This journey began upon his return from the Pondok Pesantren Mathali’ul Falah Kajen in Pati, Central Java, in 1996. Initially, he employed a method of writing verses from Alfiyyah on the blackboard for collective reading and study with students. This approach continued until 2000.
The name “Amtsilati” derives from an idhafah construction (a combination of two nouns) where the first word, “amtsilatun,” means example, and the second word, “ya’ mutakallim,” means I. Together, they mean “my example,” acknowledging the diverse meanings contained in idhafah constructions.
The creation of Amtsilati commenced on 17 Ramadan 2001. In a state of reflection and spiritual contemplation (zikir), KH Taufiqul Hakim received a vision of his teachers, including Syekh Muhammad Baha’uddin An-Naqsyabandiyyah, Syekh Ahmad Mutamakkin, and Imam Ibn Malik (author of Alfiyyah Ibn Malik), guiding him. This inspiration led to a burst of intense writing, completing the manuscript in ten days.
The Development of Amtsilati
Determined to share Amtsilati beyond his personal use, KH Taufiqul Hakim presented his work publicly. The initial presentation in Jepara, at the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) building, received modest attention.