Sebelum saya posting ringkasan Serat Darmo Gandhul yang kemungkinan besar
ditulis oleh almarhum Ki Ronggo Warsito, ada baiknya saya sajikan terlebih
dulu profil Wali Songo (Nine Saints of Islam). Ada beberapa versi muncul
tentang asal muasal para wali tersebut. Ada yang berpendapat bahwa
mereka berasal dari Tanah Arab, ada yang yakin ainul yakin mereka asal
Cina, namun ada pula yang bilang mereka asal Campa (kini masuk wilayah
Kamboja-Vietnam). Manakah yang benar?
Indonesia is fast becoming recognized as an exciting country to visit.
Of course, many of the nation's attractions are already world famous
and some, like Java's Temple of Borobudur, Sumatra's Lake Toba and the
Island of Bali have for years been compelling destinations. More
recently, the Province of East Java has begun to reveal a wealth of
cultural and natural resources, among them the spectacular volcanic
regions of Mt Bromo and Kawah Ijen, the rugged southern coastline and,
in the field of history, the rich cultural heritage to be wit nessed
at sites such as Trowulan, ancient capital of the Hindu kingdom of
Majapahit.
The purpose of this book is to expose yet another of
Indonesia's hidden treasures; the as yet little known area of Java's
north coast, in particular the legacy left to us by the island's first
Muslim missionaries, who have come to be known as the Wali Songo, or
'Nine Saints of Islam'. According to tradition, there were nine
outstanding figures who together were largely responsible for the
dissemination of the Islamic faith. Known as the Wali Songo, they are
recognized today as having been especially influential in the
transformation of Javanese religion and culture.
The tombs of the Wali Songo, as well as those of many other important
historical figures, can be found scattered along Java's north coast
between Surabaya and Cirebon. Below is a list of the nine walls and
the locations of their graves.
Even though it is certain that Muslims from foreign countries had
for a long time been visiting the Indonesian islands, it was not
until the 15th and 16th centuries that the religion of Islam began
to have a strong influence on traditional Javanese culture. Muslim
missionary activity in Java began in earnest during the early 1400's
and coincided with the decline of the last and greatest of the
island's Hindu empires, Majapahit. From its birth and initial growth
in the regions of Gresik and Surabaya, the religion spread rapidly
until, by the end of the century, a powerful and semi-independent
Islamic state was centred at Demak in the north of Central Java.
Twenty five years later Majapahit collapsed entirely and the power
of Demak had extended westward along the coast. This was the age of
the Walis, charismatic and influential religious teachers, who spread
the message of Islam across the island. Often carrying the title of
Sunan, many of their names have become legendary and their tombs are
regular places of pilgrimage for Indonesian Muslims.
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THE WALISONGO
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Maulana Malik Ibrahim (Syekh Maghribi)
Maulana Malik Ibrahim, also known as Syekh Maghribi, is generally
considered to be the 'father'of the Wali Songo. Little is known about
his origins, although it has. been suggested that he came either from
Persia, Turkey, or Northern India. A possible date for his arrival in
Java is A.D. 1404. As one of Indonesia's pioneers in the spreading of
the Islamic faith, he was based in East Java and attracted converts
in the region of Gresik, where he died in 822 H. (A.D. 1419).
His tombstone is of particular interest, since it was not made locally
but ordered and shipped to Java from Gujarat in north western India.
The stone, carved from white marble and intricately inscribed with
Arabic letters, is one of a very few which have found their way to
Indonesia. Other examples are known to exist in Palembang and in the
North Sumatran province of Aceh.
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Sunan Ampel (Raden Rachmat)
If Maulana Malik Ibrahim community in Java, then Sunan Ampel of
Surabaya is recognized as the figure who cultivated and consolidated
the influence of his predecessor. Tradition has it that Sunan Ampel
was a kind of 'older brother', to whom the other walls went for
guidance. Indeed, two members of the Wali Songo, Sunan Bonang and
Sunan Drajat, were his own sons. It is said further that Sunan Ampel
was the spiritual force behind the founding of Java's first Islamic
kingdom in Demak. As to the origins of Sunan Ampel, it is believed
that his father Syekh Maulana Ibrahim Asmorokondi, who came from the
Middle East or somewhere in Central Asia, married a princess of Campa,
from where the young Raden Rachmad (Sunan Ampel) arrived in Java early
in the 15th century. He died in A.D. 1479 and was buried at
Ngampeldenta, Surabaya.
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Sunan Giri (Raden Paku)
Among the traditional literature relating to the Wali Songo the name
of Sunan Giri is especially prominent. Furthermore, his names are many,
among them Raden Paku, Sultan Abdul Fakih, Maulana 'Ainul Yaqin, as
well as Joko Samudra. This last name is connected with the semi-
legendary account of his early years. The story goes that he was born
from the marriage of a Muslim scholar named Maulana Ishak with a
princess of the East Javanese kingdom of Blambangan. Forced to abandon
the child shortly after his birth, his mother set him adrift on the
ocean from where he was rescued by sailors and brought to Gresik.
He he was adopted by a woman named Nyai Gede Pinatih, who was a ship owner
and the sailors' employer. She subsequently named the young boy Joko
Samudra, 'Samudra' meaning ocean. When he was old enough, Joko Samudra
was taken by his mother to Surabaya, where he began receiving
religious instructions from Sunan Ampel. It was not long before the
teacher discovered the boy's true identity and thus, when he
considered that the student had learned enough, sent him, together
with his own son Makhdum Ibrahim (later to be known as Sunan Bonang),
to broaden his education further afield. It is said that the two
travelled to Aceh, or possibly Malacca, where they were received by
Maulana lshak. Here, Joko Samudra, or Raden Paku as he was known by
now, learned of his real parents and the story of his abandonment.
After three years of study with his father, Raden Paku returned to
Gresik, where he founded a religious institution on the hill at Giri.
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Sunan Bonang (Raden Machdum Ibrahim)
Raden Makhdum Ibrahim, or Sunan Bonang, was the eldest son of Sunan
Ampel of Surabaya. As a young man he travelled together with Raden
Paku (Sunan Giri) to North Sumatra, where he received religious
education from Syekh Maulana Ishak. Following his return to Java he
settled at Bonang on the north coast. It is said that Sunan Bonang
did not marry and left no descendants, preferring instead to devote
his life to spreading the religious message. He is also believed to
have been the first Imam of the Great Mosque in Demak, which he
assisted in constructing. According to one story, Sunan Bonang was
responsible for the conversion to Islam of another member of the Wali
Songo, Sunan Kalijaga. Not suprising then that he, like his famous
student, is highly venerated. An account of the death of Sunan
Bonang, apparently in A.D. 1525, records that it had been planned
for his remains to be shipped from Bonang to Surabaya, where he was
to be buried alongside his father. Due to the rough conditions at sea,
however, it was impossible to sail further than Tuban, for which
reason his grave is found there today.
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Sunan Drajat (Raden Qosim)
Sunan Drajat, also known as Syarifuddin, or Raden Qosim, was the
second son of Sunan Ampel and younger brother of Sunan Bonang. He
received religious training from his father in Surabaya, following
which he moved to the region of Paciran, settling in the village of
Jelag. After about two years he had attracted quite a large following
and in A.D. 1502 built a mosque, the official opening of which was
attended by the other members of the Wali Songo. The village of Jelag,
later to be known as Drajat, was eventually granted to the Sunan and
his descendants as a token of respect by the Sultan of Demak.
Sunan Drajat is best known for his social activity and charitable works,
which he carried out in the Paciran area for almost forty years. He
is said to have created the Gending Pangkur, a special melody for the
traditional Javanese gamelan orchestra, with which he converted the
local populace. Some fragments of these ancient instruments have been
preserved and are now on display in a small museum next to the Sunan's
tomb.
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Sunan Kudus (Ja'far Shodiq)
As an historical figure, Sunan Kudus is difficult to pin down. An
inscription discovered above the mihrab in the Al Aqsa Mosque in Kudus
reveals that the building was founded in 956 H (A.D. 1549) by Ja'far
Shodiq, who is generally identified with Sunan Kudus. The names 'Ja'far
Shodiq' and even 'Kudus' itself, however, have puzzled historians,
since the former was the name of an 8th century Persian Imam (Muslim
spiritual leader), and Kudus (Arabic Al Quds = Holy City) was the
ancient name for the city of Jerusalem. What, if any, are the
connections?
Local Javanese sources state that Sunan Kudus was a man of great
learning, as well as a poet and philosopher. The son of Sunan
Ngudung of Jipang, he was a great religious teacher and is said further
to have commanded the forces of the kingdom of Demak, before founding
the city of Kudus sometime in the mid 16th century. Sunan Kudus is
believed to have died around the year A.D. 1550.
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Sunan Kalijaga (Raden Mas Said)
Among the Wali Songo Sunan Kalijaga occupies a special position. At
once hero, mystic, artist, diplomat and magician, he is recognized
above all as the great peacemaker and wise leader. Born Raden Mas Said,
son of a Regent of Tuban, Sunan Kalijaga is said to have converted to
Islam after an encounter with Sunan Bonang. Although he founded a
religious centre at Kadilangu, Demak, where he was eventually buried,
his activities were not limited to that district, nor even to Central
Java. Sunan Kalijaga travelled widely, spending years in Cirebon and
even visiting Sumatra. In the field of culture, Sunan Kalijaga played
the role of transformer. By preserving yet altering traditional
elements to suit the new religious climate, he thus ensured the
continuity of Java's rich cultural heritage. His contributions to the
development of classical music and to the wayang theatre are especially
well known. The famous orchestra Gamelan Sekaten, originally created
by Sunan Kalijaga for use in the Mosque of Demak, is preserved today
in the Central Javanese courts of Solo and Yogyakarta.
Sunan Kalijaga's role as peacemaker is perhaps best symbolized by the
semi-legendary story of the founding of the Great Mosque in Demak,
said to have been built by the Wali Songo in a single night. Arriving
late, with no time to fell and prepare a tree trunk, Sunan Kalijaga
created a pillar made up from planks left over by the other walls !
To this day the pillar created by Sunan Kalijaga, larger than the
rest, is pointed out to visitors to the Mosque.
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Sunan Muria (Raden Umar Said)
Raden Umar Said, later to become known as Sunan Muria, is usually
considered to have been the son of Sunan Kalijaga. His field of
operation lay chiefly in the area surrounding Mt Muria, including
towns like Pati, Juwana, Kudus and Jepara. He is said to have been a
loyal supporter of the kingdom of Demak and assisted in the
construction of the Great Mosque. As to his character and teaching
methods, Sunan Muria is reputed to have preferred moving among the
lower stratum of society, often travelling far away from major towns
to preach in isolated areas. His sympathy towards many elements of
traditional Javanese culture, some of which, like the gamelan
orchestra, he adapted and used in the course of teaching, won him
both popularity and respect.
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Sunan Gunung Jati (Syarif Hidayatullah)
Gapura Wetan, Gresik
Syarif Hidayatullah, Muhammad Nuruddin, Sayyid Kamil, Syekh Nurullah
and Faletehan are just some of the names which have been given to
Sunan Gunung Jati, the wall who is said to have converted the western
third of Java to Islam virtually single-handed and to have founded the
independent State of Cirebon. Concerning the birth, life and death of
this member of the Wali Songo there are several conflicting stories,
yet the main thread runs as follows: Syarif Hidayatullah, or Syekh
Nurullah, was born in Pasei, North Sumatra. According to some, he was
the son of Syekh Maulana Ishak and half-brother of Sunan Giri.
Following the Portugese invasion of his homeland in 1521 he travelled
to Mecca, where he stayed for three years. On his return he entered
the service of Sultan Trenggana of Demak, whose younger sister he
married. During the next few years, as a brilliant military commander,
he succeeded in subjugating the north west coast of Java as well as
the State of Banten. After successfully blocking an attempt by the
Portugese to land at Sunda Kelapa (Jakarta) in 1527, he settled in the
region of Cirebon, where he continued to live and teach until his
death in A.D. 1570
