Marbot's Path of Service Brings Happiness to All

Marbot is a noble job. Even though the wages are not much, this service brings happiness to many people.

KOMPAS/JUMARTO YULIANUS

Suriansyah (57), mosque caretaker or also known as a mosque's favored one, is arranging the arrangement of books on the pulpit of Masjid Al-Amin, Banua Anyar, Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, on Thursday (21/3/2024).

Being a mosque caretaker is believed to be a noble job that brings many rewards and happiness. In fulfilling this calling, they can get closer to Allah, the Creator, and provide happiness for the congregants who worship in the mosque.

Suriansyah (57), a mosque caretaker at Al-Amin Mosque in Banua Anyar, Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, has experienced this firsthand. On Thursday (21/3/2024) afternoon, he swept the mosque carpet, especially in areas that felt gritty.

"In the month of Ramadan, mosques indeed need to be cleaned more often because many people come to the mosque to worship compared to regular days," he said.

Also read: Taking the Noble Path, Marbot Mosque is Not Yet Prosperous

Many people come to the mosque, especially during breaking the fast and Maghrib prayer, and then during Tarawih prayer. Therefore, Suriansyah can sweep the mosque carpet up to four times a day. This is done in the morning, afternoon, evening, and night.

"On normal days, twice a day is enough, morning and evening," he said.

KOMPAS/JUMARTO YULIANUS

Suriansyah (57), a mosque caretaker, turns on the air conditioning in Masjid Al-Amin, Banua Anyar, Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, on Thursday (21/3/2024).

That afternoon, Suriansyah not only swept the carpet but also straightened the congregation's prayer mat and books on the podium. He then turned on the fan and air conditioner as some people had entered the mosque and were preparing to perform the Dhuhr prayer. "The Dhuhr Adhan will be in thirty minutes," he said.

Suriansyah has been working as a caretaker at Masjid Al-Amin, Banua Anyar for six years. He was inspired to take up the job after meeting Ustaz Ahmad Nida, the chairman of the Mosque Management of Masjid Al-Amin, Banua Anyar.

So these mosque people are not chasing wages, but pursuing worship.

"When Ustaz Nida offered me to become a member of this mosque's community, I was unemployed. So, I immediately said yes," said Suriansyah, who previously worked as a picture frame maker.

As a caretaker at Masjid Al-Amin, Suriansyah receives the facility of a residence near the mosque. He lives there with his wife and two children. They do not have to pay rent, electricity, and water. All of these are covered by the mosque management.

KOMPAS/JUMARTO YULIANUS

The atmosphere of the residence of the marbot or the Al-Amin Mosque, Banua Anyar, on the banks of the Martapura River, Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, Thursday (21/3/2024).

Every month, he also receives a salary or incentive of IDR 1 million and basic necessities assistance in the form of 5 kilograms of rice, 1 liter of cooking oil, 1 kilogram of granulated sugar, 15 instant noodle packets, and 30 chicken eggs.

"That's enough. If it's not enough, the wife and children will add it. Coincidentally they also work," he said.

Peace of life

According to Suriansyah, he enjoys his job as a mosque attendant even though his salary is not much. With that job, he can serve the congregation while also increasing his worship. "At this age, there's nothing else I'm looking for. So, I'm just looking for peace," he said.

Zainuddin (42), the caretaker at the historical Sultan Suriansyah Mosque in Kuin Utara, Banjarmasin, said that his goal in becoming a caretaker was not for material gain, but rather to find peace in life. If he was only chasing money, he could have continued selling meatball soup.

KOMPAS/JUMARTO YULIANUS

Zainuddin (42), mosque marshal, tidies up the congregation's reading books at the Sultan Suriansyah Historic Mosque, Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, Monday (18/3/2024).

When he was still selling meatballs, Zainuddin could earn at least Rp 100,000 a day or Rp 3 million a month. This income is almost equivalent to the minimum wage in Banjarmasin of Rp 3.3 million per month and the South Kalimantan provincial minimum wage of Rp 3.2 million per month.

"At the beginning of becoming a mosque member in 2016, I received Rp 200,000 per week or Rp 800,000 per month. Only in 2022, I received Rp 500,000 per week or Rp 2 million per month," said the man with one child.

Zainuddin's income as a caretaker is sometimes insufficient, especially when there are needs for his child who attends junior high school. Fortunately, his wife can cover it with her income from selling cassava chips.

Also read: Mosque Marbot Still Not Prosperous

"So, the mosque community is not here to pursue wages, but to pursue worship. Here, I also try to do good deeds. Hopefully, there will be blessings and many rewards," he said.

The daily chairman of the Historical Sultan Suriansyah Mosque Management, Ahmad Mahfuzh, stated that being a mosque keeper (marbot) is a noble profession because their duty is to provide comfort to worshippers. Marbot also often reminds people to worship and can recite the call to prayer (azan) when it is time for prayer.

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Zainuddin (42), a mosque caretaker, cleans the mosque carpet with a dust vacuum at the Sultan Suriansyah Historic Mosque in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan on Monday (18/3/2024).

"We have tried to provide appropriate incentives within budget constraints. The incentives are actually quite good. Compared to the Minimum Wage in Banjarmasin, it may be small. However, it is still larger than the salary of honorary teachers in Banjarmasin," he said.

Get attention

According to Mahfuzh, the Banjarmasin City Government has also been paying attention to the welfare of mosque caretakers by providing allowances or transportation assistance. This aid is received twice a year, amounting to Rp 2.28 million per semester.

"Hopefully the assistance will continue," he said.

Also read: Marbot, Reassuring Voluntary Work

Banjarmasin's Mayor, Ibnu Sina, stated in February that the city government has allocated a budget of 11.7 billion Rupiah by 2024 for transportation assistance for around 2,600 religious leaders, teachers of Quranic studies, and caretakers in Banjarmasin. "This is a form of the city government's concern for the welfare of religious leaders and caretakers in Banjarmasin," he said.

Attention to the caretaker of the mosque has also been carried out by the Council of Mosque Prosperty (DKM) At-Taqwa in Cirebon City, West Java. The Chairman of At-Taqwa Center Ahmad Yani stated that caretakers are the forefront in the management and service of congregants in the mosque. They are responsible for opening the mosque's lock, beating the drums, mopping, sweeping, and even taking care of the belongings of the congregation.

KOMPAS/ABDULLAH FIKRI ASHRI

The front area of Masjid At-Taqwa in Cirebon City, West Java, on Saturday night (23/4/2022). During the last 10 nights of Ramadan, the mosque, which was established in 1918, is often visited by worshipers. In addition to performing Tarawih prayers, the congregation also observes iktikaf.

"A comfortable, clean mosque is because of the mosque caretaker. If not paid attention to by the Mosque Management Committee (DKM), who else will pay attention? I always say, it is a sin if DKM members do not take care of the caretaker," said Yani in Cirebon, on Thursday (March 21, 2024).

At Masjid At-Taqwa, a contracted caretaker receives a daily wage of Rp 75,000. Meanwhile, permanent caretakers receive a basic honorarium in accordance with the minimum wage of the surrounding city, around Rp 2.4 million per month, health benefits, old-age security, one-time Eid al-Fitr allowance equivalent to the basic honorarium, and pre-Ramadan allowances.

According to Yani, efforts to improve the welfare of mosque caretakers depend on the mindset of mosque management. In many mosques, caretakers are not paid. "There is a conventional mindset that the DKM fund should not be used up, so there is hesitation to use it for caretakers who serve," she said.

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Despite receiving a monthly salary and the opportunity to perform Umrah, residents who want to become marbots at the At-Taqwa Mosque need to meet a number of criteria. Most main, marbots must have noble character, be able to read the Koran, have at least junior high school education, and have expertise in their field.

Also read: Breaking the Fast with Sinta Wahid, Without Religious Barriers

Even prospective caretakers must take practical tests on worship, read the Quran, undergo interviews, and undergo a three-month trial period. "There is also a retirement age for caretakers. It used to be 65 years old, but now it's 70 years old. Nonetheless, there are still caretakers who wish to serve, but only as freelancers," said Yani.

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Atmosphere of the At-Taqwa Mosque, Cirebon City, West Java, Saturday (23/4/2022) evening.

Wakim (73), the caretaker of Masjid At-Taqwa since 2008, stated that his monthly salary as a caretaker is fairly decent. He can even perform Umrah, with one of the sources of his fund coming from his earnings as a caretaker.

After retiring as a permanent mosque caretaker at Masjid At-Taqwa, this former employee of PT Kereta Api Indonesia continues to serve as a caretaker even though he is now a freelance worker. This grandfather of three grandchildren doesn't mind receiving a daily wage of Rp 75,000 to sweep, mop, and ensure that the mosque can be used since 03.30 AM.

"Indeed, I have retired. "But, I still have a need and (physically) am still capable (of being a marbot)," he said.

Wakim also wants to live the rest of his life as mosque marbot. "If you work at a mosque, it's a field for (charity for) the afterlife. "We don't just live in this world, but also in the afterlife, which has a longer period," he said.

Also read: A Century of Harisah Panjunan Cirebon Porridge, Faithful Every Month of Fasting