One of nine Islamic saints in Java
Maulana Malik Ibrahim
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Died
| 1419
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Era
| Majapahit
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Organization
| Walisongo
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Title
| Sunan Gresik
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Parent
| - Syekh Jumadil Qubro (father)
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Family
| Syekh Maulana Ishaq (brother)
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Malik Ibrahim
(died 7 April 1419), also known as
Sunan Gresik
or
Kakek Bantal
, was the first of the
Wali Songo
, the nine men generally thought to have introduced Islam to
Java
.
[1]
: 241
His habit of placing the
Qu'ran
on a pillow led to him receiving the nickname
Kakek Bantal
(lit. Pillow Grandfather).
Before the 19th century, Ibrahim was not considered one of the
Wali Songo
, the saints who spread Islam to Java. After his grave was rediscovered in the early 19th century, he was included in the core group. He was first listed as a Wali Songo in
Babad Dipanegara
.
Biography
[
edit
]
Ibrahim's origin is unclear, although it is generally agreed that he originated from outside of Java.
He is thought to have been born in the first half of the 14th century.
Ibrahim is known by several names in the
Babad Tanah Jawi
and other texts. In a transcription by J. J. Meinsma, he is identified as Makhdum Ibrahim as-Samarqandy (localised to Syekh Ibrahim Asmarakandi); this indicates a possible origin from
Samarkand
in modern-day Uzbekistan.
However, other sources suggested that Asmarakandi came in the 16th century and is buried in
Tuban Regency
, making him a different person.
Meanwhile, according to
Babad Tjerbon
, Malik Ibrahim were originated from
Tyuleny Archipelago
, north-eastern
Caspian Sea
.
[Notes 1]
The most generally accepted history, supported by a reading by
J. P. Moquette
of the inscription at Ibrahim's grave, identifies him as having come from
Kashan
, Persia (modern day Iran).
Dutch writer and researcher
Martin van Bruinessen
describes Jumadil Kubra, Malik Ibrahim among all their students are followers of
Kubrawiyyah
.
[9]
Malik Ibrahim was born in Kashan, Syekh Jumadil Qubro and Malik Ibrahim are disciples of
Kubrowi
Shafi'i
school of Jurist Master Mir Sayid Ali Shafi Hamadani (died 1384), of
Hamadan
in
Persia
.
[10]
[11]
Malik Ibrahim belonged to syed and highly educated family in Kashan, his grand grandfather migrated from Samarkand to Kashan, that is why their family also known as Samarkandi.
[12]
Ibrahim came to Java with his father, Syekh Jumadil Qubro or Kubro, and his brother Maulana Ishaq, from
Persia
; they were descendants of
Muhammad
through
Hussein ibn Ali
. According to this version, Qubro stayed in Java while his sons went abroad for
dakwah
: Ibrahim went to
Champa
(in modern-day
Vietnam
), while his brother went to
Pasai
in northern
Sumatra
. In his 13 years in Champa, Ibrahim provided healthcare and taught farmers more efficient ways to grow crops. He also married one of the king's daughters, whose name has been Indonesianised as Dewi Candrawulan, and had two sons. Their name are Ali Rahmatullah (later known as
Sunan Ampel
) and Ali Murtadha.
[13]
When he felt that he had converted enough people to Islam, Ibrahim returned to Java without his family.
Ibrahim landed at Sembalo, Learn, Manyar (9 kilometres (5.6 mi) north of modern-day
Gresik
) in the late 14th century, where he became acquainted with the local
people
.
He began trading out of the harbour, dealing equally with people from different
castes
- social strata based in the dominant Hindu religion. By doing so, Ibrahim found popular support from the lower castes, which led to numerous conversions. He also continued his work from Champa, teaching the locals ways to improve harvests and treating the ill.
Through his trading, Ibrahim became acquainted with the ruling class and nobles. After journeying to
Trowulan
to meet the king of
Majapahit
, he was granted a landing on the outskirts of Gresik which was used for preaching; Ibrahim also founded an
Islamic boarding school
there.
Malik Ibrahim's grave, c. 1900
A legend associated with Ibrahim is that one day, while travelling, he came across a young woman about to be
sacrificed
to the gods in order to end a long-standing drought. After stopping a group of men from stabbing the woman, Ibrahim
prayed for rain
; when his prayers were answered, the group he had faced converted to Islam.
Ibrahim died on 12
Rabi' al-Awwal
, 822
Hijri
(7 April 1419 on the
Julian calendar
). He was buried in Gapura village,
Gresik
,
East Java
.
Tomb
[
edit
]
Malik Ibrahim's grave, which is without a headstone,
is a common destination for pilgrims, who read the Qu'ran and the life of Muhammad; they also partake in a dish unique to the area, harisah rice porridge.
In 2005 over 1.5 million pilgrims went to the grave,
for which there is an entry fee.
Most come on the anniversary of his death, based on the
Islamic calendar
.
Near Ibrahim's grave is a stone marker bearing an inscription in Arabic, translated below:
This is the grave of a man who is sure to be forgiven by Allah and be granted happiness by The All-Gracious, the teacher of princes and adviser to sultans and viziers, friend of the poor and destitute. The great religious teacher: Malik Ibrahim, renowned for his goodness. May Allah grant His pleasure and grace, and bring him to heaven. He died on Senin, 12 Rabi' al-Awwal, 822 Hijri.
The grave marker is made of stone from the
Khambhat
region of India. By comparing the marker with others found in the Pasai Kingdom, historians such as
Brian Harrison
and
G. H. Bousquet
have suggested that the
spread of Islam in Indonesia
originated in India.
Legacy
[
edit
]
Both of Ibrahim's sons went on to spread Islam to Java after they became adults. The eldest, Ali Rahmatullah, is better known as
Sunan Ampel
and is a member of the Wali Songo himself. The youngest was named Ali Murthada.
Ibrahim's work in eastern Java was continued by Raden Paku (later known as
Susuhunan Giri
) in Giri (now part of
Jepara Regency of Central Java
) and Ali Rahmatullah, whose name is now Raden Rahmat, founded an Islamic school in
Ngampel
,
Surabaya
.
Every year, the Gresik city government holds a festival to celebrate Ibrahim's birth. Known as Gebyar Maulid, the festival also serves to promote local culture.
References
[
edit
]
Secondary sources
[
edit
]
- ^
Cœdes, George
(1968).
The Indianized states of Southeast Asia
. University of Hawaii Press.
ISBN
9780824803681
.
- ^
Martin van Bruinessen, "Traces of Kubrawiyyah influence in early Indonesian Islam", Bijdragen tot de Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde150(1994), 305-329.
- ^
"Pancalaku Pearls of Wisdom"
.
Pancalaku Pearls of Wisdom
. Retrieved
26 July
2019
.
- ^
the sufis light, sufism academy publication (Delhi) 1962, p.120
- ^
the sufis light, Sufism academy publication (Delhi) 1962,p.122
- ^
"Biography of Sunan Gresik Alias Maulana Malik Ibrahim, the First Generation of Wali Songo Who Spread Islam in Java"
.
En.KapanLagi.com
(in Indonesian)
. Retrieved
6 June
2024
.
Bibliography
[
edit
]
- Akbar, Ummu (2009).
Kisah Seru 9 Pejuang Islam
[
The Interesting Stories of 9 Promoters of Islam
] (in Indonesian). Bandung: Mizan.
ISBN
978-979-752-988-8
.
- Fealy, Greg; White, Sally (2008).
Expressing Islam : Religious Life and Politics in Indonesia
. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies.
ISBN
978-981-230-851-1
.
- Ooi, Keat Gin (2004).
"Wali Songo"
.
Southeast Asia : A Historical encyclopedia, from Angkor Wat to East Timor
. Vol. 2. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO. pp. 1415?1416.
ISBN
978-1-57607-770-2
.
- Scheltema, Johann Friedrich (1912).
Monumental Java
. London: Macmillan and Co.
ISBN
9788120602229
.
OCLC
1117435
.
- Soedjatmoko
(1965).
An Introduction to Indonesian Historiography
. Ithaca: Cornell University Press.
ISBN
9789793780443
.
OCLC
936352
.
- Sulistiono (2009).
Mengenal Jejak Langkah Walisongo
[
Following the Footsteps of the Walisongo
] (in Indonesian). Semarang: Magenta.
- Tagliacozzo, Eric (2009).
Southeast Asia and the Middle East : Islam, Movement, and the Longue Duree
. Stanford: Stanford University Press.
ISBN
978-0-8047-6133-8
.
- Sunyoto, Agus (2014).
Atlas Wali Songo: Buku Pertama yang Mengungkap Wali Songo Sebagai Fakta Sejarah. 6th edition
. Depok: Pustaka IIMaN.
ISBN
978-602-8648-09-7
.
- Husnul Hakim (2022).
Sejarah Lengkap Islam Jawa
(ebook)
(in Indonesian). Laksana.
ISBN
9786233272476
. Retrieved
2 December
2023
.
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