Four days ago, in Serang, Banten, the 124th ceremonial to remember the death (haul) of Syaikh Muhammad Nawawi bin Umar bin Arabi al-Jawi al-Bantani was held. This annual ceremony was held in Friday 21 July and took place at an-Nawawi Tanara boarding school.
Many leaders were here like Joko Widodo as the president of republic Indonesia. The boarding school was led by KH Ma’ruf Amin; Rais ‘Aam PBNU, general chairman of MUI and great-grandson of Syaikh Nawawi.
For your information, Syaikh Nawawi was one of the Islamic scholars in the past whose career is bright in international level. He was chosen as high priest for Masjidil Haram in 19th century.
Although he wasn’t comeback and stay at Middle East till the death, but his contribution for Islamic discourse progress in Indonesia can’t be doubted.
In fact, most of his works were used at formal education such as Islamic high college for final paper and traditional Islamic education such as “pesantren” till now. His works also used in several Middle East country, Malaysia, Thailand, and South Philippine too.
Personality and His Works
Born in 1813 AD at Tanara village Banten, he was the first child from seven brothers. His father was a headman. From this figure, Nawawi gained basic knowledge about Islam such as Islamic Theology, Arabic Grammar, Koran Commentary, and Islamic Jurisprudence as has been written by Abdurrahman Mas’ud in his book: Dari Haramain ke Nusantara: Jejak Intelektual Arsitek Pesantren.
In 1828 AD, together with his brothers, the young Nawawi discharged his first pilgrimage to Mecca and stayed for three years. Seemingly, Mecca’s intellectual condition at that time was attracted him so he decided to move after his homecoming.
He moved off once more and settled in Mecca till his death. Syaikh Nawawi passed away at 1897 AD and his corpse was buried at Ma’la close to the Siti Asma’s grave; daughter of Abu Bakar ash-Shiddiq.
Snouck Hurgronje, Dutch orientalist who meet him directly and engaged in long discussion with him, telling us lots story of his daily life and his social interactions–include lecture activities and Nawawi’s family.
He said that Syaikh Nawawi always gives lectures in his spare times. Yet, during several years (approximately for 15 years later), his writing activities has no longer to allowed him for teaching in long period.
In daily life he was an ordinary and humble person. Once upon a time, Snouck doubted it until he followed Nawawi’s activities. Although it was just for scholarship honor, Snouck said that he accepts every hand kissing from Java people in Mecca without denial on it. He was also kind to respond and answer any questions about religious terms from every people.
Although he has broad knowledge about religion studies, he was never showed it off. In daily conversation or discussion he took some distance so he wouldn’t dominate the other. Thus a scientific discussion will not start if there are no people wanted to do it.
If there is a stranger who doesn’t recognize him and spends the night at his house for several days, maybe he will not realize that Muhammad Nawawi is a Moslem scholar who write dozens of scientific works in Arabic language.
His busy life as grand teacher and writer makes his spouse engaged in some pretty important trades. Therefore, his wife could serve the good dishes for his guests in feast day. His spouse was more realistic rather than him and took an important place on family.
Because of his wife’s effort, Syaikh Nawawi was reluctant to take another woman as his second wife. Although his wife is took an important role in his family, Syaikh Nawawi once had a job several times ago. “However he once had a job as a hajj servant few years ago” said Snouck.
Syaikh Nawawi was a productive intellectual who wrote many scientific works in Arabic language. At least he wrote (approximately) thirty four works in various disciplines of Islamic knowledge.
In 1886 AD he finished his great work about Koran commentary entitled “Marah Labid” or “Tafsir al-Munir” that makes him called Sayyid Ulama Hijaz (The leader of Hijazian scholars). A good name gifted by Egypt intellectual community for his dedication on Islamic science.
His Anti-colonialism Attitude
The ongoing intellectual chains between Nusantara and Middle East at that time caused lots of people from “tanah air”–not to mention Indonesia because this name was just recently used in the beginning of 20th century–set off to Mecca for studying religion.
In fact, this connection not only forming an intellectual transmission but also forming a political view. Student arrival in Arabic land brings lots of news from homeland about colonization progress.
Although we can’t find Muhammad Nawawi’s statement explicitly about his anti-colonialism attitude inside all of his works, we still can find it is traces clearly when peasant revolt explodes in Banten at 1888 AD.
Zamakhsyari Dhofier wrote that lots of Nawawi’s students take a big role in anti-colonialism propaganda when they back to their homeland. Islam could support for resistance against invaders.
Also we can find it in 1945 AD when K.H. Hasyim Asy’ari Tebuireng–one of Syaikh Nawawi’s students both former of social organization Nahdlatul Ulama–declaring jihad resolution against colonialism.
Even Syaikh Nawawi doesn’t want to take a big role, he still played as an important actor in this, using the terms of Zamakhsyari Dhofier, “one of proto-nationalism awareness”. Snouck Hurgronje admits that his personality has very deep and wide impact towards his students.
Not surprisingly if this man would be pleased to hear the suffer of Dutch’s forces in Aceh war. In some personal discussion he was disagree with retired employee who argues that Java district must be ordered by Europeans as has been written by Karel A. Steenbrink on his translated book: Beberapa Aspek Tentang Islam di Indonesia Abad ke-19.
Similar comment is also shown by Snouck Hurgronje. On his book he said: “The resurrection of the Banten Sultanate, or of an independent Moslem state, in any other form, would be acclaimed by him joyously whether or not the insurrection followed according to the Holy Law or took the form of undisciplined fanatical bands”
