REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, Bogor ever had a great scholar of astronomy (ilmu falak). Due to his deep expertise in astronomy, his teacher offered him a title of "Falak". Then, he turned to be KH Tubagus Muhammad Falak. The Kiai who was born in Banten decided to preach in Bogor and even established Nahdhatul Ulama branch in the rainy city.
Kiai was born in 1842 in Srabi, Pandeglang, Banten. At birth, his name was Kyai Abdul Halim, and then changed its name to Abdul Haris. Only later as an adult he was named Tubagus Muhammad and titled Falak from his teacher, Shaykh Sayyid Afandi Turuqi.
He was born in the family of clerics. His father, KH Tubagus Abbas was a famous religious scholar in Banten and leader of Sabi Boarding School. Kyai also inherited a royal blood, from his father in as well as his mother, Queen Quraisyn, a descendant of Banten sultanate. Not only that, his father also has a family line from The Sultan of Banten who was the son of Sultan Syarif Hidayatullah (Sunan Gunung Jati).
His primary education received from his father. Since childhood, Kiyai has studied various branches of religious knowledge. Then at a very young age, 15 years old, he became a traveler to explore the science of several great scholars in Banten and Cirebon. At the same age, Kiyai went to Mecca to enhance religious knowledge.
His age was so young when he landed in Holy Land. He was then living in Mecca with his teacher who came from Indonesia, Shaykh Abdul Karim Banten. In the birth place of Islam, Kiyai studied different objects of science from several prominent scholars, such as Sheikh Al-Nawawi Bantany and Sheikh Mansur Al-Madany. Aside from Indonesian clerics, Kiyai also learned to Sayyid Amin Qutbi on major of hadith, Sayyid Abdullah Jawawi on mysticism, Sayyid Affandi Turkey for astronomy science, Sayyid Ahmad and Sayyid Umar Habasy Baarum to jurisprudence, and so forth.
After several years of learning in Mecca, around 21 years, Kiyai returned home. At home, it's on colonial era; Kiai had led the resistance group of farmers against colonial power in Banten. But then in 1892, Kiyai returned to Mecca. He was just returning to his homeland in the early 20th century.
Returning to his homeland, Kiyai began to focus on preaching message of Islam. At that moment, He then preached in the city of Bogor. In the village Pagentongan, he set up Islamic Borading School (Pondok Pesantren) Al Falak. He also founded Nadlatul Ulama branch in Bogor.
In Bogor, he married Siti Fatimah. From the marriage, it was born a son, Tubagus Muhammad Thohir, a scholar who later became a successor preacher in Bogor.
In Pagentongan, Kyai Falak spent his time to preach. He also involved in the national struggle, a part of national movement. When he was 130 years old, he passed away, precisely on Wednesday, July 19, 1972 AD or 8 Jumadil Akhir 1392 Hijri.
Ed: Heri Ruslan
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