Merchants Spreading Islam in Java (1)

In the coverage of Lebaran 2025, Harian ”Kompas” visited the heritage sites of Wali Sanga in East Java, Central Java, and West Java. The coverage will be presented in Harian Kompas (Kompas.id) starting Monday (3/24/2025). Enjoy.

A serene atmosphere enveloped Pesucinan Mosque located in Leran Village, Manyar, Gresik, East Java, on Friday morning (14/3/2025). Only the faint sound of a carpet cleaning machine operated by Abdurrohman, the mosque caretaker, could be heard. No worshippers were yet seen at the mosque on the 14th day of Ramadan.

"Since it is still morning during the fasting month, the mosque is quiet with few visitors. Visitors usually come in large numbers closer to evening or after breaking the fast to perform i'tikaf," said Abdurrohman.

Pesucinan Mosque is known as one of the legacies of Sunan Maulana Malik Ibrahim, one of the Wali Sanga. The mosque is believed to have witnessed the spread of Islam carried out by Sunan Maulana Malik Ibrahim, also known as Sunan Gresik, on the island of Java. It is no surprise that this place of worship for Muslims holds a unique attraction for the community.

Pesucinan Mosque is located approximately 10 kilometers southwest of Gresik Square. At the front, before entering the mosque area, there is a fairly large arched gate. At the top of the gate, there is golden calligraphy with the inscription "Masjid Syekh Maulana Malik Ibrahim."

Although believed to be the oldest mosque in Java, as it was built in 1389, Pesucinan Mosque appears like a typical mosque. The mosque's floor is made of ceramic tiles, while the roof is covered with tiles.

The ornamentation as an old mosque is evident from the minaret or the roof's peak made of clay. At its tip, there is carved ornamentation.

There is also a pool measuring 3 meters by 3 meters with a depth of approximately 2.5 meters located in the central part of the mosque building, which was once used as a place for ablution. According to the beliefs of the surrounding community, this pool has been constructed since the mosque's initial establishment. Similarly, the mosque's pulpit is believed by local residents to have been used by Sunan Gresik.

"Many pilgrims believe that the ablution pool brings blessings, one of which is the ability to cure all diseases," said Abdurrohman.

He continued, pilgrims visiting the mosque come not only from Indonesia but also from abroad, such as Singapore, Malaysia, and Australia. These visitors come to pay homage while retracing the legacy of Sunan Gresik at the mosque.

Meanwhile, during the fasting month, pilgrim visits begin to increase in the last 10 days of Ramadan to perform iktikaf or remain silent in the mosque.

The Head of the Pesucinan Mosque Management Committee, Mushollin, said that the stories about the figure of Sunan Gresik are quite diverse. However, in general, Sunan Gresik is described as one of the oldest wali sanga.

The spread of Islam was also carried out in a tolerant manner, considering that Sunan is thought to have lived during the Majapahit Kingdom era which had a strong Hindu-Buddhist cultural influence.

"I believe Sunan Maulana Malik Ibrahim was a saint who liked to help the poor, generous, and very tolerant because he lived in Pesucinan which at that time still had a lot of Hindu-Buddhist influence under the rule of Majapahit. He also had the soul of a trader and a preacher," he said.

Historical records regarding Sunan Maulana Malik Ibrahim's background are quite diverse. Agus Sunyoto in the book Atlas Walisongo refers to Sunan Gresik as Syaikh Maghribi. The mention of this name raises the assumption that Sunan Gresik came from Morocco, North Africa.

Sheikh Maghribi first landed in Sembalo Village—now called Leran—Manyar, Gresik, around the 12th century. He then spread Islam and built the first mosque in Pesucinan Village. After his preaching was considered successful, Sheikh Maghribi then moved to Gresik and lived in Sawo Village.

Sheikh Maghribi's missionary journey then continued by visiting the capital of Majapahit in Kutaraja, Mojokerto. He then met the King and was given a plot of land on the outskirts of Gresik which was later known as Gapura Village.

When preaching, the condition of the Majapahit community had experienced an economic decline due to civil war. Syaikh Maghribi then took an approach through trade and association to spread Islam to the local community. The method used was also by showing the goodness of Islam.

In a book titled Southeast Asia: A Historical Encyclopedia, from Angkor Wat to East Timor edited by historian Ooi Keat Gian, it is said that old Islamic tombs in Gresik that were discovered in the 19th century actually originated in the early 15th century. The findings strengthen the suspicion that Sunan Gresik was one of the figures who built the foundation of Islam in Java.

Meanwhile, based on the results of reading the epigraph from France, JP Moquette, the number 882 H/1419 was found on the inscription of the tomb of Syaikh Maulana Malik Ibrahim in Gapuro Village, Sukolilo. The number is interpreted as the year of Maulana Malik Ibrahim's death, thus placing him as one of the oldest Islamic disseminators in Java.

The reading of the inscription on the tombstone at the tomb of Sunan Gresik explains that the figure named Al-Malik Ibrahim was a respected figure. He was a figure who was positioned as a proud teacher of princes, an advisor to kings and ministers, generous to the poor, and happy because of martyrdom.

Chairman of the Syeikh Maulana Malik Ibrahim Gresik Foundation Taufiq Harris said that the results of the Moquette reading showed how easy the Islamic preaching carried out by Sunan Gresik was. The preaching was accepted by the community, even the ruler of Majapahit at that time, namely Wikramawardhana.

Wikramawardhana was the fifth king of the Majapahit Kingdom who ruled from 1389 to 1400. Sunan Gresik's closeness to Wikramawardhana allowed him to freely spread Islam. In fact, he was appointed by the king as harbormaster.

"Trading was part of his strategy to get to know the community. His bottom-up preaching methodology actually made it easier for him to spread Islam," said Taufiq.

Lecturer of Islamic History and Culture at Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University, Jajat Burhanuddin, said that several studies show that Sunan Gresik was a merchant. He had the advantage of understanding Islam so that he was able to trade while preaching in Java.

He continued, the Java and Sumatra regions began to be visited by traders with seasonal backgrounds in the 7th century. They were looking for fragrant spices which at that time were in great demand by people in Persian cities.

The merchants then hunted to the Indian Ocean and finally entered Indonesia. The arrival of Sunan Gresik to the Gresik region cannot be separated from the position of the area as a spice trade hub from the eastern part of the archipelago.

"So it is natural that Maulana Malik Ibrahim came to Gresik as part of the spice trade and migration to the archipelago. From the Islamic religious side, he was also strong," he said.

Jajat continued, Sunan Gresik appeared as a merchant figure who had a capable economic power. In addition, he also had strong religious abilities. Even when he was in Gresik, Sunan Maulana Malik Ibrahim formed a religious trading city community.

"Islam was easily recognized in the Gresik community, without sociological barriers. Moreover, the local population at that time gained benefits from spice traders from the Middle East," said Jajat.