The Preaching of Islam: A History of the Propagation of the Muslim FaithArnold, Thomas Walker, Sir
Islamic
The Preaching of Islam: A History of the Propagation of the Muslim Faith
Arnold, Thomas Walker, Sir
Islam -- History; Islam -- Missions -- History; Islam -- Relations
When he reached the age of twenty, his parents sent him with letters
and presents to his uncle, the King of Majapahit. On his way, he stayed
for two months at Palembang, as the guest of Arya Damar, whom he almost
persuaded to become a Musalman, only he dared not openly profess Islam
for fear of the people who were strongly attached to their ancient
superstitions. Continuing his journey Raden Raḥmat came to Gresik,
where an Arab missionary, Shaykh Mawlānā Jumāda ’l-Kubrạ̄, hailed him as
the promised Apostle of Islam to East Java, and foretold that the fall
of paganism was at hand, and that his labours would be crowned by the
conversion of many to the faith. At Majapahit he was very kindly
received by the King and the princess of Champa. Although the King was
unwilling himself to become a convert to Islam, yet he conceived such
an attachment and respect for Raden Raḥmat, that he made him governor
over 3000 families at Ampel, on the east coast, a little south of
Gresik, allowed him the free exercise of his religion and gave him
permission to make converts. Here after some time he gained over most
of those placed under him, to Islam.
Ampel was now the chief seat of Islam in Java, and the fame of the
ruler who was so zealously working for the propagation of his religion,
spread far and wide. Hereupon a certain Mawlānā Isḥāq came to Ampel to
assist him in the work of conversion, and was assigned the task of
spreading the faith in the kingdom of Balambangan, in the extreme
eastern extremity of the island. Here he cured the daughter of the
King, who was grievously sick, and the grateful father gave her to him
in marriage. She ardently embraced the faith of Islam and her father
allowed himself to receive instruction in the same, but when the
Mawlānā urged him to openly profess it, as he had promised to do, if
his daughter were cured, he drove him from his kingdom, and gave orders
that the child that was soon to be born of his daughter, should be
killed. But the mother secretly sent the infant away to Gresik to a
rich Muhammadan widow [1239] who brought him up with all a mother’s
care and educated him until he was twelve years old, when she entrusted
him to Raden Raḥmat. He, after learning the history of the child, gave
him the name of Raden Paku, and in course of time gave him also his
daughter in marriage. Raden Paku afterwards built a mosque at Giri, to
the south-west of Gresik, where he converted thousands to the faith;
his influence became so great, that after the death of Raden Raḥmat,
the King of Majapahit made him governor of Ampel and Gresik. [1240]
Meanwhile several missions were instituted from Gresik. Two sons of
Raden Raḥmat established themselves at different parts of the
north-east coast and made themselves famous by their religious zeal and
the conversion of many of the inhabitants of those parts. Raden Raḥmat
also sent a missionary, by name Shaykh Khalīfah Ḥusayn, across to the
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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