LONG XUYEN — Friday (5/12/2025) marked a historic moment for the Muslim community in Long Xuyen City. The Salamad Mosque, known as the oldest and first mosque in the area, was officially reinaugurated after a long reconstruction process.
The rebuilding was made possible through sadaqah jariyah contributions from Indonesian donors via DT Peduli, in collaboration with members of the Humanitarian Forum Indonesia (HFI) and with the support of the Indonesian government.
The inauguration was attended by Warsito, Deputy for Strengthening National Character and Identity at the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture (Kemenko PMK), representing the Coordinating Minister. In his remarks, he emphasized that the presence of this mosque symbolizes the peaceful, tolerant, and harmonious character of Indonesian Islam.
“We will continue to ensure that Indonesian Muslims embody tolerance, harmony, and coexistence. This development reflects our commitment to ongoing cooperation in da’wah, economic empowerment, education, and social affairs,” Warsito stated.
Salamad Mosque is not an entirely new structure. Since 1953, it has served as a place for prayers, i‘tikaf, and various religious activities for the local Muslim community. Over time, however, the building deteriorated due to age and was also affected by a major flood in 1978.
“Allow us to express our gratitude to the government for helping and supporting the construction of the Salamad Mosque. This mosque has existed since 1953, but due to age, it has become severely worn. It has long been a place for prayer and i‘tikaf. In 1978, it was affected by a major flood,” said the mosque’s muwakif, Mr. Zach, Chairman of the Islamic Community in Long Xuyen.
Executive Director of the Humanitarian Forum Indonesia (HFI), Surya Rahman, stressed that the mosque’s reconstruction goes beyond a physical project and represents a long-standing bond of brotherhood between nations.
“This is not merely about building a mosque, but also about reflecting a diplomatic relationship that has existed for centuries, dating back to the Champa era. Initially, the mosque was planned to be completed within six months, but due to licensing processes and weather conditions, construction took around one and a half years,” he explained.
President Director of LAZ DT Peduli, Jajang Nurjaman, highlighted that the Salamad Mosque stands as a powerful symbol of Islamic brotherhood within the ASEAN region, including Indonesia and Vietnam. He recounted that prior to reconstruction, the old mosque had been demolished after another party had promised to rebuild it. However, after two years, that promise was never fulfilled.
During the waiting period, congregants were forced to perform prayers on the upper floor of a resident’s house—a fragile wooden structure in the middle of Long Xuyen City with very limited space for congregational worship.
“Alhamdulillah, DT Peduli, together with other HFI members, worked hand in hand to rebuild this mosque. This mosque is a symbol of Islamic brotherhood among ASEAN countries, and we hope it will spread the message of Islam rahmatan lil ‘alamin,” Jajang said.
For DT Peduli, the realization of the Salamad Mosque is the result of trust and generosity from donors. The sadaqah jariyah entrusted through DT Peduli has now transformed into a house of worship where rewards will continue to flow—from every unit of prayer performed, every verse of the Qur’an recited, and every supplication offered within its walls.
Editor: Agus ID