Sheikh Muhammad Nawawi al-Bantani is known as one of the most prolific Islamic scholars from the Nusantara. Many of his works have become essential references in Islamic boarding schools (pesantren) across Indonesia. However, one of his significant works, Al-Ibriz ad-Dani fii Maulidi Sayyidi Muhammad al-Adnani, remains largely overlooked.
Sheikh Nawawi, whose full name is Muhammad Nawawi al-Bantani al-Jawi Tsumma al-Makki, was born in Tanara, Banten, and has brought great honor to Indonesia on the international stage through his numerous writings.
In the study of sirah (biography) of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), in addition to his work Targhib al-Musytaqin, which is a commentary on the Maulid Barzanji, Sheikh Nawawi also authored another work on the Prophet’s life entitled Al-Ibriz ad-Dani fii Maulidi Sayyidi Muhammad al-Adnani.
While his renowned works, such as Tafsir al-Munir, Kasyifat as-Saja’, Mirqat al-Su’ud al-Tasdiq, Nihayat al-Zain, al-Maraqi al-Ubudiyyah, Lubab al-Bayan, and Fath al-Majid, are widely studied in Indonesian pesantren, Al-Ibriz has received little attention. According to available records, Sheikh Nawawi wrote approximately 37 books covering various Islamic disciplines, although the true number may be even greater.
Few scholars have studied this particular maulid text, and it is hoped that this brief introduction will inspire deeper research into this important work.
The maulid text was originally published by “Percetakan Al-Azhar Asy-Syarif Al-Munif” and contains a colophon at the end dated 15 Rajab 1399 H (Sunday, June 10, 1979). In October 2020, Gus Nanal Ainal Fauz from Pati, Central Java, in collaboration with Turats Ulama Nusantara, republished Al-Ibriz using a more modern Arabic script to make it accessible to a wider Indonesian audience.
In the final pages, Gus Nanal included a general sanad (chain of transmission), tracing the authorization of this maulid text through Sayyid Ahmad bin Idrus Al-Habsyi of Pasuruan, who received it from the world-renowned musnid Sheikh Muhammad Yasin bin Isa al-Padangi. Sheikh Yasin, in turn, obtained the sanad from two sources directly linked to the original author, Sheikh Jam’an bin Samun al-Tangerangi and Sheikh Muhammad Arsyad Thawil al-Bantani.
Al-Ibriz ad-Dani is a concise commentary on the hadiths narrated by Imam Qasthalani and is divided into 37 chapters. It begins with the story of Nur Muhammad (the Light of Muhammad) as the origin of all creation and concludes with a chapter detailing the physical and moral perfections of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
The book opens with an ode praising the Prophet and then introduces the story of Sayyidah Aminah binti Wahab’s pregnancy in the month of Rajab. In this first month, the souls of previous prophets came to visit her, announcing that the child she was carrying would be the final prophet and the leader of all messengers.
When the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was born, numerous miracles manifested for all to witness. Even the fortune-tellers of Mecca foretold the arrival of a prophet sent by Allah. They saw the heavens open, animals glorifying God, and the night sky over Mecca brightened as if it were day due to the many angels descending to witness the birth of the Prophet, the seal of all prophets.
This is a glimpse of the stories found in Sheikh Nawawi’s maulid text. May blessings and peace be upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Amiin Allahumma Amiin….