Anies Pilgrimage 10 Minutes To Sunan Gresik's Tomb, Only Smiling When Asked By Journalists About The Presidential Election

JAKARTA - DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan visited the Tomb of Sheikh Maulana Malik Ibrahim or Sunan Gresik, which is located on Jalan Malik Ibrahim, Gapuro Sukolilo, Gresik District, Gresik Regency, East Java, Saturday, November 13.

"This is purely a pilgrimage to his grave. There are no other activities in Gresik, this is purely a pilgrimage," said Anies, in front of the media crew when asked about his destination to Gresik, quoted from Antara, Sunday, November 14.

When asked about preparations for the 2024 Presidential Election (Pilpres), Anies did not answer. The former Chancellor of Paramadina University just smiled.

During the visit, Anies was dressed in a dark blue koko shirt, with a black cap, gloved, and followed a prayer led by Habib Saleh and Habib Abdullah.

The visit, which did not last long, only about 10 minutes, saw Anies make pilgrimages to several clerics' graves, such as Habib Abu Bakar Assegaf.

"This is to pray to Allah SWT and seek blessings from the scholars who spread Islam in Indonesia, especially on the island of Java. We want his blessing, Sheikh Maulana Malik Ibrahim, he is an elder of Wali Songo who has contributed a lot to spreading Islam in Indonesia, especially Gresik, " he said.

Based on the literacy of Babad ing Gresik, Malik Ibrahim is a scholar who came to Java with his brother, Maulana Mahpur and his elder, Sayid Yusuf Mahrabi, along with 40 retinues.

They sailed to Java to spread religion while trading, then anchored in Gerwarasi or Gresik in 1293 or 1371 AD.

The first area to be visited was Sembalo Village, near Leran Village, about 9 km north of Gresik, not far from the tomb of the famous Fatimah bint Maimun.

After his preaching was successful in Sembalo, Malik Ibrahim moved to Gresik City and lived in Sawo Village. He also came to Kutaraja Majapahit. In front of the king, he preached Islam. But the king was not pleased to embrace Islam.

Even so, the arrival of Malik Ibrahim was still well received. In fact, the King of Majapahit awarded a piece of land on the outskirts of Gresik City which would later be known as Gapura Village. There, he founded a boarding school.