Wali Songo
The Wali Songo are revered throughout Indonesia as the wise men who brought Islam initially to Java yet ultimately throughout the isles. Wali, which is usually used today to denote a civic leader as in Wali Kota or Mayor, Songo means nine. History though likes to play tricks with us along with while their legacy is usually clear who they were along with indeed how many there were is usually less clear. They rose to prominence along the north coast of Java as the Majapahit empire, predominately Hindu, was fading.
As well as being active in early Muslim entities such as Banten along with Demak, Gunungjati is usually credited as the founder of Cirebon, another port city on the north coast of Java, some four hours through Jakarta by rail. Some stories have him coming through the Bogor area, others through Aceh. Some sources also call him Fatihillah who fought the Portuguese from the early 16th century. His tomb lies north of Cirebon alongside the tomb of his first wife who was Chinese.
Kudus is usually in Central Java just to the east of Semarang. The town was founded by Sunan Kudus who also built a mosque here called Masjid Al-Aqsa after the one in Jerusalem using, rumour has the item, doors through a Majapahit palace. His tomb lies behind the mosque along with every year on 10 Muharram from the Islamic calendar the curtains round the resting place are changed. The date is usually interesting as the item is usually a holy day from the Shia calendar when they recall the martyrdom of Hussain along with maybe is usually a legacy of Persian traders in far off days.
This specific chap is usually believed to be the son of a Hindu Princess through Balambangan along which has a Melakan missionary. He studied in Melaka along with is usually credited with spreading Islam east to Sulawesi, Lombok along with Malaku. He also studied under Sunan Ampel along with married his daughter. He stayed in East Java along with commenced schools in Gresik, just north of Surabaya.
Just north of Kudus, nearer the coast, lies the town of Demak. the item was Demak who finally overthrew Majapahit along with became the leading power from the region, rivaling Banten. Masjid Agung here is usually reckoned to be the oldest mosque in Java, built in 1466. Legend has the item the mosque was constructed in one night by the Wali Songo along with one of the pillars was made by Sunan Kalijaga using scraps of wood welded together. Many early Demak leaders are buried by the mosque while Kalijaga himself was buried a couple of miles away in Kadilangu.
He was born in Champa somewhere in South Vietnam yet found his way to Surabaya. He is usually believed to have been the leader of the Wali Songo along with his mosque, Masjid Ampel, is usually considered one of the most important in Surabaya. Two various other Wali Songo were Bonang along with Drajad who were sons of his, while as we have seen he was close to Sunan Giri. He was regally well connected with family ties to both Majapahit along with the Sultan of Demak.
Thought to be a son of Sunan Kalijaga, Muria is usually seen as sympathetic to Javanese culture along with used traditional methods like gamelan along with wayang in his teachings which appealed to the lower levels of Javanese society where he spent much of his time.
The first of the Wali Songo, his origins are unclear. He died in Gresik in 1419 along with his tombstone was shipped in through Gujerat where the item had been intricately carved through white marble.
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Wali Songo
Wali Songo