Malik Ibrahim, known as Sunan Gresik or Kakek Bantal, was the first of the Wali Songo, the nine men generally thought to have introduced Islam to Java.
21 Facts About Malik Ibrahim
1.
2.
Malik Ibrahim was first listed as a Wali Songo in Babad Dipanegara.
3.
Malik Ibrahim's origin is unclear, although it is generally agreed that he originated from outside of Java.
4.
Malik Ibrahim is thought to have been born in the first half of the 14th century.
5.
Malik Ibrahim is known by several names in the Babad Tanah Jawi and other texts.
6.
Meanwhile, according to Babad Tjerbon, Malik Ibrahim originated from Tyuleny Archipelago, north-eastern Caspian Sea.
7.
Moquette of the inscription at Malik Ibrahim's grave, identifies him as having come from Kashan, Persia.
8.
Malik Ibrahim was born in Kashan, Syekh Jumadil Qubro and Malik Ibrahim are disciples of Kubrowi Shafi'i school of Jurist Master Mir Sayid Ali Shafi Hamadani, of Hamadan in Persia.
9.
Malik Ibrahim belonged to syed and highly educated family in Kashan, his grand grandfather migrated from Samarkand to Kashan, that is why their family known as Samarkandi.
10.
Malik Ibrahim came to Java with his father, Syekh Jumadil Qubro or Kubro, and his brother Maulana Ishaq, from Persia.
11.
Malik Ibrahim married one of the king's daughters, whose name has been Indonesianised as Dewi Candrawulan, and had two sons.
12.
When he felt that he had converted enough people to Islam, Malik Ibrahim returned to Java without his family.
13.
Malik Ibrahim landed at Sembalo, Learn, Manyar in the late 14th century, where he became acquainted with the local people.
14.
Malik Ibrahim began trading out of the harbour, dealing equally with people from different castes - social strata based in the dominant Hindu religion.
15.
Malik Ibrahim continued his work from Champa, teaching the locals ways to improve harvests and treating the ill.
16.
Malik Ibrahim died on 12 Rabi' al-Awwal, 822 Hijri.
17.
Malik Ibrahim was buried in Gapura village, Gresik, East Java.
18.
Malik Ibrahim's grave, which is without a headstone, is a common destination for pilgrims, who read the Qu'ran and the life of Muhammad; they partake in a dish unique to the area, harisah rice porridge.
19.
Near Malik Ibrahim's grave is a stone marker bearing an inscription in Arabic, translated below:.
20.
The great religious teacher: Malik Ibrahim, renowned for his goodness.
21.
Malik Ibrahim died on Senin, 12 Rabi' al-Awwal, 822 Hijri.