| Maulana Malik Ibrahim | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 14th century CE possibly Central Asia |
| Died | 1419 Gapurosukolilo, Gresik |
| Era | Majapahit |
| Organization | Walisongo |
| Title | Sunan Gresik |
| Father | Syekh Jumadil Qubro |
| Family | Syekh Maulana Ishaq (brother) |
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.
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 are believed to have 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
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 name indicates a possible origin from Samarkand in modern-day Uzbekistan. However, other sources have suggested that Asmarakandi came to Java in the 16th century and is buried in Tuban Regency, making him a different person. Meanwhile, according to Babad Tjerbon, Malik Ibrahim originated from Tyuleny Archipelago, north-eastern Caspian Sea. 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 . 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.
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. Ibrahim came to Java with his father, Syekh Jumadil Qubro or Kubro, and his brother Maulana Ishaq, from Persia. 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. 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.
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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
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
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
Footnotes
- Babad Jterbon is a manuscript which written by Jan Laurens Andries Brandes [id; nl], a dutch Philology expert. This manuscript recorded the origins of Malik Ibrahim from Tyuleni.
Secondary sources
- Cœdès, George (1968). The Indianized states of Southeast Asia. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 9780824803681.
- ^ Akbar 2009, p. 12.
- Ooi 2004, p. 1415.
- ^ Sulistiono 2009, p. 11.
- ^ Akbar 2009, p. 10.
- ^ Sulistiono 2009, p. 12.
- Fealy & White 2008, p. 66.
- Husnul Hakim 2022, p. 74: "Maulana Malik Ibrahim di pinggiran Kota Gresik. Wilayah itulah yang sekarang kita kenal dengan Desa Gapura. Di Desa ... Tyulen, kepulauan kecil yang terletak di tepi timur Laut Kaspia, masuk wilayah. 55 Lihat skripsi Hesti Yuliantini ..."
- 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.
- Sulistiono 2009, pp. 14–15.
- ^ Sulistiono 2009, pp. 12–13.
- ^ Fealy & White 2008, p. 65.
- Akbar 2009, p. 13.
- Soedjatmoko 1965, p. 43.
- Sulistiono 2009, p. 13.
- Fealy & White 2008, p. 74.
- ^ Akbar 2009, p. 16.
- Tagliacozzo 2009, p. 87.
- Scheltema 1912, p. 8.
- Fealy & White 2008, p. 67.
Bibliography
- 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 Durée. 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.
