JP\/18\/AMPEL<\/p>\n
Ampel, tourist destination and place of prayer<\/p>\n
Indra Harsaputra
\nThe Jakarta Post\/Surabaya<\/p>\n
All of a sudden, several men aged around 26, sitting at the
\nentrance to Jl. Nyamplungan, Ampel, Surabaya, got up and
\napproached The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
In a slightly angry tone, the men, pointing to the warning
\nsign put up at the entrance of the road, told a journalist to get
\noff his motorcycle.<\/p>\n
"Don't ride when you enter this area," one of them said, in a
\nrather angry and loud voice.<\/p>\n
The sign had been erected at the entrance of the road, which
\nis wide enough for only one automobile, to ensure that every
\nguest to the area complies with it. None of the residents of the
\narea know how long the motorcycling prohibition has existed.<\/p>\n
Mohammad Anis, a senior journalist in Surabaya and a villager,
\nsaid the prohibition had been in force long before he moved to
\nthe area.<\/p>\n
There are several stories about why the prohibition was
\nintroduced. According to one, some kind of prohibition was first
\nintroduced in the 1800s when the first immigrants from Hadramaut,
\nYemen, settled in the village.<\/p>\n
There is another story, however, saying that the regulation
\nwas put in effect to show respect for the grave of Sunan Ampel, a
\npious Muslim leader who helped spread Islam through parts of
\nJava, whose grave is located not far from Nyamplungan village,
\nSurabaya.<\/p>\n
"God only knows when this prohibition was first introduced.
\nThe point, however, is that the people from Hadramaut do not like
\nnoise," said Anis, who is now in his 50s and has written a book
\nabout an overland haj pilgrimage journey, including a visit to
\nYemen for six months in 1990.<\/p>\n
As other migrants have settled in this village of people of
\nHadramaut origin in Ampel, he noted, the prohibition was often
\nignored. People passing through the village often sped through on
\ntheir motorcycles, making a loud revving sound.<\/p>\n
That was why anyone riding a motorcycle into town and wishing
\nto enter the village would be given warnings.<\/p>\n
Pickpockets and vendors<\/p>\n
Abdillah Abdulkadir Alaydrus, a sarong vendor from Ampel,
\nregretted the fact that migrants of non-Hadramaut origin often
\nignored the prohibition. There was an impression, he said, that
\nthe area, known as the Arabian village, was no longer safe
\nbecause many pickpockets lurked there.<\/p>\n
Their victims were not local people, but outsiders who come to
\nfor devotional visits to the grave of Sunan Ampel.<\/p>\n
"The presence of these pickpockets has tarnished the religious
\nimage of the village. Many outsiders complain about things being
\nstolen from them while praying in the graveyard of Sunan Ampel,"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Another regrettable thing for Abdillah is the fact that the
\nvillage has now become dirty because of the litter left by
\nsidewalk vendors.<\/p>\n
The cleanliness and security of this place were supposed to be
\nwell maintained, because in 2004 it was named by the Surabaya
\nmunicipal administration as one of the area's religious tourism
\nattractions.<\/p>\n
"Unfortunately, the local administration has yet to pay proper
\nattention to these two matters. Many tourists, particularly
\nforeigners from Europe or Asian countries, complain of the lack
\nof cleanliness here," said Abdillah.<\/p>\n
Tourists believe that they can receive a blessing by visiting
\nthe grave.<\/p>\n
It is also for this reason that government officials and
\npoliticians often visit, including candidates competing in
\nelections as the Surabaya municipality head did in the recent
\nelections.<\/p>\n
Likewise, before the previous presidential election, several
\npresidential candidates, like Wiranto and Megawati Soekarnoputri,
\nalso went there.<\/p>\n
Rahmatullah of Sumenep, Madura, said that as he and his wife
\nhad been blessed with a child after making a visit, he prayed
\nthere every week. He added that his brothers also went there to
\npray before taking university entrance exams or going to job
\ninterviews.<\/p>\n
If one visits Ampel, they will not only see the Sunan Ampel
\ngrave but also enjoy the sight of several old buildings in
\nJavanese architectural style, most of whose occupants are
\ndescendants of immigrants from Hadramaut.<\/p>\n
The buildings have similarities to those in Sana'a and Saiyun,
\ntwo Yemeni cities from which Hadramaut immigrants, often with
\nfamily names like Al Attas, Al Jufri, Baraja, Bawazier, Al
\nHabsyi, Al Katiri and Assegaf, originated.<\/p>\n
The main difference is that these people do not wear khutrokh,
\ntight turbans usually worn by Yemenis.<\/p>\n
If you visit Ampel, you can buy cloth, dates and everything
\nyou will need for Islamic ritual prayers. These are obtainable in
\nAmpel and more inexpensive than they are in Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n
No wonder many haj pilgrims go to Ampel to buy souvenirs for
\ntheir relatives upon their return from Saudi Arabia.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jp18ampel-1447899208",
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