Abah Anom's Silent Tips

 

Abah Anom's Silent Tips

The walker of the path of light never spends his time cursing the darkness. The saints and Sufis slip into a silent world, even though their physical bodies are in the middle of the expanse of life, in the midst of the hustle and bustle of society. The kiai 'alim and Sufis, who are the references of the residents, are often silent, meditating in the crowd, contemplating amidst the jungle of laughter and complaints.

The respected teacher of these wisdom seekers was named KH Ahmad Shohibulwafa Tajul Arifin. He was known as Abah Anom, born in Suryalaya, January 1, 1915. His father was Sheikh Abdullah bin Nur Muhammad, and his mother was Nyai Hj. Juhriyah. His extended family is the caretaker of the Suryalaya Islamic boarding school, Tasikmalaya, West Java.

Abah Anom's long journey on the path of knowledge started from his family's boarding school. He was educated by his father, who taught students from all over the archipelago. In 1923-1928, Abah Anom studied at the Verflog School (Elementary School) in Ciamis. Two years later, in 1930, Abah Anom recited the Koran at the Cicariang Islamic boarding school, Cianjur. Then, he continued his odyssey to the Jambudipa Islamic Boarding School in Cianjur to study fiqh, nahwu, sharaf and balaghoh. Two years later, Abah Anom went to the Gentur Cianjur Islamic boarding school, took blessings and recited the Koran with Ajengan Syatibi. He continued his lonely path as a wandering santri, heading to the Cireungas Islamic Boarding School in Cimelati, Sukabumi, in 1935-1937.

Under the guidance of Ajengan Aceng Mumu, the caretaker of the Cireungas Islamic Boarding School, Abah Anom received inner and outer forging, knowledge and wisdom. At this pesantren, Abah Anom experienced various challenges that later made him firm in preaching and teaching students. Ajengan Aceng Mumu is a silat expert scholar and teacher of wisdom. At a young age, Abah Anom was trusted to be the Deputy of Talqin Abah Sepuh.

Abah Anom has been interested in studying Kanuragan and silat since he was introduced by Ajengan Aceng Mumu. Later, he deepened by learning from a martial arts expert and 'alim, Shaikh Haji Junaedi at Pesantren Citengah, Panjalu. The long journey of studying with some scholars in West Java did not immediately make Abah Anom stop studying, he continued his steps by walking down the path of wisdom as an itinerant santri.

Silent Wanderer  

To increase inner sensitivity, Abah Anom conducts riyadhah and visits to the graves of the saints while reciting the Koran at the Kaliwungu Kendal Islamic boarding school, Central Java. His father, Abah Sepuh ordered a long pilgrimage to the graves of the saints. He also carried out this kind of Riyadhah up to Bangkalan, Madura, with his older brother, HA Dahlan and Kiai Pakih (Talaga, Majalengka) who became Abah Sepuh's representatives.

Abah Anom married at the age of 32 years, around 1938, with Euis Siti Ru'yanah. This marriage, also did not make Abah Anom stop studying. Shortly after marriage, Abah Anom continued his adventure to the holy land, making pilgrimages and performing Hajj in Mecca - Medina. In the Hijaz, Abah Anom studied various sciences: interpretation, hadith, fiqh, kalam , and tasawuf . In his odyssey of knowledge and along the embankments of wisdom, Abah Anom followed and confirmed the Tariqah Qadiriyah Naqsyabandiyah (TQN).

Abah Anom became the backbone of the development of the Suryalaya Islamic boarding school. When his father, Abah Sepuh died in 1956, he replaced the role of teaching santri and became a community reference. Abah Anom developed a pesantren with religious knowledge, light of wisdom and community development. He is engaged in initiating the construction of irrigation for agriculture, making electric waterwheels, and various innovations to improve the people's economy. When there was a dispute between the Republican government and Darul Islam/Indonesian Islamic Army (DI/TII), Abah Anom did not remain silent. He defended the republic's fighters to uphold independence.

In the notes of Asep Salahudin ( Abah Anom, Phenomenal Guardian of the 21st Century and His Teachings, 2013 ), Abah Anom throughout his life not only continued to establish friendships with anyone regardless of origins and schools of thought used. Abah Anom communicates across cultures, ideologies and views humans with love, with compassion. When he was old, Abah Anom remained faithful to pour out pearls of wisdom and blessings, even when he had to stay in a wheelchair.

“Almost every morning, including Sundays and Fridays, after Fajr, with patience, calm and hope, hundreds of people—men, women, old, young, children—sit on the veranda, a building in the middle of the Suryalaya Islamic Boarding School complex. . Often they have to stand in a line that extends to the gate of the pesantren. They were waiting for the shiny, yellowish-brown building door to open. There, Abah Anom lived all his life,” (Salahudin, 2013: 2).

“I often see him listening more than speaking; more still than moving. Pangersa listens more often to complaints, vents and complaints of his guests. Its state is like an ocean, immediately containing whatever comes and falls to it. Complaints, complaints, wishes or requests are always accepted with an open heart, without ripples, without waves," wrote the dean of IALM Suryalana (Salahudin, 2013: 8).

In a morning lecture, Abah Anom taught beauty tips.

"Let's take care of our words and actions to be safe, now let's use it so that we can save our steps, save our lives, save our business, save our lives, save our lives, save our relatives, save our parents, save everyone. In the end, there are no obstacles in any behavior, God willing, he will be happy in the next world. God is able from the past to the present and the existence of His essence is eternal."

(Let's keep our words and actions safe. Now, let's use (the words and actions) to be safe ourselves. Good luck with the steps, movements, business; congratulations on the treatment, relatives, parents, and congratulations all. So, finally we do not encounter obstacles in all activities. God willing, the way of happiness in the world and the hereafter will open. God is very powerful for that, from the past until now because He is eternal forever).

Abah Anom is known as a generous scholar. He always gives food to all the guests who come to his house. Every day, hundreds of guests visit his ndalem to gather, recite the Koran or ask for advice on the wisdom of healing all heartaches. When night falls, Abah Anom's entire time is dedicated only to Allah, the Most Loving. Abah Anom completed wirid, worshiped and prayed. Every night, at around two o'clock in the evening, Abah Anom wakes up, immediately takes a repentance bath, prays and completes wirid until dawn. Then, he performed the ishraq prayer, then began to receive guests," said Abah Anom's first grandson, Witri N Pertiwi, as written by Salahudin (2013: 17).

In the book Miftahush Shudur , by Pangersa Abah Anom, it begins with a quote from Shaykh Abdul Qadir al-Jilani. "When someone in need comes to you, don't start with knowledge. But, start with tenderness and compassion. Because knowledge makes him feel foreign to you and affection makes him familiar with you.

In a piece of advice, as noted by Salahudin (2013: 23) Abah Anom revealed:

"Don't want to get ahead of the will of God and His Messenger, the result of which is that we forget to give, we forget to ask, we are too lazy to come to calamities, we are ready to come to favors and we don't remember. The pleasure of the one who rolled the tea, it doesn't penetrate to give the pleasure. Why? I do not remember God. There is a limit to the recipe. Those who have love for their children, love for their wives, love for their possessions. But, consume a lot of money. What is the result? Feelings of arrogance, excitement, joy, finally the end of time,"

(Don't get ahead of the will of God and His Messenger so that we forget about the Giver, forget about the All-Willing. Let it not be when we are struck by misfortune, even when we receive many favors, we often forget. It is always the pleasure that we think about, not remembering the Giver. Why? Because we are not used to remembering God. Love has its limits. We should have love for our children, wife, and possessions. But, that love consumes our love for Him. So, what are the consequences? The self is dominated by arrogance, arrogance, hypocrisy and finally likes to waste time).

The entire narrative of Abah Anom's life story completes the wisdom and lesson of how devotion is at the core of his life. Abah Anom initiated the rehabilitation of drug addicts, campuses, and integrated educational institutions. He not only teaches knowledge, but also moves in society with a gentle heart, and a concrete movement in serving. Abah Anom died on September 5, 2011, after serving for decades serving the people with love and devotion. Alfaatihah, may your message of love remain eternal, O Wali Allah, O Shaykh Shahibulwafa Tajul Arifin.