RA Kartini and the Quranic Verse 'From Darkness Emerges Light'

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA – The figure of Raden Ajeng Kartini (1879-1904) once studied under KH Saleh Darat. The story of this teacher and student contains many lessons. Among them is an example of the fusion of local Javanese culture and Islam.

Initially, KH Saleh Darat taught Quranic exegesis in several northern coastal cities of Java, including Demak. The Demak Regent at that time was Kartini’s uncle.

During a monthly study session, the daughter born in Jepara became a participant. She joined the female nobility sitting behind a curtain, listening to the kiai’s exposition. It turned out that KH Saleh Darat’s explanation of the tafsir of Surah al-Fatihah greatly captured her heart.

After the session, Kartini then persuaded her uncle to accompany her to meet KH Saleh Darat. With polite but firm words, Kartini asked the kiai to translate al-Fatihah into Javanese.

“Other kiais do not dare to do so. Because, they say, the Quran must not be translated into other languages,” Kartini complained to KH Saleh Darat.

To him, Kartini also admitted that she had never understood and comprehended the meaning of Surah al-Fatihah before attending the kiai’s study in the Demak Pendopo. For that, she expressed her sincerest thanks.

However, how regrettable it is, said Kartini, if reading the Quran as such a beautiful holy book results in its contents not being understood at all by the faithful. In fact, they, especially Javanese Muslims, very much want to understand the contents of the holy book as a guide to life. How can one perform good deeds without knowledge?

KH Saleh Darat’s heart was moved. Upon returning home, the kiai then endeavoured to translate the Quran into Javanese using Pegon script.

From that hard work, the book of Quranic tafsir Faidhur Rahman was born. On the cover of this book, he used the name Abu Ibrahim to commemorate his deceased son (Ibrahim).

That book is the first text of Quran translation in Javanese. Its contents cover from Surah al-Fatihah to Surah Ibrahim. The author passed away first before he could complete the book to cover all 30 juz of the Quran.

Since reading KH Saleh Darat’s work, Kartini’s outlook became more Islamic. In the sense that she began to leave liberal tendencies, which were nothing but guidance from her Dutch mentors.

Her famous saying, “From darkness emerges light,” is Kartini’s understanding of verse 257 of Surah al-Baqarah, which means “Allah guides the believers from darkness to light.” Kartini was deeply touched by that sentence from Allah’s word.