Fatimah Al-Falimbani: Female Scholar of Hadith from Palembang, Teacher of the Great Scholars of the archipelago

 

Fatimah Al-Falimbani: Female Scholar of Hadith from Palembang, Teacher of the Great Scholars of the archipelago

Behind the big names of male scholars, there is a female scholar who also has a big role in the transmission of knowledge, especially in the field of hadith. She is Shaikhoh Fatimah al-Falimbani.

The 19th century AD was the time of success for the educated people of the archipelago in Haramain (Makkah-Madinah). Names such as Shaikh Nawawi al-Bantani, Shaikh Ahmad Khatib al-Minangkabawi, Shaikh Mahfudz at-Tarmasi, Shaikh Abdusshamad al-Falimbani, Shaikh Yasin al-Fadani are a series of big names from the archipelago that have an important role in the transmission of knowledge in Haramain at that time. Shaykh Nawawi al-Bantani became the head of Hijaz scholars (sayyid ulama Hijaz), Shaykh Ahmad Khatib al-Minangkabawi was elevated to be the imam of the Haram Mosque as well as the mufti of the Syafi'i School.

Behind the big names of the male scholars, it turns out that there is a female scholar who also has a big role in the transmission of knowledge, especially in the field of hadith. She is Shaikhoh Fatimah al-Falimbani, the daughter of Shaikh Abdusshamad al-Falimbani. His scholarly track record and biography are indeed very difficult to trace, but his name was recorded and documented by Shaikh Yasin Isa al-Fadani, a scholar from the archipelago who is an expert in the field of sanad. The record of the chain of knowledge compiled by Sheikh Yasin bin Isa al-Fadani in his book al-'Iqd al-Farid al-Asanid, shows the name of a female scholar from the archipelago who shines among the names of male scholars.

In his book, Shaykh Yasin al-Fadani explains that the sanad of his Sahih Bukhari comes from: (1) Shaykh Abdul Karim bin Ahmad Khatib bin Abdil Lathif bin Muhammad Ali bin Ahmad al-Minangkabawi; he received from: (2). Al-Allamah as-Shaikh Ahmad bin Abdil Latif al-Khatib al-Minangkabawi; where he studied to: (3). Sheikh Nawawi bin Umar al-Bantani al-Jawi. The great teacher of the Nusantara scholars received from: (4.) Shaikhah Fatimah binti Abdusshamad al-Falimbani; he received from his father, namely (5). Sheikh Abdusshamad bin Abdirrahman al-Falimbani; he received from: (6). As-Shaikh 'Aqib bin Hasanuddin bin Ja'far al-Falimbani; he received from his teacher, where his teacher also received this sanad from his teacher and so on or connected with the scholars of the Middle East to the author of the bookSahih Bukhari , namely Imam Bukhari.

Shaikhah Fatimah's name is indeed listed in Shaikh Yasin's book, but there is no clear information about what year she was born, and what year she died and how her life went. However, Mal An Abdullah in Shaykh Abdus-Samad Al-Falimbani: Biography and Scholarly Heritage, gives a little insight into how Fatimah al-Falimbani inherited knowledge from her father. And it turns out, since she was a child, Fatimah had received direct guidance from Sheikh Abdusshamad in various fields of science, until she became a female scholar and mastered the field of hadith. For that reason, after Shaykh Abdusshamad died, it was Fatimah who continued her father's scholarly activities, and many Jawi students later had the opportunity to learn from her, one of whom was Shaykh Nawawi al-Bantani.

In Shaykh Yasin al-Fadani's account, Shaykh Nawawi received a number of book degrees from Shaykh Abdusshamad al-Falimbani. And perhaps, the graduation is general, so that after the death of Shaykh Abdusshamad, Shaykh Nawawi then studied it again through two direct students of Shaykh Abdusshamad from Palembang, namely Shaykh Mahmud Kanang al-Falimbani and Shaikhoh Fatimah binti Abdusshamad al-Falimbani. Besides Shaykh Nawawi al-Bantani, another great scholar of the archipelago who is said to have studied with Shaykh Fatimah al-Falimbani is Shaykh Mahfudz at-Tarmasi.

The ulema of Shaikhoh Fatimah al-Falimbani was also mentioned by Shafiyya Idris Fallati from the University of Jordan. In his research titled " The Role of Women in Preserving the Book of Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim From the 4th Century to 14 AH ". Shafiyya explained that there were three female hadith scholars in the 14th century H/19 AD: First , Shaikhah Ummatullah al-Dahlawi from India; Second , Syaikhah Fatimah binti Abd Shamad comes from Palembang-Indonesia; Third , Sheikha Fatimah bin Ya'qub is from Makkah.

Although the biography of a female scholar named Fatimah al-Falimbani is still a mystery, there are some of her works that are proof of her scholarship. Among them, al-Faharis al-Qo'imah fi Asanid Fatimah . A book that contains a collection of isnads and a list of Shaikhoh Fatimah's teachers. According to Habib Salim bin Jindan in the manuscript he compiled, namely Rawdhat al-Wildan fi Tsabat ibn Jindan, the isnad collection was detected by Fatimah in her own home, namely in Makkah to her student named Abdul Ghani al-Asyi. Besides al-Faharis al-Qo'imah, another work by Fatimah al-Falimbani is Faidhol Ihsani wa Midadal Rabbani fi Manaqibi Shaikh Abdusshamad al-Falimbani.

The book of Shaykh Fatimah's legacy is one of the proofs of her ulema. In addition, his legacy in the form of records of transmission of knowledge or records of scientific chains and lists of names of his teachers, is evidence of the importance of a person's scientific chain, especially in the field of hadith. In addition to showing one's scientific credibility, scientific transmission can also provide information that is rarely known to many people.

Therefore, every scholar usually records the scientific chain he received. So that it is clear who the teacher is, continued to the teacher, to the author of the book, to the Messenger of Allah. The scientific chain plays an important role, because the sanad is a kind of guarantee that the knowledge obtained comes from a credible religious authority holder, even connected to the Messenger of Allah. It is through the sanad that the knowledge gained does not come from just anyone. And this is what distinguishes the teachings of Islam with other sciences.

The existence of works left by Sheikhoh Fatimah is also proof that her figure does have many contributions in the scientific world. However, his track record is indeed marginalized in the historical records of the nation's civilization.

Shaikhoh Fatimah is a portrait of a woman who is willing to work hard to deepen the science of hadith, which is considered by some circles to be a very complicated science. But thanks to the support of his father, Sheikh Abdusshamad al-Falimbani who is a mujahid, mursyid, Sufi, and prolific writer. Fatimah Al-Falimbani became a very famous female scholar in the holy land, female scholar of hadith, and printer of the great scholars of the archipelago and many scholars who took knowledge from her.

From Shaykh Fatima al-Falimbani, we can learn that women can also become great scholars. Have the capacity to explore a scientific field, both in the field of religion and others. Its presence is able to give birth to superior generations in the future. And his presence is not as a competitor for male scholars, but as a partner in building civilization and disseminating knowledge and Islamic da'wah.