[Historical Short Story by Fatchuri Rosidin]
The port of Malacca that morning was already busy. Dozens of ships from Arabia, Persia, India, China, Sumatra, Java, and Maluku docked to conduct trade transactions. With its strategic position at the crossroads of the world's sea trade routes connecting Arabia, India, China, and the archipelago, Malacca became one of the busiest trading centers in the world in the 15th century.
Sheikh Datuk Ahmad hugged his two children who were about to board the ship to Mecca. After receiving direct education from their father since childhood, the two young men were ready to migrate to continue their education.
"Father, we ask for your blessing and prayers," said the eldest, Idhofi Mahdi.
"Please pray for my father that Allah will always keep us on our journey and bless our intention to study," continued his younger brother, Bayanullah.
Sheikh Datuk Ahmad released his embrace.
"Go, son! May Allah always protect you and bestow the virtue of knowledge and glory," he said firmly.
The two young men immediately rushed to board the ship that was waiting for them to go to the Islamic education center in Mecca.
Sayyid Idhofi Mahdi and Sayyid Bayanullah still have the lineage of the Prophet. Their grandfather, Sheikh Datuk Isa, was a Malacca cleric descended from Sayyid Abdullah Azmatkhan who emigrated from Hadramaut to India with his father, Sayyid Abdul Malik. Sayyid Abdul Malik is the son of Allawi Amil al-Faqih Muhammad bin Ali who is a descendant of Imam Ahmad bin Isa al-Muhajir, the 9th descendant of the Prophet from the path of Husein bin Ali bin Abi Talib who emigrated from Basyrah to Hadramaut in 929 AD. He migrated to avoid interference from the Abbasid caliphs who considered all the descendants of Ali bin Abi Talib a threat to their power.
Their grandfather, Sheikh Datuk Isa, was also a cousin of Sayyid Husein Jamaluddin Akbar, grandfather of Sunan Ampel and the ancestors of the Walisongo scholars who preached in Java. Since the 15th century Islamic da'wah in the archipelago has been growing with the arrival of the ulama; including the scholars of the Prophet's descendants.
The ship carrying Idhofi Mahdi and Bayanullah left Malacca, a beautiful country on the west coast of the Malaysian Straits of Malacca which was founded by King Prameswara. This kingdom is a continuation of the Malay Kingdom in Singapore, which moved the center of its kingdom to Malacca due to Javanese and Siamese attacks. After embracing Islam, Prameswara turned Malacca into the Sultanate of Malacca.
Malacca Beach is nowhere to be seen. Only the blue border is visible at the end of the horizon. The ship continued down the Strait of Malacca. Arriving at the Aceh sea, the ship turned east across the Indian Ocean and then along the west coast of India to stop in Gujarat. After anchoring for a few days, the merchant ship continued its journey to the Gulf of Oman and stopped at Musykat, then along the Arabian Sea to the international port of Aden at the entrance to the Red Sea. From Aden, the ship turned north into the Red Sea and docked at the port of Jeddah. The journey continues by road as far as 97 kilometers to the center of Mecca civilization.
Idhofi Mahdi and Bayanullah studied in Mecca for several years from the great scholars of the 15th century. Not only sharia sciences were developing rapidly at that time, but also the sciences that supported Islamic civilization for 700 years: medicine, agriculture, animal husbandry, astronomy, geography, philosophy, literature, sociology, law, as well as political science and government. From educational centers scattered in Mecca, Medina, Baghdad, Egypt, and Andalusia, knowledge spread to East Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa, and Europe.
After completing his education, Idhofi Mahdi went to Baghdad and taught there. Meanwhile, Bayanullah prefers to stay in Mecca to teach while doing business. In Baghdad, Idhofi Mahdi married Syarifah Halimah, daughter of Ali Nurul Alam and sister of the Sultan of Baghdad, Sultan Sulaiman. Syarifah Halimah is also Sunan Ampel's cousin because they met on the same line of grandfather, Sayyid Husein Jamaludin Akbar.
One day, Sultan Sulaiman summoned Idhofi Mahdi at the Baghdad palace.
"You know, I was born in Kelantan, not far from where you come from, Malacca?" said Sultan Sulaiman opening the conversation.
Sultan Sulaiman was born in Kelantan, Malaysia. His grandfather, Husein Jamaludin Akbar, preached in Kelantan and married the daughter of Sultan Baki Syah named Puteri Syahirah. From this marriage, Sultan Sulaiman's father, Ali Nurul Alam, was born. Sultan Sulaiman became ruler of Baghdad because he married the crown princess of the previous Sultan of Baghdad.
“Islam has developed quite well in Sumatra and the Malacca Peninsula. The kingdoms of Pasai, Malacca and Champa have become advanced Islamic sultanates. But Islam has not developed much in Java, Borneo, Sulawesi, and the Mamluk archipelago; lands a piece of heaven on earth. It would be glorious if Islam illuminates the earth of the archipelago," said Sultan Sulaiman.
"That's why I want to give you an assignment, my brother," said Sultan Sulaiman, clarifying his meaning.
"What is that task, brother Sultan?" Idhafi Mahdi asked curiously.
"I want to assign you to preach on the island of Java," replied Sultan Sulaiman.
In 1420 Sayyid Idhofi Mahdi began his missionary journey to the island of Java. He left with his wife and 12 followers who would help him in his new place. Because of the long journey, his four young children remained in Baghdad with Sultan Sulaiman.
What is the story of Sayyid Idhofi Mahdi's struggle to preach on the island of Java? What did he do to make the children of the King of Pajajaran, Prabu Siliwangi, become his disciples? What does that have to do with Sunan Gunung Jati?
Please read on ddhk.org and www.fatchuri.com. [Source: www.fatchuri.com]
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Fatchuri Rosidin is the Director of IMZ Consulting, a consultant and public speaker in the fields of motivation, human resource development, leadership, parenting, and community empowerment.
