INDONESIA LOMBOK- PILGRIMAGE TOUR PACKAGE

PILGRIMAGE TOUR PACKAGE

In addition to natural objects, Lombok provides other values for travelers. Not only offering beaches, mountains and waterfalls. Lombok also has some historical sites to visit. Among the sites, we can find the cemetery of famous Islamic scholars or mufti who were disciples of influential religious leaders across the archipelago and came to the island for a propagation mission and finally deceased and buried in some locations in Lombok. Some sacred cemeteries become destination for pilgrimages. In these locations, pilgrimages come to send prayers and conduct various rituals. Recently, the sites are no longer seen  as sacred places, but also attractive destinations for Moslem travelers.

Here are 5 most visited graveyards in Lombok:

1.       THE GRAVE  OF MAULANA SYEKH M. ZAINNUDIN ABDUL MADJID IN PANCOR

According to Raden Itarawan (1998) , Islam came to Lombok brought by Sunan Giri along with his 44 disciples, after being cast away in Bayan village. People in Bayan (even Lombok) at that time practiced an animistic belief system. Since then, Lombok’s native began to expose Islam. Islam grows as native religion until today. The newborn ulama (preachers) bring Islam to the glory. As been taught by Sunan Girl, these people were assigned in a mission to free people from their animistic belief. The newborn successors of Islam was marked by the appearance of some important notably Islamic scholars in the 20^th century succeeding their predecessors, called as Tuan Guru (translation: preacher) . Tuan Guru has been well educated about abroad knowledge of Islam in order to accomplish their missions.

Since then, mission of spreading Islam has been taken by Tuan Guru along with rapid growth of Islamic boarding schools. Core Objective of Tuan Guru is to refine Islam from other belief systems and to lead them back to Al Qur’an and Hadist. Soon, a charismatic leader in Lombok was born, Tuan Guru Haji (henceforth: TGH) Muhammad Zainuddin Abdul Majid, born on 17 Rabiul Awal 1324 H (translation: H refers to Hijriyah, the Islamic Calendar) or in 1906. He came to grow from a highly respected religious family. TGH Muhammad Zainuddin Abdul Majid led many followers in Bayan, with other Islam guru such as TGH Hazmi Azhar, TGH Safwan Hakim. His father, Tuan Guru Abdul Madjid was a charismatic religious figure who got great respect from society. His father was also known for his heroic role when fought the Dutch and Japanese armies.

The grave of Almagfirullah Maulana Syeikh Abdul Majid in Pancor- Lombok Timur, the founder of Islamic organization, Nahdlatul Wathan.

Since his childhood, many people admitted TGH Muhammad Zainuddin Abdul Madjid as a smart, sincere, clever person with his brilliant brain. No wonder his father had given him such an exceptional attention.

His father expected little Zainuddin in future would become his successor, to carry on his leadership among Moslems in Lombok.When he was 6 years old, he had been very fluent in reciting the Qur’an under his father guidance. At that time this important Islam figure explored more about religious tenet under direction of some distinguished Islamic scholars all around Lombok, such as TGH Syarifuddin in Pancor and TGH Abdullah Bin Amaq Dujati in Kelayu , Lombok Timur.

In age of 17 years , his father sent young Zainuddin to Mecca Al Mukarramah to gain more knowledge about Islam .He was very young when starting his twelve years learning from many notable Islamic scholars in Mecca that exposed him to various branches of Islam. In 1928, Maulana Syeikh continued his study in Madrasha Ash – Shaulatiyah, directed by Syaikah Salim Rahmatullah, son of Syaikah Rahmatullah, the founder of this institution. It was the first school established in the Holy Land producing numbers of great Islamic scholars around the world.

After completing his study in Mecca,TGH Muhammad Zainuddin Abdul Madjid went back to his hometown in Pancor, Lombok Timur to share his knowledge. His first effort was establishing Madrasah Nahdlatul Wathan Diniyah Islamiyah ( NWDI) in 1934, a male school ( Wildan , 1998) Idea to establish a school was initiated by organizing young people to attend halaqah or Majlis ta’lim ( translation : group of people attending regular sermons) , approach that awakened Islamic education across the archipelago for centuries.

On 21 April 1943, TGH Zainuddin Abdul Madjid established the Nahdlatul Bahat Diniyah Islamiyah ( NBDI) , a female school. NWDI and NBDI became the earliest Islamic schools in Lombok. Later, both schools were then eternalized in the name of an Islamic boarding school , Daun Nahdlatain Nahdlatul Wathan ( Wildan , 1998). It becomes an intellectual insight that boarding school, since the 13^th century, has been long enough to become an approach of religious education all around Indonesia. As a private school, this madrasah (translation: derived from Arabic, means school) developed various fields of interest. Knowledge taught in the school was not absorbed merely from one scholar, but from many experts who had such comprehensive knowledge and capacity. In the end of 1997, dark cloud covers the sky of Lombok. On Tuesday, 21 October 1997, on 20 Jumadil Akhir 1418 H, the charismatic Islamic scholar, Tuan Guru Haji Muhammad Zainuddin Abdul Madjid deceased at 1953 in his residence in Pancor Village, Lombok Timur. He leaves 3 great legacies, ie.thousands of Islamic scholars, 10 thousands of pupils and more than a thousand branches of Nahdlatul Wathan in and outside Indonesia.

2.       THE GRAVE OF SYEIKH SAYID DUHRI AL HADDAD

Local belief claims that in Batu Layar graveyard buried one of descendant of Prophet Muhammad SAW. Yet, some people claim that it belongs to a Moslem personage who taught Islam in Indonesia coming from Baghada, Sayid Duhri Al Haddad Al Hadrami. Other literatures mention that Syeh Sayid Muhammad Al Bagdadi from Bagdad was buried in this site. Batu Layar Graveyard becomes a destination often visited by the local people to keep a votive; most visited on the day of Lebaran Topat (a festival celebrated 7 days after the Feast day). It becomes an annual agenda of Lombok Barat government. 

This sacred place is located inside Sengigi tourism area; about 8 kilometers from the downtown to the north.A huge number of local people visit the graveyard on Lebaran Topat.

The graveyard is also visited by the pilgrims, especially for those who keep a votive or prior to ngurisan (translation: Islamic tradition of cutting baby’s hair) of a 3 month new born baby (3 months ritual)

THE GRAVE OF SHEIKH GAUS ABDURRAZAK

Loang Balok comes from 2 words in Sasak language i.e loang and baloq. If we lexically translate the words, we will find loang means hole and baloq means great grandparents, one generation ahead of our grandparents . Local people name a sacred graveyard located in Tanjung Karang as Makam Loang Baloq, one of a religious tourist destination, inspired by a bug banyan tree with a hole on its trunk.

 Local people believe that a great grandfather was buried inside the tee, an early propagator of Islam in Lombok around the 16^th or 18^th centuries. His name is Maulana Sheikh Gaus Abdulrazak. Encircling the main tomb, other important Islamic scholars (believed as Abdulrazak’s followers

Visitors from many places ( inside and outside Lombok) frequently visit this sacred place to pray for Syekh Gaus Abdulrazak and to get virtue in return . Somehow, younger pilgrims believe that this tradition may help them to find future husband wife. The beliefs encourage pilgrims keep visiting this religious site. Besides fulfilling their religious purpose, local people also come there just for pleasure.

Eventually, on feast days, people from various regions in Lombok come there to conduct ngurisan ceremony ( cutting baby’s hair) near the tomb of Syekh Gaus Abdurrazk. Outside the sacred tomb, long and dense roots of banyan tree loop down to the ground. Young people write down their wishes on a piece of paper and attach it onto the hanging roots. When their wishes come true, they will come back again.

3.       SELAPARANG GRAVEYARD 

Selaparang Graveyard has connection to Selaparang Kingdom back to the 13^th to the 16^th century.The first generation of Selaparang embraced Hindu as a legitimated belief. This kingdom ended right after the arrival of an expedition from Majapahit Kingdom in Java Island around 1357. The next version of Selaparang Kingdom was an Islamic monarchy. Selaparang Graveyard is located in Lombok Timur, Nusa Tenggara Barat, in a village named Swela, 65 kilometers from Mataram. This site is commonly visited prior to the month of Hajj (translation: Hajj obligated to any Moslem during Djulhjjah – a month in Islamic Calendar) and some other important Islamic events. Visiting this site becomes a local tradition that still upheld until today.

Inside the graveyard, only 3 tombs are mostly visited, i.e. the tomb of the King of Selaparang and his parents and the other one belongs to Gajah Mada, the greatest prime minister of Majapahit Kingdom in Java. Visitors often lay wreaths at the three sacred tombs and wash their faces using water from vessel prepared by the cemetery watcher. This water may give virtue for any single visitors to find shortly a spouse to marry.

Eventually, many high ranked officers surreptitiously visit this site prior to date of general election. Similar phenomenon also happens at the cemetery of Maulana Syekh Muhammad Zainuddin Abdul Madjid, prior to a political succession. Public also adopt this ritual before an important event, like those who will face a school examination or who want to find a job.

4.       GRAVES OF THE ORTHER GREAT RELIGIOUS SCHOLARS

The orthodox masjid of Bayan Beleq is located in Bayan district,Lombok Utara regency. It precisely located in the borderline of Lombok Utara and Lombok Timur, Nusa Tenggara Barat. Bayan is far enough from the downtown, about 80 km from Mataram. The word  Beleq means a big grave. A number of graves can be seen in this historical site. One of them belongs to Gaus abdurrazak, believed as the first propagator of Islam around this area. At this site, there are 2 small shelters located at the front and backside of the masjid  kept the remains of 2 religious persons who involved in the construction and maintenance of the masjid from the beginning.

Nowadays, the masjid is no longer used for regular worshipping. It is only used for some momentous ceremonies in Islamic agenda. The most interesting thing from the masjid is that no assembled prayer conducted at the day of Idul Fitri (translation: Feast Day due on 1^st Syawal in Islamic Calendar) Local people organize Lebaran Adat Islamic Calendar) Local people organize Lebaran Adat Tinggi Ceremony (translation: other Moslems celebrate Idul Fitri ) 3 days after the day of Idul Fitri ( translation : 4 Syawal in Islamic calendar) . According to the local people, the celebration is used to uphold and strengthen the celebration of Idul Fitri.