Demak "The City of Saints"

After we left the Pondok pesantren At Taufiqy, we headed to Demak, the city of saints. It was two and half hour journey. As we entered the city, there was a huge signboard "Welcome to the city of Saints". It make us excited although we are exhausted due to the journey in the bus. We finally arrived Demak, the first Islamic Kingdom in Java. It was thursday night of "Kliwon", an auspicious night for the Javanese. So it was crowded in the city area, buses and cars coming into the city to visit the Maqam of Sunan Kali Jaga. It was said only in the night of Thursday Kliwon, the maqam of Sunan Kali Jaga will be open for the public to visit.

Alhamdulilah, we are fortunate to be at the right time and day to visit One of the vital member of the Wali Songo. A saint whom we have heard of his wonderful stories in regards to his contributions to the poor and development of Islam in the Java region. But we didnt manage to visit the maqam on that particular night due to the crowded situation. Thus Allah had a better plan for us to visit tommorow. We were expected to have Khatm Khawajan or zikir in the Masjid Agung, Demak but due to the tiredness of Shaykh Zakaria, we did at the home of our bro Hidayah parents which is located near to the maqam of Sunan Kali Jaga.

Although Hidayah is not at home as he is working in Balikpapan, Kalimantan, his parents were so happy to recieve us as their guests. Hidayah was also hoping we visited his parents. We had a good time zikir at the house. May Allah bless them for their hospitality and kindness.

Pic of Hidayah father

masjid Agung, Demak by Firdays jr

Interior of Masjid Agung

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Maqam of Habib Hasyim bin Yahya

Alhamdulilah, we managed to visit the maqam of Habib Hasyim bin Yahya, the father of Habib Lutfi bin Yahya, pekalongan. The maqam is located near to Habib Ahmad al Attas "Paku Pekalongan".

pic by Firdaus jr

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Habib Ibrahim al Haddad, Solo

This is the picture of Habib Noh al Haddad grandfather, Habib Ibrahim al Haddad, Solo. may Allah bless him

Pic by Firdaus jr

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Mawlid "Simtur Duror" at Pekalongan

Alhamdulilah, we had mawlid right after the ziyarah and riyadah session. It was held within the pesantren area. It was very beautiful singing and recitation of the Mawlid "Simtur Duror" or known as Mawlid al Habsyi. We joined the chorus during the Mawlid "Qiyam". The voice of salutions make us longing for the Beloved Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. We are unable to describe the feeling of the majlis itself as we lost in the ocean of love towards our beloved Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.

Both pic by Nash Faqirullah and Firdaus jr

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Maqam Shaykh Abdullah al Khan

This is the maqam of Shaykh Abdullah al khan, inside the pondok Pesantren At Taufiqy, Pekalongan. Shaykh Abdullah wrote the manaqib of the Imamul Tariqa Khawaja Shah Bahauddin Naqshband q.s According to some historical sources, he is the descendant of Kurdish Ulama and sufi scholar. There are some history indicated he is an ahlul bayt. He was instructed by his murshid to travel to South East Asia to spread the teaching of the Naqshbandi tariqa in Java and other parts of South East Asia.

(some narration claimed he was from the kurdish area in Iraq while some argued, it was syria)

Although, there are many versions on the history of Tariqa in Java itself, we cant deny the contributions of Shaykh Abdullah al Khan. During his lifetime, the Naqshbandi Tariqa was spread rapidly from Java to Sumatra and other parts of South East Asia such as Singapore and Malaysia. He brought the spiritual culture of Central Asia and localized it through his beautiful teachings which fill with wisdoms. Until today, the Naqshbandi tariqa continue its tradition with the spiritual practices and propogating peace, love and tolerance within the society.

The routine of the students in the pondok would be the ziyarah to the Maqam of Shaykh Abdullah al Khan in the morning after their wirid.

Pic by Naqshandi.org ( From left: Shaykh Zakaria Bahgarib, Shaykh Mustafa, Shaykh Hisham Kabbani, Bapak Walid,Kiyai Taufiq and Kandin as Sufi)

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Another view of the Pondok Pesantren At-Taufiqy

This is near the entrance of the pondok, such beautiful school with spiritual vibes surrounding it.

pic by Firdaus jr
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Pondok Pesantren At-Taufiqy

Pekalongan is one of the cities of Central Java or also known as "City of students" "Kota Santri". One of the Cities that consist of many Pondok Pesantren, producing religious students and the batik printing.

One of the Pesantren we managed to visit during our last Wali Songo tour was the Pondok Pesantren At Taufiqy. We are fortunate to have the chance to meet the Principal Kiyai Taufik. He is the murid of Mawlana Shaykh Nazim Adil Haqqani. There were more than hundred students in this pondok studying in the tradtional islam methodology from different sciences such as Quran, Hadith, Arabic, Nahu, tassawuf, tauhid and many more.

We slept in the pondok for 1 day and the feeling was amazing. The atmosphere of the surrounding was indeed tranquility.After the prayer subuh, the students read their wirid with such smoothing intensity as the vibration of the rememberance make us focus upon Our Lord Himself. When the sun begin to rise, its a routine for the students to Ziyarah the maqam in the pondok. There is Shaykh Abdullah al Khan maqam. He wrote the manaqib of Shah Naqshband q.s. (Check out next posting on this Sufi Scholars)

While we were doing the ziyarah, the students were also doing the same routine like us. Then we had Mawlid Simtur Duror performed by the students. It was one of the spiritual experience we ever have in our life. There was a question and answer session between the students, Shaykh Zakaria Bahgarib and Kiyai Taufik. When the session end, we proceed with the breakfast, we had the local food, it was spicy, nice and delicious. It was around 10am when left the pondok heading towards Demak for our next Ziyarah destination.

pic: Khalid Ajmain

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