Semarang, the Inspiration of Nusantara Islam and Progressive Islam

 

Semarang, the Inspiration of Nusantara Islam and Progressive Islam

Ahmad Dahlan Tremas (+1862-1911): His teacher was the Falak clerics, he was also the teacher of the founder of the Muhammadiyah organization, and the father of the founder of the first NU in Bali.

Kiai Haji Ahmad Dahlan Tremas – also known as "as-Samarani" (who lives in Semarang). He is one of the scholars of astronomy who is descended from the founder of the Tremas Islamic Boarding School, Pacitan, East Java. KH students. Saleh Darat Semarang is known as the author of astronomy books entitled Tadzkiratul Ikhwan fi Ba'dli Tawarikhi wal A'malil Falakiyati, Bulughul Wathar and Natijatul Miqat.

Kiai Ahmad Dahlan was born in Tremas, Pacitan, around 1279 H/1862 to KH. Abdullah bin KH. Abdul Mannan Dipomenggolo and Nyai Siti Aminah. His grandfather, KH. Abdul Manan Dipomenggolo (died 1862), was the founder of the Tremas Islamic Boarding School, Pacitan, in 1830. While his father, KH. Abdullah, continued the leadership of the pesantren from 1862 until his death in Mecca in 1894.

He escorted his four sons, Mahfuzh, Ahmad Dahlan, Dimyathi and Abdurrozak, on the Hajj and studied for many years in Mecca. Except for Sheikh Mahfuzh Tremas, they returned to the country at the end of 1896. Kiai Abdullah's struggle was not in vain. All his sons became great scholars.

Sheikh Mahfudz Tremas (died 1920) was a famous teacher and scholar in Mecca. KH. Dimyathi became the successor to the leadership of the Tremas Islamic Boarding School. KH. Muhammad Bakri became a scholar of al-Quran science. KH. Abdurrozaq became a scholar and murshid of the Syadziliyah Order based in Tremas. While KH. Ahmad Dahlan himself became a celestial cleric.

Since childhood, Kiai Ahmad Dahlan first studied at his father's pesantren in Tremas, then went to Mecca to study with Hijaz scholars including his own elder brother, Sheikh Mahfuzh Tremas.

In the holy city he was close friends with Shaykh Muhammad Hasan Asy'ari from Bawean (died around 1921 in Pasuruan, East Java) who was also known as a astronomer scholar with his work Muntaha Nataijil Aqwal. The two of them then left for several areas in the Arabian Land and headed to Al-Azhar.

In Cairo, the two met two great scholars of the archipelago, namely Sheikh Jamil Djambek and Sheikh Ahmad Thahir Jalaluddin Al Azhar and specifically completed the book al-Mathla' as-Sa'id fi Hisabil Kawakib alar Rashdil Jadid , a master book of astronomy written by Sheikh Husein Zaid al-Mishri from the early 19th century.

After studying at the al-Azhar Kiai campus, Ahmad Dahlan Tremas left for Mecca and said goodbye to his brother to return to Java. Before leaving for home with Sheikh Hasan Asy'ari, he was given a message by his brother to stop by Darat, Semarang, to study with KH. Muhammad Saleh Darat.

While studying at the Pesantren Darat, Semarang, he became a favorite student, and was asked to help his teacher teach. Kiai Abu Bakar Kediri is one of his students, who always writes in the books he studies with the word "Syaikhani" which means KH. Saleh Darat and KH. Ahmad Dahlan Tremas.

Kiai Ahmad Dahlan Tremas teaches astronomy and has completed three astronomy books, namely Tadzkiratul Ikhwan fi Ba'dli Tawarikhi wal A'malil Falakiyati (completed in 1901), Natijatul Miqat and Bulughul Wathar (completed in 1903).

The Natijatu-l-Miqat book contains the use of rubu' mujayyab (traditional calculating tool designed with a quarter circle shape so that it forms a right angle) in determining the initial prayer time and Qibla direction. This book summarizes the thoughts of his teachers, such as Sheikh Husain Zaid of Egypt, Sheikh Abdurrahman bin Ahmad al-Misri, Sheikh Muhammad bin Yusuf al-Makki, to KH. Saleh Darat.

In 1930 this book was given a commentary (lecture) by Sheikh Ihsan Jampes Kediri (died 1952) in his book Tashrihul Ibarat . While the book Tadzkiratul Ikhwan fi Ba'dli Tawarikhi wal A'malil Falakiyati contains calculations of ijtima ' and eclipses with mabda' (calculation base) of Semarang city, using the haqiqi taqribi system .

A number of astronomy scholars refer to his book. Among them, KH. Abdul Jalil Hamid Kudus (died 1974) in his work Fathur Ra'uf al-Mannan, KH. Mohammad Wardan, an astronomer scholar of the Muhammadiyah organization in his work Hisab Haqiqi, and KH. Yunus Abdulloh Kediri, author of Risalatul Qamarain.

While the book Bulughul Wathar discusses the calculation of lunar eclipses and solar eclipses, using the haqiqi tahqiqi system . It is said that this book is referred to as the first astronomical reckoning book with the tahqiqi system written by Indonesian scholars. This book was written together with the book Muntaha Nataiji-l-Aqwal written by his friend, Sheikh Hasan Asy'ari Bawean. Both of these books refer to the book of al-Mathla 'as-Sa'id by Sheikh Husain Zaid al-Mishri.

The works of Kiai Ahmad Dahlan Tremas, Sheikh Hasan Asy'ari Bawean and Kiai Saleh Darat influenced the development of astronomy, and opened up the dynamics of astronomy in the world of Islamic boarding school science.

They have the awareness to perpetuate their science discipline in the form of a monumental work so that it can be read and used by generations of astronomy enthusiasts in the future.

With their works, the future of astronomy will remain bright in Indonesia, and will not subside.

Kiai Ahmad Dahlan married Nyai Umm Kulsum Semarang for the first time, and was blessed with a son named Ahmad (1899-1976). His son, known as KH. Ahmad al-Hadi– later became a well-known cleric in Bali, founder of a pesantren in Kampung Timur Sungai, Jembrana, in 1930 and the founder of the first NU in Loloan, Negara, Bali, in 1934.

After Kiai Saleh Darat died in 1903, Kiai Ahmad Dahlan continued his teacher's struggle in nurturing the Pesantren Darat for more than eight years.

The brilliance and light of Ahmad Dahlan Tremas, who resided in Semarang, radiated everywhere, a small light that was immortalized by subsequent Islamic fighters. Another figure that can be mentioned is the founder of Persyarikatan Muhammadiyah, KH. Ahmad Dahlan, also taught to these two great scholars. While studying in Semarang, Kiai Ahmad Dahlan still used the name H. Muhammad Darwis. After returning to Yogyakarta, he then changed his name to KH. Ahmad Dahlan - following the name of his teacher.

It is no exaggeration to say that Semarang is the inspiration of Nusantara Islam and Progressive Islam.