The Tombs of the Wali Pitu: Pilgrimage Sites and Evidence of the Spread of Islam in Bali
Religious tourism, such as visiting the tombs of religious figures, is becoming increasingly popular. One such destination is the Wali Pitu Bali.
The Wali Pitu Bali are seven prominent religious figures who played an important role in spreading Islam on the Island of the Gods. Their presence serves as historical evidence that Islam also existed and grew, and integrated with the Hindu culture that is the majority religion in Bali.
Here are the seven figures of the Wali Pitu whose tombs are located in Bali and have become religious tourism destinations:
- Pangeran Mas Sepuh
Pangeran Mas Sepuh, whose real name was Syekh Achmad Choirussholeh, has his tomb located in Banjar Seseh, Cemagi Village, Mengwi District, Badung. Pangeran Mas Sepuh was the son of the Raja of Mengwi I, and his mother was the daughter of the Kingdom of Blambangan, Banyuwangi, East Java.
Pangeran Mas Sepuh came to Bali to meet his father, whom he had never met since birth. However, upon arriving in Bali, he found that his father had passed away.
At one point, a dispute occurred between the Mengwi Royal family, and Pangeran Mas Sepuh decided to leave the palace. Shortly after, he was attacked by a group of armed men, and a battle became unavoidable.
The tomb of Pangeran Mas Sepuh was discovered in 1992 and has never been without visitors. In addition to Muslims, people of other religions are also welcome to visit. The tomb of Pangeran Mas Sepuh is usually open from 07:00 to 21:00 local time.
- Syekh Abdul Qodir Muhammad
Syekh Abdul Qadir Muhammad initially came to Bali to spread Islam, starting from Karangasem, Buleleng, to Jembrana. His tomb is now located next to Pura Agung Labuan Aji, Temukus Village, Banjar District, Buleleng.
There are several other tombs next to the tomb of Syekh Abdul Qadir Muhammad. Some of these tombs are believed to be the graves of his students.
The tomb of Syekh Abdul Qadir Muhammad is often visited by pilgrims from within and outside Bali. The location of the tomb is not too large and still uses the oldest building, but it is in a cool and quiet area.
- Habib Ali bin Umar bin Abu Bakar Bafaqih
KH Habib Ali bin Umar Bafaqih was born in Banyuwangi in 1890. He studied diligently in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, for seven years. After returning from Mecca, Habib Ali bin Umar Bafaqih studied at Jombang before eventually preaching in Bali, as requested by Datuk Kyai Haji Mochammad Said, a famous cleric in Loloan.
Habib Ali bin Umar Bafaqih died in 1997 at the age of 107. He was then buried on Jalan Nangka Number 145, Loloan Barat Village, Negara District, Jembrana.
The tomb of Habib Ali bin Umar Bafaqih is in the same area as the Syamsul Huda Islamic Boarding School, which he founded in 1935. His tomb is now often visited or paid homage to by people from various regions in Indonesia.
- Raden Ayu Siti Khodijah
The tomb of Raden Ayu Pemecutan, or Siti Khotijah, has the real name Gusti Ayu Made Rai. She was the daughter of the Raja of Pemecutan who married the Prince of Bangkalan. As a convert to Islam, she learned about Islam directly from her husband, the Raja of Bangkalan Madura, Cakraningrat IV.
The tomb of Raden Ayu Siti Khodijah is located on Jalan Gunung Batukaru, Pemecutan Village, Denpasar. The tomb has a unique feature: a tree that is said to have appeared suddenly and grown on top of it. Although it has been cut down, it continues to grow again, so it was eventually left to grow to its large size.
- Wali Kembar
The Keramat Kembar tomb is located in Bungaya Kangin Village, Bebandem District, Karangasem. Inside this twin tomb complex are the tombs of Habib Ali bin Zainal Abidin al-Idrus and Maulana Yusuf Al-Baghdadi Al-Maghribi. Both were religious figures who spread Islam in Bali, especially in Karangasem, but with different backgrounds.
Maulana Yusuf Al-Baghdadi Al-Maghribi is believed to have come from Baghdad, Iraq, and his tomb is estimated to be 350-400 years old. Meanwhile, Habib Ali bin Zainal Abidin Al-Idrus was a great cleric in Karangasem and taught many students in Bali to Lombok. He died on the 9th of Ramadan 1493 Hijri at the age of 109.
The Karangasem twin tomb is usually visited by many pilgrims, mostly from Java and Kalimantan. Meanwhile, foreign pilgrims who come each year come from Malaysia, Singapore, and Morocco.
- Habib Ali bin Abu Bakar bin Umar Al-Khamid
This wali’s tomb is located on the beach in Kusamba Village, Dawan District, Klungkung. During his life, Habib Ali bin Abu Bakar al-Hamid served as an advisor and taught Malay to the Raja of Klungkung, Dalem I Dewa Agung Jambe. While carrying out his duties, Habib Ali also used the time to convey his religious message to the royal family and those associated with him. He is also a 32nd-generation descendant of the Prophet Muhammad.
The tomb of Habib Ali is highly respected by local residents, both Muslims and Hindus. This is evidenced by the pilgrims who come not only from the Muslim community but also from people of the Hindu faith. The Kusamba Beach tourist attraction in Klungkung, which is not far from the Habib Ali tomb complex, also adds to the appeal of the Makam Keramat Kusamba religious tourism site.
- Habib Umar bin Yusuf Al-Maghribi
Habib Umar bin Yusuf Al-Maghribi came from the Middle East and arrived in Bali during the 15th century. He came with two other people from an Islamic development institution on Talango Island, Madura. They were Sheikh Maulana Raden Musa and Sheikh Maulana Raden Husein.
Habib Umar bin Yusuf Al-Maghribi is believed to have died while meditating on the summit of Bukit Tapak, part of the Batukaru Nature Reserve. Access is through the Eka Karya Bedugul Botanical Gardens. Therefore, pilgrims who wish to visit must provide a photocopy of their identity and are advised to use a local guide.
Before visiting, pilgrims are asked to remain well-behaved, wear modest clothing, not force themselves to pray, not damage facilities, and always maintain cleanliness and order.