Al Ashriyah Islamic Boarding School located in Jalen Hamlet, Setail Village, Tile District, this is the oldest in Banyuwangi Regency. The Islamic boarding school founded by Kiai Abdul Basyar, it is said that the place to recite one of the founders of NU, Sheikh Syaikhona Kholil, from Bangkalan, Madura.
ATMOSPHERE typical of ancient pesantren, very felt when setting foot in the courtyard of the Islamic Boarding School (Islamic boarding school) Al Ashriyah. The cottage buildings with paint that has started to fade, adds to the old impression of the age of the pesantren. Especially, the atmosphere in the boarding school that stood on 1882 it's been quiet all this time too.
When Jawa Pos Radar Genteng visited Monday (6/2), at the entrance to the boarding school complex, there are almost no students or residents who are in the middle of activities. In the pesantren complex there is only a white mosque building, permanent dormitory buildings, one of which has two floors, and another antique dormitory with walls made of wood with many holes in the walls.
Apart from buildings shake old (hostel), There is also a pool for bathing the students, ancient gongs and clocks in the courtyard of the mosque which are still intact have stood from time to time. The dormitory building is big and bulky, remains of Kiai Abdul Basyar. “This hut is the oldest in Banyuwangi, it's been around since the 1880s,” said one of the caretakers of the Al Ashriyah Islamic Boarding School, Kiai Sadali Mawardi, Monday (6/2).
Kiai Sadali, who was met watching TV at his house, said, pesantren built by his grandfather Kiai Abdul Basyar since 1901. But someone said, This pesantren has existed since 1882. "The tripe before 1901, Initially there were residents from Banten who came and studied religion here, so on 1901 hut built,"he explained to Jawa Pos Radar Genteng.
The third son of Kiai Mawardi or grandson of Kiai Abdul Basyar, who is usually called Kiai Dali, admits that he does not know much about the history of his pesantren.. "History has never been written, what I tell you is from stories only," he said.
Kiai Abdul Basyar came from Banten, West Java. Prior to Banyuwangi, studied a lot at Islamic boarding schools in Kediri and Blitar. “Mbah Basyar went to Banyuwangi with people from his area," he explained.
When he came to Banyuwangi and finally settled in Dusun Jalen, Setail Village, Tile District, the area is still a wilderness. His grandfather, who was helped by his friends, cleared the forest and built a simple house. "In the beginning, those who settled here were immigrants from Banten,He said.
About Syaikona Kholil, Bangkalan, Madura who is said to have recited the Koran to Kiai Basyar at the Jalen Islamic Boarding School, Kiai Dali admitted that he did not know for sure. In fact, no one knows his extended family either, because they never heard from their parents. “We hear stories from the kiai, also from the Lora Kholil Bangkalan family," he said.
The story was reinforced when the family from Syaikhona Kholil Bangkalan, a year ago he came to Islamic boarding school Al Ashriyah Jalen, and said that Lora Kholil had studied for about three years with Kiai Basyar. “The Bangkalan family came here to take a walk and pray,"he said
At Al Ashariyah Jalen Islamic Boarding School, Kiai Dali is the third generation of caregivers. After Kiai Basyar died, the leadership of the pesantren is held by one of the students who is also the son-in-law of Kiai Basyar, KH Abdul Manan. Kiai Manan led the pesantren when Kiai Mawardi, one of Kiai Basyar's sons, still studying at the boarding school. “Kiai Manan has been dreaming of this pesantren for a long time,he explained.
After Kiai Mawardi came home, Kiai Manan founded the Minhajut Thulab Islamic Boarding School in Sumberberas Village, Muncar District. “Kiai Basyar died in 1915, replaced by Kiai Abdul Manan,he explained.
While leading the boarding school, Kiai Mawardi never changed the learning style of the students and the existence of the pondok. Simplicity in managing the cottage, become a prescription in maintaining the existence of his pesantren. "It's always been like this, not much pay. Not much development either," he explained.
Kiai Dali admitted that he had not had any contact with the outside world for a long time. He was busy in the fields and did not know if his pesantren would receive an award as a boarding school that had been established for more than a century by PBNU.. "First award in 2016," he said.
At the beginning of the establishment of the pesantren, the number of students at Al Ashriyah Jalen Islamic Boarding School is very large. They come from various regions in Indonesia. But right now, just about 20 students studying at the pesantren. They are, mostly high school and college students. "They are in Islamic boarding schools while at school,he explained.
related to the activities of the students, Kiai Dali said that there was no special difference from other pesantren. Clear, outside the obligatory prayers, the students must recite the Koran every evening and after evening. The students were also invited to read Surah Yasin after each congregational prayer. Without mentioning what the practice is for, Kiai Dali emphasized that practice was always taught by Kiai Mawardi. "This is a hereditary practice, has long been taught," he explained.
Unlike tens or hundreds of years ago, Kiai Dali explained that currently the students have been given freedom. “Times are changing, In the past, santri could not go outside (just dawn), now students can go to school outside the hut," he said.(sas/abi)
