Learn Moral Sufism from KH. Nur Kholis Misbah at Al-Amanah Junwangi
Two months of carrying out my mandate as a care assistant at the Al-Amanah Junwangi Modern Islamic Boarding School, Krian, Sidoarjo, was an experience that changed the way I view Islamic boarding school education. I came with the idea that parenting duties revolved around student discipline, administration and daily activities. However, under the tutelage of KH. Nur Kholis Misbah, I actually learned that moral education goes far beyond the classroom and the pages of books.
Morality is taught by example. Sufism is not only discussed in studies, but is manifested in the way we view humans, nature, and every belief that exists around us.
This Islamic boarding school has many corners that contain philosophy. There is an area called Mahsyar Madani, where students are trained to learn discipline and shared responsibility. There is also an area called McGill. The name is taken from one of the leading universities in Canada. Not to boast, but as a prayer so that the santri have broad aspirations and the courage to face the world, without abandoning their santri identity.
However, behind that big vision, I found one lesson that felt most fundamental: someone will not be able to bring about big changes if they are not able to take care of what is in front of them.
I learned that lesson one night.
The atmosphere at the Islamic boarding school began to become quiet. The ustadz and administrators gathered at the Rumekso Ing Wengi Pendopo. It is in this simple place that various evaluations and advice are often conveyed.
Not long after, the sound of a red Honda Beat motorbike entered the Islamic boarding school yard. From the motorbike appeared a figure who was familiarly addressed by the entire Al-Amanah family with the simple name, “Father”. He is KH. Nur Kholis Misbah. May God forgive him.
He sat with us. As usual, the conversation began with an evaluation of Islamic boarding school life. There is no patronizing impression. His advice flows like a father talking to his children.
One of the messages that I still remember is when he talked about the intention to serve.
“Don’t let what we do at this Islamic boarding school be done through compulsion. Do it and have the intention of serving to develop students, solely for the sake of gaining Allah’s approval.”
This sentence seems to remind us that an educator’s job is not just to complete work, but to maintain sincerity so that every activity is worthy of worship.
However, that night apparently still held another lesson that was more imprinted in my memory.
When the conversation turned to cleanliness and the Islamic boarding school garden, he suddenly said,
“I know the trees are thirsty. That’s why I can’t travel far, because I always think about the plants around this Islamic boarding school.”
That sentence sounds simple. However, the longer I think about it, the more I understand that therein lies the true essence of Sufism.
He does not talk about the theory of love for nature. He shows how love works in everyday life. This worry does not stop with humans, but extends to other God’s creatures, even trees which are unable to complain of their thirst.
I then understood why the Al-Amanah environment felt so beautiful. The trees grow well maintained. The parks are clean. Simple gazebos provide a place for students to read books, discuss or memorize lessons in a shady atmosphere.
Beauty is not merely the result of a cleanliness program, but rather the fruit of a perspective. When a caregiver loves the environment as part of God’s mandate, this love is slowly passed on to all boarding school residents.
At Al-Amanah I learned that character education does not always start with long lectures. Sometimes it arises from things that seem simple: picking up trash without being asked, watering plants that are starting to wilt, keeping the yard clean, or arranging the environment to make it comfortable for other people.
All of this may seem trivial. However, it is precisely from small habits that morals grow into character.
A brief experience while serving at Al-Amanah made me realize that Sufism is not just a discussion about maqamat, ahwal, or soul purification in classical books. Sufism is also present when someone is able to view all of God’s creation with compassion.
I remember the simple sentence my father said that night.
“I know thirsty trees.”
Perhaps, someone only truly learns to love Allah when their heart is sensitive enough to feel the needs of His creatures, even those who are unable to speak.
Author: M. Hikmal Yazid
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