Even without its occupants, that’s how it is; the student rooms are already so crowded. But, of course, there was never enough room to sleep all the occupants. So, if it’s night, the one who sleeps first can get a place, which then has to lie everywhere. Maybe in the halls between the booths. Maybe in the mosque.
Also a matter of bathing. Jeding pesantren is never enough to serve hundreds of students who have to queue for bathing simultaneously. That’s why I and some friends usually prefer to bathe outside the cottage. At that time, Al-Qodiri was still in the old hut. About 500 meters to the back, there is a river. After climbing several sections of rice fields, we can find a river there; the water is quite clear because it flows from mountain springs. It was in the open creeks that we used to bathe and wash clothes. So it’s foolish people pass by looking at our nakedness.
What’s even more remarkable is this: barely able to sleep through the night. Being able to sleep for three or four hours is considered a luxury. The students began to be free from the obligation to recite and study around 22.00 or 23.00. At those hours, we may be able to go to bed to relieve fatigue. But about two hours later, usually at 01.00 or 02.00, Pak Kiai has woken the santri for the evening prayer in the congregation; followed by remembrance and wirid, the short version of Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jailani’s manaqiban, until dawn. And that is istikamah every night unless Pak Kiai is unable to.
And remember: it is forbidden to sleep during night remembrance like that. Pak Kiai is always on standby with his pitcher. While leading the dhikr, his eyes are always alert. If during night remembrance like that someone is found to be sleepy, then boo! Penggalah will whip the shoulders or backs of students who are asleep. “I hit the devil who slept with you,” said Pak Kiai.
From my point of view today, those stories are an “upnormal” life, above average. Not sure I can live it again. But the riyadhoh taught in the pesantren at that time, the riyadhoh to keep the “soul awake”, is still carried around until now.
Usually, on the sidelines of the night’s remembrance, Kiai Muzzaki gives a lot of advice and guidance on praying appropriately until our souls stay awake, never fall asleep or even die. At such an early age, I could only grope his teachings about the nature of life, the nature of God, not only when sitting cross-legged during dhikr, but also in various other activities. But later, when I was in college, I studied it from many references about tarekat and Sufism.
One of his conclusions is quite astonishing: how can we put the same psychological distance between all creatures, against all humans. It’s like I’m being challenged to be equally kind to both the giver and the thief. Apparently, that’s the key to not being nervous and stuttering in life. To this day, I have never ceased to be grateful to have received such an education.
Music at Pondok Salaf
Some moments have made me love poetry until now. For example, when the imtihan was going to be held at Al-Qodiri, the committee asked me to recite on stage and read poetry. I don’t know what the considerations are; what is certain is that the santri cannot refuse the orders of the board of directors. So, on that night of imtihan, I was like a poet, reading poetry on stage. But it will be the first and the last. After that, I never did it again, although I have loved poetry ever since and have written it occasionally.
While studying at the Jember State Islamic Institute (IAIN) (now changed to KH Achmad Siddiq State Islamic University), I moved to the Al-Fattah Islamic Boarding School in Talangsari. Perhaps because at that time, in the transition period of boarding school care since Kiai Dhofir died, and most of the students were students, the arrangement of students at Al-Fattah was relatively “loose”. As long as there is a reason for college or student activities, students may leave the lodge.