Noted as one of the 13 founding figures of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), KH Abdul Chalim’s name is not as popular as other figures in the Indonesian people’s historical record and collective memory, especially nahdliyin residents. But he had an essential role behind the founding of NU and the struggle for Indonesian independence. Simplicity and humility, that’s how he is.
When the NU jamiyah was founded in Surabaya in 1926, KH Abdul Chalim sat as Katib Tsani on the management of the NU Executive Board for the first period. With that position, he became a working partner of KH Abdul Wahab Hasbullah, one of the most influential scholars at the time. At that time, KH Hasyim Asy’ari as Rais Akbar, KH Ahmad Dahlan Ahyad as Deputy Rais Akbar, KH Abdul Wahab Hasbullah as Katib Awal, and KH Abdul Chalim as Katib Tsani (or Second Secretary).
Who is KH Abdul Chalim so that his name does not adorn the pages of history books and is less well known in the community’s collective memory? He had an essential role in implementing the Hijaz Committee on January 31, 1926, which later gave birth to NU, Indonesia’s most prominent Islamic organization.
He was born in Leuwimunding Sub-district, Majalengka, West Java, in 1898 without a recorded date of birth. Because he was born in Leuwimunding, he later went by the name KH Abdul Chalim Leuwimunding. His father was Kedung Wangsagama, a village head which his residents highly respected. His mother’s name is Nyai Satimah. KH Abdul Chalim was married to four women and had 21 sons and daughters. KH Asep Saifuddin Chalim, the caretaker of the Amanatul Ummah Pesantren, who is also the General Chairperson of the NU Teachers Association Center (Pergunu).
Based on the explanation of KH Asep Saifuddin, KH Abdul Chalim’s first wife was Nyai Hj Nur. From this first marriage, KH Abdul Chalim was blessed with a child named Siti Rahmah. Then, KH Abdul Chalim married Nyai Mahmudah from Cilimus, Kuningan. Moreover, through this marriage was blessed with several children, namely Nyai Hj Chomsatun, Nyai Hj Mafruchat, Agus Hafidz Qawiyyun, Nyai Rofiqoh, H Ahmad Mustin, Nyai Nashihah, and Mustahdi Chalim. After that, KH Abdul Chalim married Nyai Siti Qana’ah from Plered, Cirebon who later had seven children, namely Nyai Humaidah, Nyai Muntafiah, Nyai Hudriah, H Mustafid Chalim, Nyai Farikhah, Nyai Halimah, and KH Asep Saifuddin. Then, his last wife was Nyai Hj Siddiqoh, who gave birth to Siti Halimah.
Hijaz Connection
As a teenager, KH Abdul Chalim attended HIS Cirebon. Because of that, he was able to master the Dutch language. But also proficient in Arabic. After completing HIS, he continued his education at various Pesantrens in Cirebon. Among them are the Trajaya Pesantren (Majalengka), the Kedungwuni Pesantren (Duchy), and the Kempek Pesantren (Cirebon). Then, in 1914, when he was only sixteen years old, KH Abdul Chalim performed the pilgrimage and studied in the Hijaz land for two years. He learned directly from well-known scholars, such as Abu Abdul Mu’thi, Shaykh Ahmad Dayyat, and Muhammad Nawawi bin Umar Al-Bantani who is more famous than Imam Nawawi Banten.
While studying at the Hijaz, KH Abdul Chalim met with various Nusantara scholars from multiple regions. Some of these scholars later became friends and teachers. The most familiar friend and teacher is KH Abdul Wahab Hasbullah, better known as Kiai Wahab Jombang. At that time, KH Abdul Chalim became a member and administrator of the Sarekat Islam (SI) Hijaz and was the youngest member there because he was only sixteen years old.