Wali Sanga facts for kids

The Wali Songo (also called Wali Sanga) were a group of important Muslim leaders in Indonesia, especially on the island of Java. Their name means 'Nine Saints' in Javanese. The word wali means 'trusted one' or 'friend of God' in Arabic. Sanga means 'nine' in Javanese.

Even though they are called 'Nine Saints,' it's thought that not all nine were alive at the same time. Some people also use the name "Wali Sanga" to talk about other holy people, not just the famous nine. Each of these leaders was often called Sunan, which means 'honored' in Javanese. Many of them were also called Raden because they came from royal families.

Today, people visit the graves of the Wali Sanga in Java. This is a special kind of pilgrimage called ziarah or pundhen.

Who Were the Wali Songo?

The earliest known Wali Sanga was Malik Ibrahim. He is believed to have lived in the early 1300s. He came from a highly educated family in a place called Kashan, which is in modern-day Iran. His family had moved there from Samarqand.

Some experts believe that the Wali Sanga's family lines might have come from China, not just Arab countries. For example, Sunan Ampel, Sunan Bonang, and Sunan Kalijaga are thought to have had Chinese family roots. This idea was first shared in a book in 1968, saying that the Wali Sanga were descendants of Chinese Muslims.

One important person was Dewi Candrawulan, a Muslim princess from Champa. She was the mother of Raden Rahmat, who later became known as Sunan Ampel. Sunan Ampel was the son of Malik Ibrahim. He was also the teacher or ancestor of some of the other Wali Sanga.

How Islam Spread in Java

It was not easy for Islam to grow in Indonesia at first. For many hundreds of years, Islam did not have a strong presence. Records from the Chinese Tang dynasty show that traders from the Middle East came to Sumatra and Java as early as 674 AD. In the 900s, a group of Persians settled in Java, in areas like Ngudung (Kudus) and Gresik. A gravestone found in Gresik, from the 900s, shows that Persian groups were arriving.

In 1292, the famous traveler Marco Polo visited Perlak, a port city in Aceh. He wrote that there were three groups of people there: Chinese Muslims, Persian Muslims, and local people who worshipped nature. He noted that the Muslim traders had helped convert the townspeople to Islam.

About 100 years later, the Chinese Muslim Admiral Zheng He came to Java in 1405. He wrote that there were many Chinese Muslim families in cities like Tuban, Gresik, and Surabaya. On his last visit in 1433, his scribe, Ma Huan, noted that the Chinese and Arab people in Java's northern cities were all Muslim. However, most local people were not Muslim and worshipped spirits.

Many sources agree that the Wali Sanga played a big part in spreading Islam in Indonesia. They helped the religion grow, even though Islam was already present before they arrived.

The Famous Nine Members

The exact list of the nine saints can be different depending on the source. However, the list below is widely accepted. It's important to remember that the term "Wali Sanga" was created later by historians. It's likely there was a group of nine religious leaders, and new members joined as older ones retired or passed away. It's also possible that not all nine were alive at the same time.

Here are the most commonly accepted members of the Wali Sanga:

• Sunan Gresik: He arrived in Java around 1404 CE and died in 1419 CE. He is buried in Gresik, East Java. He helped people by trading, healing, and improving farming methods. He was the father of Sunan Ampel and uncle of Sunan Giri.
• Sunan Ampel: Born in Champa in 1401 CE, he died in 1481 CE in Demak, Central Java. He was a very important figure among the Wali Sanga. He was the son of Sunan Gresik and the father of Sunan Bonang and Sunan Drajat. Sunan Ampel was also the cousin and father-in-law of Sunan Giri. He was the grandfather of Sunan Kudus and taught Raden Patah.
• Sunan Giri: Born in Blambangan (now Banyuwangi) in 1442 CE. His father, Maulana Ishak, was the brother of Maulana Malik Ibrahim. Sunan Giri's grave is in Gresik near Surabaya.
• Sunan Bonang: Born in 1465 CE in Rembang, Central Java. He died in 1525 CE and is buried in Tuban. He was the brother of Sunan Drajat and created songs for the gamelan orchestra.
• Sunan Drajat: Born in 1470 CE. He was the brother of Sunan Bonang and also composed songs for the gamelan orchestra.
• Sunan Kudus: He died in 1550 CE and is buried in Kudus. He might have started the wayang golek puppetry.
• Sunan Kalijaga: His birth name was Raden Mas Said. He was the son of Tumenggung Harya Wilatikta, the leader of Tuban. He is buried in Kadilangu, Demak. He used wayang kulit shadow puppets and gamelan music to share spiritual lessons.
• Sunan Muria: He is buried in Gunung Muria, Kudus. He was the son of Sunan Kalijaga and Dewi Soejinah (who was Sunan Giri's sister).
• Sunan Gunung Jati: He is buried in Cirebon. He was the founder and first ruler of the Cirebon Sultanate. His son, Maulana Hasanudin, founded the Banten Sultanate.

Other Important Wali Sanga Figures

Some other figures are also sometimes mentioned as Wali Sanga:

• Syekh Jumadil Kubro (father of Malik Ibrahim and Maulana Ishak)
• Sunan Sitijenar
• Sunan Walilanang
• Sunan Bayat
• Sunan Ngudung (son-in-law of Sunan Ampel and father of Sunan Kudus)

See also

• Islam in Indonesia
• List of Sufi saints