KH. Zainal Mustafa, Kiai of the Resistance from Singaparna (Part-2)

 

KH. Zainal Mustafa, Kiai of the Resistance from Singaparna (Part-2)

He is like most Muslims. The difference is, he is diligent in studying religion and uses this religious understanding as a force to fight against the invaders when the revolution broke out. This understanding, of course, did not come suddenly. Since childhood, little Umri has a high interest in the religious sciences. At the age of 7, Umri studied at the Volksschool (People's School) and in the afternoon studied Tajweed, Nahwu, Shorof, Fiqh, Tawhid, and others at the madrasa. He wants to study at a boarding school someday. 

When she graduated from the People's School, Umri had memorized the Qur'an. Several years later, when he grew up and the Japanese came and began to colonize, he fought back.

Match on Friday

For KH Zainal Mustafa and his students, they acted like they would fight back if the Japanese attacked, even though they were aware that Japan was very strong and cruel. The main goal was not to defeat the Japanese, but to show that the Indonesian people would rise up and fight if they were always oppressed.

On February 23, 1944 Japan sent envoys to the pesantren. They threatened KH Zainal Mustafa, the students, and the villagers. The next day, February 24, Japan deployed Kempetai troops led by local officials who sided with Japan such as the Cakrawilaksana sub-district head, Sastramaun (Cimerah Village Head), Suhandi (scribe), and Muhri (Head of Punduh Village). They want to arrest KH Zainal Mustafa.

There were physical clashes with the students. The Japanese weapons were successfully captured, namely 12 rifles, 3 pistols, and 25 sharp weapons. The weapons were stored and not used. KH Zainal Mustafa is aware that Japan will definitely come again with greater strength.

On February 25, 1944, before the Friday prayer, KH Zainal Mustafa conveyed this, then gave freedom of choice if there were students who chose to resign or return to their respective villages. All students turned out to prefer to join the fight.

During the Friday sermon, the Japanese surrounded the pesantren and mosque. KH Zainal Mustafa asked the congregation to calm down and finish the Friday prayer. After that, he met the Kempeitai troops at Mount Bentang. A Japanese officer asked to speak in the mosque. But when he spoke, his tone was so arrogant that he threatened that KH Zainal Mustafa would be severely punished.

After that the Japanese officer persuaded again; KH Zainal Mustafa will not be punished as long as he wants forgiveness. The congregation was offended by the words of a Japanese officer, that if one Japanese died, a thousand Indonesians had to be redeemed. The atmosphere turned rowdy, and the Japanese were ready. At that moment KH Zainal Mustafa issued a resistance command. A fight broke out!

In a fight in the rice fields, three Japanese policemen were killed and one escaped. Seeing this, Japan was furious. Then 6 companies of soldiers were sent, and Sukamanah Village was surrounded from three directions; south, east and north. Towards Asr, the Japanese using armored vehicles tried to crash into the pesantren. They also deliberately forced some of the villagers to stand in the front row. 

This cunning method made the students hesitate because they were dealing with the people themselves. Seeing this, KH Zainal Mustafa ordered not to fight first.

The Japanese soldiers were held back because of the obstacles that were installed on the road. Meanwhile at the pesantren, a pile of stone barricades was made. In the midst of the boisterous gunfire, the students and villagers faced attacks with improvised weapons such as machetes, swords, machetes, pointed bamboo, and stones. A pu short-range duel ensued.

Because they lost their weapons, KH Zainal Mustafa and the students withdrew in the evening. The Japanese army then pushed into the pesantren. In-laws KH Zainal Mustafa, H. Syamsuddin, was killed by the Japanese in that place.

That same night, KH Zainal Mustafa, who withdrew to Cihaur Village, was arrested along with Kyai Najamuddin, Kyai Umar, Domon, A. Hidayat, and 27 students. From 26-29 February 1944 many villagers around the boarding school were arrested by the Japanese army. 

The Tasikmalaya prison was full, and KH Zainal Mustafa himself underwent an interrogation process for 3 months. The interrogation was carried out with severe tortures. After that, his whereabouts were not clear because KH Zainal Mustafa was transferred to Cipinang, Jakarta.

Politically, the repercussions of the outbreak of resistance made the Japanese military government (Gunseikan-bu) in Jakarta anxious for fear that such resistance would be imitated by other kyai. 

This is because at that time the Japanese Gunseikan-bu were actively making efforts to approach and attract the sympathy of Indonesian Muslims, especially traditional Muslims. The Japanese then removed the Head of Shumubu (Japan's Office/Ministry of Religion) who had a priyayi background, namely Prof. Dr. Hussein Djajadiningrat. In one version, it is considered a failure related to the outbreak of the KH Zainal Mustafa resistance. 

Henceforth, the position of Head of Shumubu or Shumubu-cho was entrusted to KH Hasjim Asj'arie, a charismatic kyai and leader of the Tebu Ireng Islamic Boarding School, Jombang, East Java. 

Not only Hussein Djajadiningrat who was dismissed. The Regent of Tasikmalaya, Raden TA Wiradipoetra, was also fired. Another official, Raden Otong Natakoesoema (Wedana Singaparna) received a strong warning. Meanwhile, the salary of the head of the Tasikmalaya Police Post was reduced by 10% until May 1944. 

There is an assessment that the appointment of KH Hasjim Asj'arie as Shumubu-cho, is nothing more than a veiled fear of Japan, which does not want a massive resistance from the Indonesian people and Muslims. 

If that happens, the heavier the burden will be. On the one hand, they (Japan) are dealing with the resistance of the Indonesian people and Muslims, and on the other hand they are also being pressured by the advance of the Allied forces in World War II in the Asia-Pacific.   

Until Indonesia's independence, KH Zainal Mustafa's whereabouts were still unclear. It was only in 1970 that information was obtained; KH Zainal Mustafa and the students were killed by the Japanese on October 25, 1944.

Then on March 23, 1970 the graves of the martyrs of the nation were found, namely in Ereveld Cemetery, Ancol, North Jakarta. His grave was then moved to Sukamanah Heroes Park, Tasikmalaya, in 1973. In recognition of his struggle, the government of the Republic of Indonesia awarded KH Zainal Mustafa as a National Hero.