Indonesia is known for having many charismatic religious leaders spread across various regions. Likewise, in the Pasundan region, specifically in Cianjur, there are many figures playing significant roles in their respective fields. One of them is Syekh Ahmad Syathibi, the author of the Sirajul Munir book and the caretaker of the Gentur pesantren in Cianjur, West Java.
Who exactly is this kiai figure? Syekh Ahmad Syatibi is a religious leader from the Sundanese region, widely known by the people of West Java. He holds the title Al’Allim Al’Allamah Al-Kamil Al-Wara. He is also known as the teacher of prominent scholars in the Sundanese region such as Syekh Zain Abdussomad (Mama Gelar) from Cianjur; Syekh Abdullah Nuh (Mama Cimanggu) from Tanah Sareal Bogor; Syekh Mama Hasbullah from Sukaraja, Sukabumi; Syekh Muhammad Syafi’i from Bandung; Syekh Zinal ‘Alim (Mama Haur Koneng), and others.
Mama Gentur, as the students and the wider community call him. Mama is a term used for an elder kiai in the Sundanese region. Meanwhile, Gentur is the village where he was born and established the pesantren.
Syekh Ahmad Syatibi or Mama Gentur is an education fighter in the land of Pasundan. This is evidenced by the many students who learned from Mama Gentur, later becoming great scholars in Pasundan who had a significant influence on regional and national changes.
The exact date of Mama Gentur’s birth is not known. Some mention between the 12th and 18th of a month, but the month and year of his birth are unknown. Some also mention Mama Gentur was born in the middle of the 13th century Hijri era. What is clear, as his name suggests, Mama Gentur was born in Kampung Gentur, Warung Kondang District, Cianjur, West Java. His father was Mama Haji Sa’id and his mother was Hj Siti Khodijah.
In more detail, his lineage is as follows: Mama Syekh Ahmad Syatibhi bin Mama Haji Muhammad Sa’id bin Mama Haji Abdul Qodir bin Syekh Nur Hajid bin Syekh Nur Katim bin Syekh Sembah Dalem Bojong bin Syekh Waliyullah Haji Abdul Muhyi Pamijahan. Looking at his lineage, Mama Gentur is included among the descendants of great scholars in the archipelago.
From One pesantren to Another
Mama Gentur’s childhood nickname was Adun. However, after returning from Mecca, he changed his name to Dagustani. But he is now more commonly known as Al-Alim Al-Alamah Syekh Ahmad Syatibhi, and Sundanese people often call him Mama Gentur.
Initially, Mama Gentur learned religious knowledge from his father when he was young. His father, Syekh Mama Idris, was the caretaker of the Gentur pesantren in Cianjur. According to a story from Syekh Ahmad Eumed (Mama Cimasuk, Garut) bin Syekh Muhammad Rusdi (Mama Haur Koneng, Garut), Mama Gentur once wanted to pursue great knowledge but was unsure whom to study under.
Then, Mama Gentur went on a pilgrimage to the grave of Habib Husain bin Abu Bakar Alaydrus, also known as the Saint from Luar Batang, Jakarta. There, Mama Gentur recited the selawat nariah 4444 times and completed it 44 times within 8 months. Later, Mama Gentur dreamed of meeting the Saint from Luar Batang. In his dream, Mama Gentur was directed by the saint to seek knowledge in the Garut region. This dream marked the beginning of Mama Gentur’s educational journey from one pesantren to another. The first pesantren he aimed for was Pesantren Keresek, Garut.
However, Mama Gentur only stayed one night at Pesantren Keresek. Because, directed by Mama Keresek, he was advised to seek knowledge at Pesantren Bojong and study under Mama Ajengan Muhammad Adzro’i. At Pesantren Bojong, within 40 days, Mama Gentur had already memorized books such as Yaqulu (Nazom Masqud in neurology), Kailany (neurology), Amrithy (grammar), Alfiah Ibn Malik (grammar and neurology), Samarqondhy (rhetoric), and Jauharul Maknun (meaning, rhetoric, and prosody). At that time, Mama Gentur was only 17 years old.
After completing his education at Pesantren Bojong, his quest for knowledge did not end there. Mama Gentur continued his journey to Pesantren Gudang. He studied there for nine years. Then, Mama Gentur went to Mecca and studied at the Syekh Hasbullah pesantren.
In Mecca, Mama Gentur only stayed for three years. Because, according to Syekh Hasbullah, Mama Gentur or Mama Syatibhi was deemed unfit to study under him due to his (Syekh Hasbullah’s) knowledge being far inferior to Mama Syatibhi’s.
From Mecca, Mama Gentur or Syekh Syatibhi continued his journey to Egypt. However, Egyptian scholars said the same thing as Syekh Hasbullah, that “there is no longer a teacher for Ahmad Syatibhi (Mama Gentur).” Finally, Mama Syatibhi or Mama Gentur returned to Cianjur and studied at the pesantren in Bunikasih, under the leadership of Syekh Shoheh Bunikasih.
The Teacher of Scholars
With the knowledge acquired and his moral integrity, Mama Gentur succeeded in nurturing his students into great scholars who had a significant influence on the struggle for independence and the spread of Islam in West Java, as well as the establishment of formal and informal educational institutions such as pesantrens in the Sundanese region.
One of Mama Gentur’s students was KH Abdullah Nuh, a scholar and a skilled diplomat of his time, proficient in various languages. His name is often associated with Al-Ghazali, referred to as the “Al-Ghazali of Indonesia” because of his intelligence and exemplary conduct. He was the founder of the Al-Ghazali pesantren in Bogor. KH Abdullah Nuh was awarded the title of National Hero for his contributions to the independence struggle.
Then there’s Syekh Ahmad Shohibul Wafa (Abah Anom), who was also a student of Mama Gentur. Abah Anom was a charismatic scholar from Suryalaya, Tasikmalaya Regency. He played a significant role in education and was the founder of the Qodariah and Naqsabaandiah Sufi orders in West Java. In 1961, Abah Anom established the Serba Bakti Foundation, which housed various formal educational institutions such as kindergartens, primary schools, secondary schools, vocational schools, Islamic junior high schools, Islamic senior high schools, the Islamic Academy for Advanced Studies (IAILM), Latifah Mubarokiah School of Economics, and the Inabah Youth pesantren. All of these initiatives were guided by the teachings and knowledge acquired from his teacher, Mama Gentur or Syekh Ahmad Syatibhi.
Another notable student, who had a role and influence in West Java, was Abuya KH Hasan Mustofa, son of Abah Sanean, often referred to as Abuya Sanean from Bogor. Abuya Sanean was one of the proponents of Islam in West Java, particularly in the Bogor region and its surroundings.
Abuya Sanean was also the founder of the Darul Huda pesantren in Cisarua, Bogor. He was known as an expert in Arabic grammar, morphology, and rhetoric in the Bogor region. He was counted among the successful students of Mama Gentur or Syekh Ahmad Syatibhi, who educated their students to become influential scholars in the West Java region.
Works of Mama Gentur
According to KH Muhammad Aby Sofyan bin H Hasanudin bin Silihwangi, Mama Syatibhi passed away on Wednesday, the last day of Jumadil Akhir in 1365 H or May 15, 1946 AD. Mama Syatibhi or Mama Gentur passed away in his hometown. Despite his departure long ago, Mama Syathibi is always remembered in part because of his works. He left behind more than 80 works in Arabic and Sundanese languages.
Among his most famous works are the book Sirajul Munir (Islamic jurisprudence), Tahdidul ‘Ainain (Islamic jurisprudence), al-Muqoddimah Samarqondhiyah, al-Fathiyah, Dahlaniyah (rhetoric), Muntijatul Lathif (neurology), Nazom ‘Addudiyah (prosody), and others. Mama Gentur’s authored books continue to be used as a source of knowledge in pesantrens, especially in the West Java region, to this day. Thus, these books always have an influence on the scholarship of his students and the students of his students.
It is not an exaggeration to call him the “Father of Education from the Land of Pasundan”. May he be remembered for his contributions to religion and the country. Al fatihah…