palembang, with a distance of about 4 km can be reached in about 15 minutes. Cheng Ho Mosque is located on Jalan Pangeran Ratu Housing TOP Atlit, 15 Ulu Village, Seberang Ulu I Sub-district, Palembang City. Arka car drove at medium speed towards the mosque with a blend of Palembang, Chinese, and Arab culture architecture. Arka spurred her car with an expanding smile, as did Tika who was sitting next to her. The two occasionally chimed in Sifa's chatter that was busy looking at the collection of photos they took at several places in Kuto Besak Fortress earlier. When looking at the friendly photos of his father. Sifa who was sitting in the back seat of the car with her centile teased her parents so much that they laughed loosely, occasionally the father and mother blushed in shame. Maybe they are embarrassed because soon everything is just a memory.

They really enjoy the streets of Palembang which tend to be crowded with two-wheeled and four-wheeled vehicles, typical of large cities. Luckily they are not stuck in traffic despite the congested roads but the traffic is relatively smooth.

The time shows at half-twelve noon when Arka saw his wrist.He parked his car in a place that has been provided for tourists who want to visit the mosque named Al Islam Mosque full name Muhammad Cheng Ho, which is a symbol of multiculturalism in Palembang, the mosque is dominated by distinctive colors of green and red. From a distance, Sifa already seems to really like this destination of her father's choice. He was very impressed with the mosque building in Palembang that looks so striking. Similarly, Tika, very clear from the facial mimic and twinkle of his eyes that he was amazed by the mosque whose main building is dominated by pink with red pillars. The roof has a green dome with a crescent moon and stars like mosques in the Middle East. While in the four corners of the building there is a pyramid-shaped roof, one form of traditional houses in Palembang, green.

At the gate or gate of the Chinese-style mosque, with red pillars and golden-yellow pyramid roof, there is a signboard that reads "Muhammad Cheng Hoo Mosque", complete with Mandarin.

The mosque is equipped with two red pagoda-like minarets, each of which is named "Habluminalah" and "Hambluminannas" -"human relationship with God" and "relationship with fellow human beings". Both towers have five levels, which symbolize the five prayers of the day. The height of the tower reaches 17 meters; a symbol of the amount of rakaat that every Muslim must shout in a day overnight.

Arka invites his wife and child to take ablution water on the ground floor because soon the dhuhur prayer time will arrive.

On the ground floor of each tower there is a place of ablution. While the outside of the tower is filled with Palembang ornaments in the form of goat horns.

Inside the mosque, visitors will find the dominant red color that is identical to Chinese culture. The design of the main door leaf, stake, and the ornamentation of the guardrail at the top further beautifies the appearance of the interior of the mosque which is thick in Chinese nuances. Together with other visitors they perform dhuhur prayers in congregation.

The atmosphere in the mosque feels cool and comfortable even though the room is not equipped with air conditioning but only a fan. This is possible due to the presence of a roster (wind hole) on the top of the door. The window window is also wide, with a roster on the top, so that makes the air circulation so freely in and out into the prayer room.Masjid is equipped with a place

Cheng Ho Mosque is located in Amin Mulia Housing Complex, Jakabaring. Because it is in a residential location, the atmosphere of the mosque is very calm and quiet.

After fulfilling his duty as a Muslim, with a feeling of relief and calm the three walked around the mosque. Joking and carefree atmosphere enveloped their togetherness. Sometimes they selfie ria perpetuate a moment that they think is very extraordinary.

The use of these special ornaments is not without reason. In addition to the Cheng Ho Mosque was built on the land of Palembang, the community is also aware of the closeness between Palembang culture and Chinese culture.

Giving the name of Cheng Ho is also not without reason. Cheng Ho (Zheng He), known as the 15th commander of the Chinese navy, is believed to lead expeditions around the world, including to Palembang.

In Zheng He's Notes, translated by W. P. Groeneveldt as Nusantara in Chinese Records, Zheng He came to Palembang on his first expedition. He hunted Chen Zuyi, the Guangdong, who controlled Palembang as a pirate. The mission succeeded. Cheng Ho returned to China to hand the pirates over to the emperor. Chen Zuyi was later beheaded in a market in the capital.According to archaeologist Uka Tjandrasasmita in the Islamic Archaeology of the Archipelago, cheng Ho's action to defeat the pirates is itself a security service for shipping and trade activities in and out of the port city and the city of Palembang. "Therefore the leaders and the people of the region are very grateful and appreciate the services of Cheng Ho.

Although there is no solid evidence, many believe that Cheng Ho is a Muslim and has a mission to Islamize the archipelago, including in Palembang. Because of his good behavior and peace, Zheng He had many followers.

The Chinese-Muslim community has also long settled and mingled with the local community in Palembang. As a form of respect for the figure of Cheng Ho as well as strengthening brotherhood among fellow Muslims, Cheng Ho Mosque was built with architecture that blends Chinese, Islamic, and Palembang culture.

Cheng Ho Mosque in Palembang was built by the Indonesian Chinese Islamic Association (PITI) which later changed its name to the Indonesian Tawheed Faith Association. In "Cosmopolitan Islam and inclusive Chineseness: Chinese-style mosques in Indonesia", published in the book Religious Pluralism, State and Society in Asia Chiara Formichi edits, Hew Wai-Weng said the mosque was initiated by PITI South Sumatra after its branch leaders visited their colleagues in Surabaya who had established the Cheng Ho Mosque.

"Al-Islam Mosque Muhammad Cheng Hoo in Palembang, launched in 2008, is the second mosque in style, wrote Hew Wai-Weng. Cheng Ho Palembang Mosque was built on an area of 4,990 m2, a grant from Sharial Oesman who was then the governor of South Sumatra.

The mosque with the main building covering an area of 40m2 has two floors. The first floor is used for male worshipers, while the second floor is used specifically for female worshipers. Overall, the mosque is able to accommodate about 500 worshipers. That's how the tour guide at the mosque told a story that quoted an Archaeologist..