Rembang (ANTARA) - Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno, on Saturday inaugurated the Islam Nusantara Lasem Museum, which houses a collection of artifacts, scripts, manuscripts, and narratives on Islamic figures.
The museum is located in the Jami' Lasem Mosque complex in Rembang District, Central Java. Its inauguration was marked by the cutting of a floral ribbon in front of its entrance.
"We appreciate the initiator of the construction of the Islam Nusantara Lasem Museum inside the Jami' Lasem Mosque," said Uno during the inauguration in Rembang on Saturday.
According to the minister, the museum is a part of the collaboration programs that will be amplified through a mosque-based and historical tour package.
He said the collaborative programs will open wider business and employment opportunities. For example, the museum showcases Lasem Batik, which could promote batik businesses and create jobs for craftspersons.
Islam is the religion of "rahmatan lil alamin," and this is reflected in the collection of the museum, which has been strengthened by historical items, the minister observed.
"(Items associated with) Mosques that have been an attraction in the past up till now are also displayed," Uno noted.
The museum has window and door collections that will contain 30 juz of the Quran, though currently, they are not 100 percent complete.
Uno said he expects that there will be room for participation so that the construction of the museum can be completed.
Meanwhile, the initiator of the Islam Nusantara Lasem Museum, Agus Abdul Aziz, said that the construction of the building is 90 percent complete.
According to Aziz, Islamic preaching in Lasem has a long history. Notable 17th-century figures Sambu or Sayyid Abdurrohman and Joko Tingkir had links with Lasem, and the same goes for the ulama who founded Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) in the 20th century.
He said the museum is an initiative to strengthen Islamic preaching in Central Java, especially in Rembang district.
