Islam's Short History in Timor - Asosiasaun Turizmu Relijiozu Timor-Leste

Islam entered many parts of Southeast Asia, including Timor, through the Timorese traders, who travel by sea from areas such as Java and Sulawesi, which began in the 19th and 20th centuries.

The date and year of the fixed Islamic religion entered Timor has not yet been documented as an official reference, however, according to the historical data that in the 8th century, Islam immigrants have spread in Southeast Asia (today in the form of ASEAN Countries), including Timor Island

Based on the 1622 Portuguese official diploma, when the Government was formed directly from Lisbon / Portugal, the Catholic and Islamic religion was said to be.

The former people (Islam) came from Arab Yemen, the majority of which were traders and other activities such as farmers and livestock. They live in this place, along with the local community, and can live and work together to date.

People first entered Timor-Leste from Yemen (Hadramuaud) iha familia nain hira hanesan : 1) Alkatiri, 2) Sagran; 3) Bassarewan; 4) Bazher, 5) Balafif; 6) Al-Habsyi; 7) Ba-Muallim; 8) Ba-Waziir;

Then came from Malaka, like a family: 1) Duru; 2) Kiya; 3) Pinus . Finally from Alor as a family: : 1) Laka; Mau Bolan; 3) Langko; 4) Nazirun;

The family of Flores/Larantuka maka hanesan Loly.

The Holy Place in Dili is called Masjid An-Nur. Masjid An-Nur was founded in. Before the second world war, Masjid An-Nur was established in Lecidere because the war was broken and moved back to the Alor field.

The first was built by Imam Hasan Abdullah Balafif With him a simple local material such as a baby to the wall and a neck covered with a tahan rope.

The sacred place (in Portuguese times) was first led by Hasan Abdullah Balafif As Imam and Ustedz taught the communities. (Especially children) (in relation to the Islamic religion’s lessons to live in the direction of Alquran and As-Sunnah (Palams Profected)

During the Indonesian period the organization was formed by Pengurus Masjid An-Nur Dili Timor Timur (1978- In 1984, when Islamic activities were developed in accordance with the rules of the Indonesian State, the organization of the founder Masjid An-Nur Dili Timor Timur was transformed into Yayasan Masjid An-Nur Dili until now.

This sacred place was built for the continuation of Masjid An-Nur Lecidere’s (1920-1943), which was broken by the Japanese

In 1959 On initiative Imam Hasan bin Abdullah Balafif In collaboration with the Islamic community, Masjid An-Nur was established in the Arab dose of the Bairu (now Kampo Alor), and moved activities from Masjid An-Nur Lecidere.

After Timor-Leste gained independence in 2002, the Islamic community continued to have a small number. The majority of the Islams in Timor-Leste are Timorese, Indonesian and other countries. Although a minority of these, the Islamic people in Timor-Leste can make religious practises stronger, in some Meskitas in Dili and other municipalities. The Government of Timor-Leste, which guarantees religious freedom for all communities, is a small part of the country’s religious and cultural.

Masjid An-Nur is the one who is standing for the present, his architecture is a combination of Gothical, Arab and Modern types, and the other is adopted by Masjid Al-Haram Meca, especially in two. It was a project or a design by Abdullah Said Sagran.

The news can be said that the Islamic community throughout Dili always prays at this Masjid An-Nur, especially in the prayer of Jumat / Friday. In the past more or less 500 people (five hundred)

Today there are 200 people (two hundred), and on Friday there are more than 500 (seven hundred). When Idul Fitri and Idul Adha were too many people, it could be more than 1.500 (one hundred and five thousand). The site has made its rehabilitation close. This site was rehabilitated in the first century: The site was first built in. Rehabilitation was first in. The second rehabilitation was in. The third rehabilitation was in 1978. The fourth rehabilitation in 1985 and has not yet ended until 2013, the V Constitutional Government of S.Ex. Kayrala Xanan Gusmao, the Prime Minister, who has been able to provide sufficient availability of a budget for the destruction or camp for Masjid An-Nur which is now available to you to see the beauty of the capital of Timor-Leste – Dili.

People who work in this rehabilitation work are only Timorese. The events are: Shalat dlima every day, Shalat Jumat, Idul Fitri and Idul Adha every year.

As we know, the RDTL Constitution is a Sekular State (even though almost 100% of Timor-Leste’s people believe all). As for the important role in the history of Timor-Leste, I don’t think there is yet. In the future, we may be able to prepare with other religious communities such as: Catholic, Protestant, Con Fu Tsu and Hindu. We have no sacred things, because Fe Islamica does not allow us to believe anything else (the priest) except God.

Indeed, we have just started to prepare with the Association of religious Tourism of Timor-Leste (ATR-TL) to establish an ATR-TL Nucleu in Masjid An-Nur for the management of visitors when they come to the Masjid An-Nur.