The Wali Songo (Saints) as “Agricultural Extension Workers”

 

The *Wali Songo* (Nine Saints) are renowned for their method of *dakwah* (religious outreach) rooted in culture rather than conquest. Although they did not all live contemporaneously, they were connected by ties of kinship or teacher-student relationships. Maulana Malik Ibrahim was the eldest of the saints; Sunan Ampel was his son, while Sunan Giri was his nephew. These saints propagated the faith along Java’s north coast from the early 15th century to the mid-16th century. They were intellectuals who acted as social reformers, introducing various dimensions of a new civilization—ranging from healthcare, agriculture, and commerce to culture, the arts, social organization, and governance.

Economically, when Maulana Malik Ibrahim first set foot in the Gresik area, his initial activity was trade; he opened a small shop (*warung*) that provided basic necessities at affordable prices. Beyond commerce, he treated the local people for free and taught them agricultural techniques. He sought to embrace the common people—specifically those belonging to castes that had been marginalized during the preceding Hindu era.

Sunan Giri transformed his *pesantren* (Islamic boarding school) into more than just a place of education in the narrow sense; it became a hub for community development. Meanwhile, Sunan Bonang was known for his skill in locating water sources in arid regions. He also innovated Javanese *gamelan* music by introducing a fresh nuance through the addition of the *bonang* instrument. The famous song “Tombo Ati” is one of Sunan Bonang’s compositions.

Much like Maulana Malik Ibrahim, Sunan Drajat was known for his humility and helpful nature. At his *pesantren*, he cared for many orphans and the destitute. One of his teachings was: “Give a cane to the blind, feed the hungry, and clothe the naked.” Sunan Muria preferred living in highly remote areas, far from city centers, to propagate Islam. He mingled with the common people while teaching them skills in farming, trade, and seafaring. Renowned for his problem-solving abilities, he once served as a mediator during internal conflicts within the Demak Sultanate (1518–1530). Finally, Sunan Gunung Jati directly led the government by virtue of his status as a royal prince. In his missionary work, he engaged with the populace by developing infrastructure, specifically roads that connected different regions.

Although the *Wali* (Saints) did not live contemporaneously, they selected their spheres of missionary activity by considering geostrategic factors relevant to their respective eras. They established themselves in trading towns or port cities. In this capacity, they could be described as "Islam-spreading merchants." They did not withdraw from the world to practice asceticism in seclusion; rather, they were highly active in the economy, tangible social work, governance, and the arts.

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