KH Zainal Mustafa, Kiai of the Resistance from Singaparna (Part 1)

KH Zainal Mustafa, Kiai of the Resistance from Singaparna (Part 1)

He was an ordinary person, studied at a boarding school and eventually gained recognition as a national hero. Who is this figure?

First name KH. Zainal Mustafa is Umri, and is sometimes called Hudaemi. Regarding the date, month, and year of birth there is no valid information. Some say 1901, some say 1899. His father was Nawapi, a Muslim farmer in Bageur-Cimerah Village, Singaparna, Tasikmalaya, West Java. While his mother named Ratmah, a housewife.

Umri began to seriously study Islamic sciences at the Gunung Pari Islamic Boarding School led by Ajengan Zainal Mukhsin. Umri's study habits moved as usual as a wandering student. 

After 7 years at Gunung Pari, Umri studied at the Jamais Islamic Boarding School, then continued to the Sukaraja Islamic Boarding School, Garut. After that proceed to the Sukamisikin Islamic Boarding School, Bandung. At this boarding school Umri changed her name to Hudaemi.

From Sukamiskin, Hudaemi returned to Tasikmalaya and studied at Kyai Muttaqien at the Cilenga Islamic Boarding School, Singaparna. His outstanding intelligence made him trusted as Kiai Muttaqien's assistant. Hudaemi had the desire to one day be able to establish and manage a pesantren. His wish was later realized. 

In 1927 a pesantren was established in Bageur Village, Cikembang Girang, Cimerah Village, Singaparna. Initially the pesantren had three cottages, and later it grew to six. In 1937 Hudaemi also performed the pilgrimage. At this moment he changed his name to Zainal Mustafa.

Subhan SD in the book Opposan Ulamas stated that after returning from Mecca, KH Zainal Mustafa carried out scientific activities, including translating the Qur'an and other books into Sundanese. 

Even so for his students, KH Zainal Mustafa still requires Arabic as the main language studied in studying Islamic sciences. In his pesantren, he was also taught the history of Indonesia with the material of love and defense of the country. Because of this move, KH Zainal Mustafa was supervised by the colonial intelligence police ( Politieke Inlichtingen Dienst) , and he knew about this. The principle he holds is hubbul waton minal faith; patriotism is part of faith.  

Imprisoned by the Dutch and Rejecting the Seikerei

KH. Zainal Mustafa is a member of the traditional Islamic organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU). The position entrusted as the Syuriah Representative of NU Tasikmalaya. At that time, NU was an Islamic organization that dared to be critical and criticized several policies of the Dutch East Indies colonial government.

Likewise with KH Zainal Mustafa. He once criticized the Teacher Ordinance of 1925. Other colonial government regulations such as the authority to register marriage and inheritance by the Landraad (Colonial Court), the Bumiputera Militia program (Indische Werbaar), and Article 177 and Article 178 of the Indische Staatreegeling regarding the privileges granted to Christians, also did not escape criticism and criticism.

The colonial government was clearly annoyed by these criticisms. On November 17, 1941 KH. 

Zainal Mustafa is with KH. Ruchiyat, KH. Sirodj, Hambali, and Syafii were arrested and put in the Tasikmalaya prison, then transferred to the Sukamiskin prison, Bandung. 

Even though he was later released, he still criticized the colonial government. As a result, together with KH. Rukhiyat, he was arrested again in February 1942, and held in the Ciamis prison.

The political situation is changing rapidly. On March 8, 1942, the Dutch East Indies colonial government surrendered unconditionally to the Japanese troops in Kalijati, Subang, West Java. The next ruler in Indonesia is Japan. 

On March 31, 1942, Japan released all political prisoners previously held by the Dutch, including KH. Zainal Mustafa. Japan seemed eager to cooperate with him and other kiai in Tasikmalaya and the East Priangan region. But KH Zainal Mustafa was not interested in the invitation and wanted to take care of the pesantren.

He refused to cooperate because of the Seikerei stipulation, namely the attitude of bowing to the east in the morning as a tribute to the Emperor of Japan (Tenno Haika ). Seikerei movement is similar to bowing in prayer. Not only as a tribute, Seikerei is also an acknowledgment that the Emperor of Japan is a descendant of the “Sun God” (Ameterasu). In the teachings of Islam that action means polytheism.

The Japanese tried to seduce KH Zainal Mustafa with the position of a member of the Sandenbu (Propaganda Agency) in East Priangan. This offer was rejected. Because of this rigidity, Japan placed a secret police (Kenpeitai) to oversee the activities of the Sukamanah Islamic Boarding School and KH Zainal Mustafa.

Another thing that made him hate Japan was the cruel action against the Indonesian people. The Japanese food agency, called Kumiai, went beyond the limits by seizing almost all crops and food belonging to the people. As a result, the worst famine in history occurred in almost rural communities. 

The students were also affected because they could no longer carry provisions because the rice supplies at their parents' homes had been looted by the Japanese, or the supplies were confiscated at the Japanese checkpoint in Kudang, Singaparna.

Aiko kurawa in Mobilization and Control; The study of Rural Social Change in Java from 1942 to 945, citing Sjarif Hidajat stated, KH Zainal Mustafa's anger towards Japan began to emerge not long after the 16th Imperial Japanese Army occupied Java and formed a military government. Mentioned in 1943 KH Zainal Mustafa secretly made preparations for resistance. To this end, contacts have been made with several pesantren in Tasikmalaya. 

In addition, relations with the PETA battalion unit (Defenders of the Homeland) led by Daidancho Maskun were also carried out. This last name is said to have a close relationship with the Sukamanah Islamic Boarding School led by KH Zainal Mustafa. Daidanco Maskun promised that he and his men would come to Sukamanah/Cimerah to provide military training for the students. Apparently the relationship and the plan was smelled by the Japanese. Not long after, the PETA army unit was moved to the southern part of the Tasikmalaya region. 

KH Zainal Mustafa knew exactly that the Japanese had been and were always watching him and even threatening him. Even so, loud voices were still directed at Japan. He and the students are ready with all possibilities. The preparations made are to form a line of students and the people to protect the pesantren area. The number is 509 people.