CEPOKOMULYO, KENDAL — Under the mid-day sky of Cepokomulyo Village in Gemuh District, Kendal Regency, Central Java, the melodious chanting of Syiiran Kitab Tarajumah reverberated through the grounds of Pondok Pesantren Roudlotul Muttaqiin. Recited in refined Javanese (Jawa halus), the poetic stanzas served as more than just an opening prelude for the thousands of pilgrims gathered on the Islamic boarding school’s grounds. They manifested a deep spiritual ethos centered on reverence for scholars, the preservation of an unbroken chain of religious transmission (sanad), and the enduring blessings of institutional founders across generations. The massive gathering, known as the Haul Akbar, marked a tri-fold commemoration for three pivotal figures who established and sustained the institution: the 12th anniversary of the passing of KH. Muhammad Sa’ud bin Arba’i, the 1st anniversary of Ibu Nyai Hajah Mu’ayanah, and the 2nd anniversary of KH. Azka Badruzzaman. Beyond an act of remembrance, the event brought together prominent Islamic scholars (ulama) from multiple mass organizations across Indonesia, symbolizing a rare cross-institutional unity. Prominent figures in attendance included KH. Khairuddin Hasbullah from Karawang, West Java; Dr. KH. Mukhlisin Muzari, General Chairman of the Central Board of Rifa’iyah; KH. Afif Fadhol from Wonosobo; and KH. Mahfudz Isrofi from Batang. Sitting side by side alongside dignitaries from Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah, the assembly highlighted how shared theological foundations can transcend organizational divisions. 1. Chronology of Events and Institutional History +------------------------------------------------------------------+ | CHRONOLOGY OF LEADERSHIP | +------------------------------------------------------------------+ | | | 1. KH. Muhammad Sa'ud bin Arba'i | | - Founded educational foundation & taught for 40+ years | | - Passed away (12th Haul commemorated) | | | | 2. KH. Azka Badruzzaman | | - Assumed leadership following KH. Sa'ud's passing | | - Passed away (2nd Haul commemorated) | | | | 3. Ibu Nyai Hajah Mu'ayanah & Ibu Nyai Ifa Rifa'atul Mahmudah | | - Co-managed the pesantren during transition | | - Nyai Mu'ayanah passed away (1st Haul commemorated) | | | | 4. Ibu Nyai Ifa Rifa'atul Mahmudah | | - Current Principal Leader | | - Milestone: Established the female student division | | | +------------------------------------------------------------------+ Opening Stanzas and Community Gathering The proceedings commenced shortly before noon as thousands of worshippers filled the central courtyard and surrounding walkways of Pondok Pesantren Roudlotul Muttaqiin. The crowd engaged in collective recitations from the Kitab Tarajumah, a traditional corpus of Islamic texts composed by the 19th-century Indonesian reformer and scholar KH. Ahmad Rifa’i. Written in Javanese using the Pegon script (Arabic alphabet adapted for the Javanese language), these texts remain central to the identity of the Rifa’iyah movement. Following the opening recitations, family representatives, senior alumni, and guest scholars delivered speeches and lectures, evaluating both the historical impact of the deceased leaders and the future trajectory of the boarding school. A Period of Loss and Succession The history of Pondok Pesantren Roudlotul Muttaqiin has been shaped by major leadership transitions over the past decade. Speaking on behalf of the founding family (dzuriyah), Gus Faza Nasrun Najib detailed the institutional challenges that followed the passing of KH. Muhammad Sa’ud bin Arba’i twelve years ago. Upon the founder’s death, stewardship of the pesantren was assumed by his student and successor, KH. Azka Badruzzaman. However, his tenure was cut short by his passing two years ago. Subsequently, leadership fell upon the late founder’s widow, Ibu Nyai Hajah Mu’ayanah, who co-managed the institution alongside Ibu Nyai Ifa Rifa’atul Mahmudah. When Nyai Mu’ayanah passed away last year, the institution faced its second loss in a two-year span. The Turn Toward Expansion Despite these successive losses, the current leadership under Ibu Nyai Ifa Rifa’atul Mahmudah has maintained institutional continuity while introducing major organizational developments. Under her leadership, the pesantren achieved a historic milestone by establishing a dedicated female student division (unit santri putri). This addition marked a departure from the institution’s historical structure, broadening access to Islamic education for young women across the region. 2. Supporting Data and Alumni Testimonials Four Decades of Unwavering Devotion A central highlight of the commemoration was a personal testimony delivered by KH. Zamroni, a senior Islamic scholar from Limpung, Batang Regency. Reframing his own youthful rebelliousness, KH. Zamroni recalled his arrival at Pondok Pesantren Roudlotul Muttaqiin four decades ago as an eight-year-old student under the direct tutelage of KH. Muhammad Sa’ud. KH. Zamroni offered specific historical accounts illustrating KH. Sa’ud’s personal discipline and character: Household Integrity: KH. Sa’ud personally rode a bicycle to Cepiring Market—located miles away—to purchase daily household supplies himself, seeking to spare his wife, Nyai Mu’ayanah, from public strain and safeguard her standing. Teaching Schedule: For over forty consecutive years, KH. Sa’ud maintained a rigorous instructional routine, teaching students continuously from after dusk (Isya) until just before dawn (Subuh). Pedagogical Focus: His educational focus remained singular: ensuring every student mastered the necessary legal conditions (syarat) and essential pillars (rukun) of Islamic worship so that their religious obligations were valid under Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh). +------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | SUMMARY OF KEY PARTICIPANTS | +---------------------------+--------------------------------------------+ | Speaker / Dignitary | Role & Origin | +---------------------------+--------------------------------------------+ | KH. Muhammad Sa'ud | Late Founder, Pesantren Roudlotul | | | Muttaqiin (12th Haul) | | Nyai Hj. Mu'ayanah | Late Co-Leader & Matriarch (1st Haul) | | KH. Azka Badruzzaman | Late Successor & Scholar (2nd Haul) | | Ibu Nyai Ifa Rifa'atul M. | Current Principal Leader & Innovator | | Gus Faza Nasrun Najib | Family / Dzuriyah Representative | | KH. Zamroni | Senior Alumnus & Scholar (Limpung, Batang) | | KH. Habib Nur | Senior Advisor & Historical Witness | | KH. Khairuddin Hasbullah | Guest Preacher / Keynote Speaker (Karawang)| | Dr. KH. Mukhlisin Muzari | General Chairman, PP Rifa'iyah | +---------------------------+--------------------------------------------+ 3. Official Responses and Theological Discourses Educational Ethics and the Tarajumah Methodology Providing historical context on the institution’s curriculum, KH. Habib Nur, a senior advisor to the pesantren, emphasized the enduring relevance of the Kitab Tarajumah methodology. Developed by KH. Ahmad Rifa’i during the Dutch colonial era, the system translates complex classical Arabic treatises into accessible Javanese Pegon verse. KH. Habib Nur noted that the true mark of a student (santri) lies not in offering material gifts to teachers, but in strict adherence to their instructional guidance (dawuh). To illustrate this point, he referenced an account from the life of the venerated Madurese scholar Mbah Kiai Kholil Bangkalan—relayed through KH. Haris Dimyati—underlining that spiritual insight (waskita) is granted to those who preserve ethical conduct (adab) with intellectual honesty. Keynote Address: Clarifying Worship, Fiqh, and Mysticism The event’s primary keynote address (mau’izhah hasanah) was delivered by KH. Khairuddin Hasbullah of Karawang, who addressed core aspects of Islamic jurisprudence, spirituality, and contemporary social perspectives. +-----------------------------------+ | THE BALANCE OF ISLAMIC KNOWLEDGE| | (Imam Malik's Framework) | +-----------------------------------+ | +-----------------------+-----------------------+ | | v v +---------------+ +---------------+ | FIQH | | TASAWWUF | | (Jurisprudence| | (Spirituality| | & Syariat) | | & Internal) | +---------------+ +---------------+ | | +-----------------------+-----------------------+ | v +-----------------------------+ | TRUE ORTHODOXY | | Harmonious Integration of | | Outer Law & Inner Life | +-----------------------------+ Integrity of Worship: Quoting prophetic traditions regarding a man who was repeatedly instructed to redo his prayers due to improper execution, KH. Khairuddin noted that ritual worship performed without fundamental knowledge of its required conditions and pillars remains invalid. He praised the Tarajumah system for making fundamental jurisprudence accessible to rural populations without requiring years of advanced Arabic grammar study (nahwu-sharaf). The Synthesis of Fiqh and Sufism: Addressing potential distortions in spiritual practice, KH. Khairuddin cited the classical maxim attributed to Imam Malik ibn Anas: "He who practices Sufism (tasawwuf) without jurisprudence (fiqh) corrupts his faith (zandaqah), while he who practices jurisprudence without Sufism falls into transgression (fisq). Only he who combines both attains the truth." To illustrate this balance, KH. Khairuddin recounted the classical narration of Sheikh Abdul Qadir Al-Jailani. When confronted by a deceptive light claiming to be the Divine and declaring all forbidden things lawful, the famed saint rejected the vision by holding firm to the outward boundaries of sacred law (syariat). KH. Khairuddin cautioned the assembly against contemporary figures who claim spiritual elevation while setting aside explicit religious obligations. Reframing Sustenance and Modern Credentials: KH. Khairuddin addressed modern misconceptions regarding education, wealth, and divine provision (rezeki). He emphasized that ultimate provision is determined by piety (taqwa) and steadfast patience rather than formal academic credentials alone. Citing the Quranic narrative of the Prophet Zakariya, who maintained faith through advanced age before receiving his prayers’ answer, he reminded attendees that the true inheritance of religious scholars is wisdom and knowledge rather than material wealth. 4. Institutional Implications and Future Outlook Inter-Organizational Synergy and National Unity A significant outcome of the gathering was its demonstration of inter-organizational unity within Indonesian Islam. Scholars representing Rifa’iyah, Nahdlatul Ulama, and Muhammadiyah shared the same stage, identifying common ground in their adherence to Sunni theology (Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah) and the Shafi’i school of legal thought (mazhab Syafi’i). In his closing remarks, KH. Khairuddin noted that structural differences among Islamic organizations should be viewed as institutional assets rather than barriers to cooperation. The event concluded with a collective prayer led by Dr. KH. Mukhlisin Muzari, alongside a fundraising effort (infak) aimed at financing new classroom infrastructure for the expanding student body. +------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | SUMMARY OF IMPLICATIONS | +-------------------------+----------------------------------------------+ | Domain | Impact & Strategic Direction | +-------------------------+----------------------------------------------+ | Educational Access | Opening of the female division (*unit santri | | | putri*) broadens institutional scope. | | Pedagogical Preservation| Continued commitment to *Kitab Tarajumah* | | | preserves vernacular legal teaching methods. | | Civic/Religious Unity | Collaborative presence of Rifa'iyah, NU, and | | | Muhammadiyah strengthens local cohesion. | | Physical Infrastructure | Fundraising yields capital for new student | | | classrooms and physical expansion. | +-------------------------+----------------------------------------------+ Sustaining Legacy in Modern Central Java The Grand Commemoration at Pondok Pesantren Roudlotul Muttaqiin highlighted the ongoing role of traditional Islamic institutions in rural Central Java. Through structural adjustments—such as expanding access to female students—and a continued focus on vernacular instruction through the Kitab Tarajumah, the institution maintains its historical foundation while adapting to contemporary educational needs. As the gathering dispersed late in the afternoon, community members and visiting scholars reaffirmed their commitment to preserving these foundational educational practices. The ongoing developments in Cepokomulyo demonstrate how traditional institutions continue to navigate leadership transitions, infrastructure growth, and broader educational obligations across the region. Post navigation Previous Post Rifaiyah Temanggung Charts New Course: Shobikun Elected as Leader Amid Renewed Government Partnership and Calls for Organizational Transformation
