Santri ; Between Mahabbah and Khidmah

Mahabbah and Khidmah

“Santri ; Between Mahabbah and Khidmah”

(writen by @Khusnia Nurdaniati)

كُنْ مَعَ اللهِ وَاِنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ فَكُنْ مَعَ مَنْ كَانَ مَعَ اللهِ فَاِنَّهُ يُوْصِلُكَ اِلَى اللهِ اِنْ كُنْتَ مَعَهُ

“Hendaknya engkau bersama Allah, jika belum bisa maka bersamalah dengan orang yang telah bisa bersama Allah. Karena hal ini dapat menyampaikanmu pada Allah jika engkau benar-benar mau bersamanya” (al-hadits)

Mahabbah in tasawwuf terminology means a disposed to Allah, Rasulullah, ulama, and other items that can to be intermediary between us to Allah. While khidmah means a true dedication to persons or things that we have a big respecting for them. Pesantren as foundation of education that preserves an Islamic knowledge lane until prophet Muhammad SAW is one of little representation about mahabbah and khidmah. As we know, a relationship between kyai and santri is not just like teacher-student, but it’s more closed like parent and his children. Even our respectful and regard must be more considerable for them than our parents. It’s mentioned in parts of nadzom Alala:

 اُقَدِّمُ اُسْتَاذِيْ عَلَى نَفْسِ وَالِدِيْ # وَاِنْ نَالَنِي مِنْ وَالِدِي الفَضْلَ وَالشَّرَفَ فَذَاكَ مُرَبِّ الرُوْحِ وَالرُوْحُ جَوْهَرُ # وَهَذَا مُرَبِّ الجِسْمِ وَالجِسْمُ كالصَّدًفِ رَاَيْتُ اَحَقَّ الحَقِّ حَقَّ الْمُعَلِّمِ # وَاَوْجَبُهُ حِفْظًا عَلَى كُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ لَقَدْ حَقَّ اَنْ يُهْدَى اِلَيْهِ كَرَامَةً # لِتَعْلِيْمِ حَرْفٍ وَاحِدٍ اَلْفَ دِرْهَمٍ

I give more priority for my teacher better than my own parent, although I had a precious from my parent. Because he trains my soul and the soul is like a pearl, while parent trains my physical and it’s like a shell. I see that the most be fulfilled is teacher’s rightness, and it have to be taken care by all moslems. A good action to give to the teacher for every letter he teach, one thusand dirham as a gift. Because of this close relation, in santri’s personality will be there a great love to his kyai, moreover to his dzurriyyah, and all items that he have. And this makes him have a big dedication for them. Here is one of wonder example about representation of mahabbah and khidmah that’s did by Syeikh Ibnu ‘Atho’illah (1250-1309 M), the author of Al Hikam, one of most popular reference in tasawuf studies; Syeikh Abul ‘Abbas al Mursiy RA.(1219-1286 M)-(student of Syeikh Abul Hasan Asy Syadzily-founder of Thoriqoh Syadziliyah) is a teacher who can bring Ibnu ‘Athoillah to a new thought about tasawuf studies. Like a general expectation, students always need and hope more attention from their teacher, moreover an exclusive concern. Before Syeikh Ibnu ‘Atho’illah deliver his wish, Syeikh Abul ‘Abbas al Mursiy suddenly say:” It’s inverted. As big as the thoughtfulness from the student to his teacher, it’s same, how will the teacher responses it for him. Don’t worry, you will be a great person here.” After Ibnu ‘Athoillah understand what do his teacher say, in other occasion, he hear that Syeikh Abul ‘Abbas al Mursiy want to duplicate kitab Tahdzib which it’s just had by his son only. Accordingly, Ibnu ‘Athoillah starts to duplicate it without telling to his teacher about his doing. After he accomplish his big works (, he give it to his teacher. And certainly, Syeikh Al Mursiy feels amazed and accepts it happily. He also give a wonder prayer to his excellent student, Ibnu ‘Athoillah. Therefore, Ibnu ‘Athoillah confesses-my these spectacular achievements are because of my teacher’s prayer.* And the other side, some of santri believe that the standard for success in their society next is as big as their khidmah and mahabbah to their kyai, moreover it exceeds success based an effort in studying. It’s not fully incorrect, because some histories about it arrive to us, and they’re really true. But, in a good estimation side, it will be most excellent if we can do both of study effort and mahabbah-khidmah with balancing. Wallahu a’lam *reference: Manaqib 50 Wali Agung, KH. Maftuh Basthul Birri-Lirboyo