Spiritual Ocean "Mbah Dullah"

Spiritual Ocean "Mbah Dullah"

People often call him Mbah Dullah. A Sufi figure on the north coast of Pati, Central Java. Live in complete simplicity, and infinite generosity. Mbah Dullah is a reference for all groups of people, all social strata of citizens, who want to get closer to peace, enjoy the vortex of their love. Mbah Dullah is a reference for santri, a reference for knowledge and clairvoyance for his students.

His real name is Abdullah Zayn bin Salam, he is the son of Kiai Abdussalam, a descendant of Sheikh Mutamakkin al-Hajaini. Kiai Abdullah Zayn is the uncle of Kiai Sahal Mahfudh, who was the Rais Syuriah of the Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board (PBNU) and General Chair of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI). In his teens, Kiai Sahal was raised and trained by Mbah Dullah.

Kiai Abdullah Salam has a sanad connected to the Messenger of Allah. In the story narrated by Gus Yahya C Staquf, the chain is coherent to the Bani Hasyim. Kiai Abdullah Salam's lineage was connected to Shaykh Mutamakkin. Kiai Abdullah Zain Salam bin Kiai Abdussalam bin KH Abdullah bin Nyai Mutirah bint Kiai Bunyamin bin Nyai Thoyyibah bint Kiai Muhammad Endro Kusumo bin Shaykh Ahmad Mutamakkin. Mbah Dullah also has blood ties to Shaykh Abdurrahman Basyaiban, known as Mbah Sambu Lasem.

Santri Tirakat

Since childhood, Kiai Abdullah Salam used to recite the Koran and stay away from his parents. This is the tirakat of students who are willing to be away from their families to experience the blessings of the teacher, seeking knowledge rights. At the age of seven, Kiai Abdussalam was accompanied by his older brother, Kiai Mahfudh Salam, to study the Koran in Sampang, Madura, to memorize the Qur'an. In the Sampang area, Kiai Abdullah recited the Koran to Kiai Said, who was the founder of the as-Sa'idiyyah Islamic boarding school in Sampang, Madura. While staying in Sampang, Kiai Abdullah Salam's older brother, Kiai Mahfudh Salam, waited for his younger brother for 2 weeks. In that short time, Kiai Mahfudh succeeded in completing the al-Qur'an bil-ghaib , a testament to how intelligent and strong his spirituality was.

It can be said that Kiai Mahfudh is the brother and parent of Kiai Abdullah Salam. Kiai Mahfudh educates strictly, as well as lovingly. It was so tight, on a dokar (horse carriage), he still sent his sister to keep reading the Koran. Kiai Abdullah Salam studied at the Mathaliul Falah Kajen Islamic Boarding School, as well as the Tebu Ireng Jombang Islamic Boarding School. After reciting the Koran with Kiai Said Madura, Kiai Abdullah Salam also continued to recite the Qiraat Sab'ah to Kiai Arwani Kudus. In the later period, Kiai Abdullah Salam also pledged allegiance to his teacher, Kiai Arwani, who became the symbol of Kiai Menara Kudus. Mbah Dullah's suluk behavior, started from the incarnation of prayer and spiritual training from various teachers.

Kyai Generous

Grandma Dullah is the figure of Kiai Dermawan. Although, if you look at the physical building of his house, it doesn't look like much. The boarding school where Mbah Dullah taught students, was originally just a bamboo structure - commonly called an angkruk, which stretched along the side of her residence. The house of Mbah Dullah is simple, which usually accommodates hundreds to thousands of pilgrims.

Mbah Dullah has regular recitations for the residents, which he expresses with great humility, as 'learning together'—his way of avoiding riya' and arrogance. Residents and students who recite the Koran are not only given an abundance of knowledge and blessings, but also eat together after the Koran.

The story of clairvoyance and the wisdom of Mbah Dullah Salam is legendary. Once upon a time, there was a guest who attended the recitation, and saw thousands of worshipers after the Koran being fed by Mbah Dullah. “All these people being fed? Don't you feel sorry for the kiai?" guest muttered.

Then, after the hustle and bustle of the recitation was over, the guest was invited by the host, Mbah Dullah to look into the kitchen of the house, to see the grain and sacks of rice piled up in the mountains. The guest couldn't help but stare, seeing how rich Mbah Dullah was. For Mbah Dullah, wealth is not to be shown in public, but only to be given to charity, to be interpreted for the benefit of the people.

Another story, there was a group of fishermen who wanted to ask for prayer and take Mbah Dullah's blessings. Fishermen are sad and depressed, because for days it is difficult to catch fish in the sea. The fisherman told Mbah Dullah all his worries, hoping to get some cool advice that would wash his soul.

"Have you ever sown seeds in the sea?" asked Mbah Dullah.

Suddenly, the fisherman was surprised and didn't feel any pain. "No, Kiai,"

"Yes," "Have you ever fed fish?" said Mbah Dullah.

"No, Kiai".

"Yes," Mbah Dullah entered the palace.

The stuttering fisherman could not speak, was speechless, gripped by a terrifying confusion. For ages fishermen have not received such questions. Fishermen are still very confused, asking for an explanation. Then, another guest sitting in the assembly explained that fishermen should be grateful and not drown in confusion.

That, Allah has provided sustenance for fish in the sea that are free to be caught every day, without fishermen sowing seeds and giving fish. Sustenance, yes sometimes you get a lot, sometimes a little, sometimes you don't get anything at all, that's the symbolic advice conveyed by Mbah Dullah's expression.

Mbah Dullah not only teaches the outer side, but also forges the mind and spirit.

Mbah Dullah not only teaches the outer side, but also forges the mind and spirit. A student of Mbah Dullah, was given wirid and "obligations" for the mudarasah that were different from other students. Some are assigned to recite 20 juz of the Qur'an per day, some are required to recite 10 juz. It varies, depending on the ability and spiritual container of each student. It can be seen how much Mbah Dullah understands the inner and outer side of his students.

Not only that, Mbah Dullah also has a high concern for Nahdlatul Ulama, an organization initiated by kiai to become a stronghold of Islam and Indonesia. Mbah Dullah actively participates in the bahtsul masail agenda at the representative branch (Kecamatan), or Branch (Kabupaten).

Among NU kiai, Mbah Dullah is considered an elder because of the wisdom and ocean of love he spreads. At the 28th NU Congress in Situbondo, East Java, the committee—at the suggestion of Kiai Syahid Kemadu—asked him to open the congress by leading the reading of Surah al-Fatihah 41 times. Mbah Dullah walked from the car park to the court site which was quite far away, simply because he did not want to inconvenience the committee.

From Mbah Dullah's wisdom, we can sip the sweetness of religion, can understand the calmness of Islam. Islam, for Mbah Dullah, is not as a terrible and frightening robe, but as a wasilah to draw closer to Allah, by emitting a shady, friendly and clear religious light.

Missing Mbah Dullah's advice, Alfaatihah .