Obituary: Habib Munzir

 

Obituary: Habib Munzir

I got to know Habib Munzir around the end of 1998. At that time he had just returned to his homeland after spending several years in Hadramawt. At that time, the haba'ib and kyai in Java were stunned by the return of approximately 40 Indonesian children who had just returned from Hadramawt.

The 40 youths are students of Habib Umar bin Hafidh, a young cleric (born 1962) whose name is skyrocketing. Habib Umar was first known in Indonesia in 1993, when he came to Java at the invitation of Habib Anis al-Habsyi Solo.

During the visit, many haba'ib and kyai admired Habib Umar's knowledge and rhetorical skills. Finally, after about a month in Indonesia, Habib Umar returned to Hadramawt with 40 students, one of whom was Habib Munzir.

At that time, the situation in Hadramawt was lacking. South Yemen has just united with North Yemen. Many people hope. After more than 2 decades under the communist regime, South Yemen finally tasted freedom again. The madrasahs that were previously forcibly closed by the communist regime are now open again. Under the communist regime, many scholars were killed and kidnapped, one of whom was Habib Umar's father, Muhammad b. Salim bin Hafidh. After the reunification of Yemen, the scholars who were previously expelled from their homeland, are now re-invigorating scientific assemblies in Hadramawt.

The youths, like Habib Umar who had anxiety, were finally able to express their knowledge and religion freely. They want to return the religious spirit that is peaceful, tolerant, based on Ahlus Sunnah wal Jama'ah and Sufism to Hadramawt.

At the same time, they faced the Salafis who were then used by the North Yemeni government to undermine South Yemen. So, for scholars including Habib Umar, the challenge is how to rebuild a peaceful religious life. How to maintain the understanding of Ahlus Sunnah wal Jama'ah (asawaja) in the midst of salafi undermining and the remnants of communism in South Yemen.

So in such a context, traditional educational institutions, such as Rubat Tarim, which had been closed for a long time, were reopened. That was the context of Hadramawt when Habib Umar returned with 40 Indonesian youth.

As an unknown person, Habib Umar did not have a madrasa or pesantren. He had to educate the 40 children himself. So rented the house where the 40 children lived. Every day Habib Umar taught them the knowledge and practice of cleansing the heart. There are no formal institutions, no teaching assistants, no luxuries. The 40 children were forged and raised directly by Habib Umar.

The religious spirit boomed above the pile of dark history of the communist regime. The religious spirit is strengthened, to face the ex-Afghanistan salafi group supported by the North Yemeni government. So lucky for these 40 youths, they were raised and educated with enthusiasm and optimism for a brighter future.

Less than a year after 40 Indonesian children in Hadramawt, a civil war broke out between South and North Yemen. Habib Umar felt responsible to protect the 40 children who had been entrusted to him by their parents.

The situation is very bad. Power failure. No food. The 40 children were forced to eat bread with chili sauce. Life in the battlefield is very difficult.

But in the midst of misery, the teacher still teaches them the pillars of aswaja. Cleanse their souls with all dhikr. Until finally the war ended and returned to Indonesia in 1998. It was these 40 Indonesian children who became the embryo for the formation of the Dar al-Mustafa Islamic boarding school, which is currently being nurtured by Habib Umar.

Today, the Dar al-Mustafa Islamic boarding school is one of the favorite destinations for students from all over the world, including the US and the UK. No one thought that a visit to Solo in 1993 would lead to the establishment of one of the world's traditional centers of Islamic scholarship.

When the 40 youths returned to Indonesia, they immediately occupied prestigious positions in the da'wah and science movement. Most of them are children of influential Haba'ib/Kyai. When they return, they become leaders in their respective institutions. Some of them were taken by the influential Haba'ib/Kyai's son-in-law.

Habib Munzir is a unique case. He is not a scholar. His father is a journalist who graduated from New York University. He does not have a boarding school and has no shelter. The first few years, Sayyid Alawi al-Aydarus asked him to take care of the taklim assembly in Cipayung. But it seems that Habib Munzir has anxiety . It's like he doesn't have a place to work.

Prestigious places in the da'wah movement and institutions have been filled by their respective family members. A habib without a strong cleric like himself seemed to be pushed aside by those who already had a solid place. The reality is so much happening in Indonesia. An intelligent man returned to his homeland and did not get a place.

However, the reality of such da'wah, with its da'wah mafias, forms the figure of Habib Munzir who is ready to break the order of da'wah in Jakarta.

I remember him telling stories in his office in Tebet, "Dakwah is the duty of all of us, not only for the children of famous kyai & habib."

Finally, Habib Munzir left Cipayung and started teaching from house to house in the Pasar Minggu and Kalibata areas, South Jakarta. He built a small assembly without a place. Moving from one house to another. And finally a mosque in Pancoran opened its doors to Habib Munzir 's assembly . So the Prophet's Council was formed.

Something that was done seriously and painstakingly, finally paid off. Gradually his congregation increased.

Habib Munzir tried to open the door of da'wah so that various groups could join in, especially the youth of the capital. In preaching he tried to find a middle way and equality, rather than building hatred and enmity. To the extent, he prefers to use the book Sahih Bukhari in his recitation, because the book is accepted by all circles. He served as an anchor to the youth of the capital who was swayed in the midst of the swift currents of change in the capital.

Through the solidarity fostered in his assemblies, the youth of the capital who were previously confused about where to step, find meaning. Many of Habib Munzir 's followers do not come from the Nahdliyin (NU) background. Sometimes they often criticize him. But he patiently answered and smiled. He uses internet media to communicate with his followers.

For Habib Munzir , it seems that da'wah must pick up the ball. Ulama must be proactive in following the times and changing times. He told me how he was willing to follow the criticisms of some of his followers, so that they would still learn. In the figure of Habib Munzir , we find a da'i who is ready to obey the wishes of his ummah, as long as it is good, rather than always asking to be followed.

In the end, Habib Munzir taught us that da'wah does not belong to a handful of established individuals. Da'wah is a joint project. We all have to preach, not just the children of scholars and religious leaders. Young people who are not from the Islamic boarding school also participate. The young people of the capital, rich/poor, educated/uneducated, all can participate in guarding the banner of the Messenger of Allah.

Habib Munzir taught us that following the Beloved Saw does not mean we have to be harsh and intolerant. Precisely with gentleness, courtesy and with good character, we will be able to become ambassadors of the Beloved Saw for mankind.

I remember when there was a fuss over the Ahmadiyah issue, Habib Munzir asked his followers not to join in the anti-Ahmadiyyah demonstrations and riots. For him, the best way to deal with Ahmadiyah is to strengthen aqidah and amaliyah aswaja, not by reactionary means. Cultivate the community's love for the Beloved Saw, then everything will wake up and be neatly arranged. That seems to be Habib Munzir's formula . severing the ties of the ummah's love for the Beloved will destroy the ummah.

Finally, may God cover our hearts with love for the Beloved. May God reward Habib Munzir 's charity and hard work with the best reward. And hopefully we will all be reunited with the Beloved.

Those are my few memories about Habib Munzir. Once again, my condolences to all Muslims for this tragedy. I have not only lost a friend and relative. I lost a person I admired. That's all I can say about the figure of Habib Munzir . More or less sorry.

*) The author is a young Habib who is engaged in Sufism, philosophy, literature and music. He is currently completing his doctoral program in anthropology and history at the University of Michigan, USA.