The morning sun had just risen above the turquoise waters of the Pacific when hundreds of men, women, and children walked toward the Baiturrahim Grand Mosque in Jayapura. Dressed in white robes, colorful headscarves, and traditional Papuan batik shirts, they streamed through the mosque gates with a palpable sense of joy and anticipation. Inside, the walls echoed with melodious salawat—chants praising the Prophet Muhammad SAW. The atmosphere was warm, vibrant, and deeply spiritual. Yet, beyond the religious devotion, the occasion carried a profound social message.
This year’s commemoration of Maulid Nabi Muhammad SAW (Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday) in Papua was framed not only as a celebration of the Prophet’s birth but also as a call for unity, tolerance, and peace in a province where diversity is both a gift and a challenge. Organized under the theme “Emulating the Noble Character of the Prophet Muhammad SAW as Motivation and Inspiration for Unity in Diversity in the Land of Papua,” the event became a symbolic reminder that religion, when practiced with compassion and humility, can serve as a bridge rather than a barrier.
A Civic Message Behind a Sacred Day
The provincial government of Papua has long recognized that religion plays a central role in shaping public life. This year, officials used the Maulid commemoration to stress the importance of kerukunan—harmonious relations between religious communities. According to statements reported by Antara Papua, the celebration was meant to inspire all Papuans, regardless of faith, to embrace the Prophet’s virtues: honesty, justice, empathy, and patience.
“By emulating the Prophet Muhammad SAW, life relationships among people in Papua might become good, and thus religious life in Papua can serve as a model for others,” said Imam Djuniawal, a local government representative, in his address. His words carried weight, not just as ceremonial remarks, but as a reminder that in Papua—home to Christians, Muslims, and followers of indigenous faiths—the stakes of peace are high.
The commemoration was not confined to the walls of one mosque. Across Papua, similar events were held in towns like Fakfak, Sorong, and Manokwari, often attended by community leaders, police officers, and government officials. At many gatherings, non-Muslim neighbors were invited as guests, highlighting the communal spirit of the Prophet’s teachings.
Papua’s Diversity: A Tapestry of Beliefs
Papua is often described as Indonesia’s most diverse province. More than 250 languages are spoken across its mountains, valleys, and coastal towns. Christianity dominates in the central highlands, Islam has a strong presence in coastal cities, and many indigenous communities still honor ancestral traditions. This mosaic of identities creates beauty but also tension, especially when political or economic grievances arise.
In this context, religious ceremonies like Maulid Nabi play a critical role. They serve as platforms for public reaffirmation that difference does not have to lead to division. When government officials, imams, pastors, traditional leaders, and police officers stand together at such events, they send a powerful signal: Papua’s peace depends on cooperation across all faiths.
The police, too, recognize the symbolic value. As reported by Tribrata News Papua, the Regional Police of Papua attended Maulid celebrations in Jayapura, emphasizing that the police are committed not only to security but also to nurturing trust between institutions and communities. In a province where suspicion toward state authority has sometimes run deep, such gestures matter.
The Historical Roots: How Islam First Reached Papua
The significance of Maulid Nabi in Papua cannot be fully understood without revisiting the long history of Islam’s arrival in the region. Unlike in Java or Sumatra, where Islam spread largely through the influence of great Islamic kingdoms, Papua’s Islamization was tied to maritime trade and cultural exchange.
Historical accounts suggest that around the mid-14th century, a preacher from Aceh named Abdul Ghaffar arrived in the Fakfak region. He was part of the bustling maritime network that connected the Maluku Islands, Sulawesi, and Papua to the broader Islamic world. Fakfak, located on the western tip of Papua, became one of the earliest gateways for Islam’s entry. Coastal communities gradually embraced Islamic teachings, often through intermarriage, trade relationships, and the influence of local rulers who found resonance in the Prophet’s message of justice and compassion.
The presence of Islam in Papua is not just preserved in oral histories but also in enduring monuments. The Patimburak Old Mosque, built in 1870 in Fakfak, stands as one of the oldest mosques in Papua and a symbol of the deep roots of Islam in the region. To this day, it remains a site of pilgrimage and community gathering, bridging past and present.
But perhaps the most remarkable aspect of Islam’s spread in Papua was its adaptability. Rather than displacing indigenous customs, Islamic teachings were often harmonized with local values. The famous philosophy of “Satu Tungku Tiga Batu”—literally “One Stove, Three Stones”—originating from Fakfak, symbolizes the unity of different religions. Just as a stove needs three stones to balance a pot, society needs cooperation among different faiths to sustain harmony.
Islam’s Contribution to Papuan Society
Over centuries, Islam has contributed not only to religious life but also to the social, cultural, and economic fabric of Papua.
- Education and Institutions: Islamic schools and pesantren have provided education to generations of Papuans, many of whom went on to serve in government, business, and civil society. These institutions, often supported by zakat and waqf, have been important providers of social mobility.
- Moral and Ethical Guidance: The Prophet’s teachings on honesty, charity, and humility have influenced communal life, encouraging values of sharing and justice that align with indigenous Papuan traditions.
- Trade and Economy: Muslim traders from Bugis, Makassar, and Ternate were among the earliest to integrate Papua into broader commercial networks. Their presence helped coastal towns flourish as centers of exchange.
- Interfaith Mediation: Muslim leaders have frequently played roles as mediators in times of interreligious tension. Their credibility, rooted in centuries of presence, has made them respected figures in promoting dialogue and reconciliation.
- Cultural Syncretism: Islam in Papua is not monolithic. It blends with local traditions, producing unique forms of art, music, and rituals. For example, in many places, Quranic recitations are accompanied by Papuan drums, creating a blend of Middle Eastern spirituality and Melanesian rhythm.
Maulid Nabi as a Bridge for Peace
The Maulid Nabi celebrations of 2025 highlighted these legacies and cast them in a forward-looking light. The sermons and speeches emphasized that the Prophet’s example is relevant not only for Muslims but for all Papuans. His life, marked by patience in adversity, forgiveness toward enemies, and compassion for the poor, resonates deeply in a province that has faced political tensions, economic disparities, and occasional communal friction.
For young Papuans, Maulid becomes an educational moment. Beyond the festive parades, recitations, and communal feasts, the event conveys values of tolerance and social responsibility. Teachers and community leaders encourage youth to see the Prophet not just as a religious figure, but as a moral role model for everyday life.
The police, government, and civil society organizations see in Maulid an opportunity to ease tensions. By showing up and sitting side by side with ordinary citizens, they reinforce trust. In a land where mistrust has often been a source of instability, these symbolic gestures carry significant weight.
Challenges and the Road Ahead
Yet, as uplifting as these ceremonies are, they do not erase the challenges Papua faces. Remote areas still struggle with poverty, underdeveloped infrastructure, and limited access to healthcare and education. Religious harmony, while often celebrated, can be fragile when economic competition, land disputes, or political issues ignite underlying resentments.
In such a context, the call of Maulid—to emulate the Prophet’s values—becomes a guiding light. It reminds Papuans that unity must be cultivated daily, not only during festive moments. It calls on leaders to prioritize inclusive development, ensuring that no community feels left behind. It challenges religious institutions to become not only centers of worship but also agents of education, health, and social justice.
Conclusion
As the day of Maulid Nabi in Jayapura drew to a close, worshippers spilled out of the mosque into the warm Papuan air. Children laughed as they clutched sweets distributed after the prayers. Elders lingered in conversation, exchanging greetings with neighbors from different faiths. Government officials shook hands with local imams, and police officers mingled with families.
The scene was simple, yet profound. In that moment, the Maulid Nabi was not just a remembrance of the Prophet’s birth. It was a living enactment of his message: that compassion, justice, and respect for one another are the foundations of a healthy society.
Papua’s history with Islam shows how faith, when lived with humility and openness, can take root in distant lands and flourish alongside other traditions. Its present challenges remind us that harmony is never automatic; it requires effort, dialogue, and constant renewal. And its Maulid celebrations show that even in diversity, unity is possible—if people choose to walk together.
In a world often fractured by difference, Papua’s Maulid Nabi offers a powerful lesson: that the birth of the Prophet Muhammad SAW is not only a sacred memory but also a living momentum to strengthen unity, preserve peace, and affirm the dignity of every community.
