Nine Saints of Java (book review)

Title :- Nine Saints of Java

By :- D.A. Rinkes, translation by H.M. Froger

Published :-Malaysian Sociological Research Institute (1966), Hard back (250 pages)

Outline :- The author was a civil servant in the Netherlands East Indies who wrote a number fo articles between 1910 – 1913. Stories surrounding the nine Java saints that are credited in bringing Islam to Indonesia. Most of the stories are around north central Java. The stories are sometimes a mix of much older fables reinvigorated in the sayings and events of the saints.

On interesting anti smoking story goes;

“Another source, however, links Shaik Abdulmuhyi with the local Saint Haji Mangsur *Mansur) of Banten, who also went at the same time to Makka on Fidays, but through the air. Neither knew how to address the other, so it was decided that the first to arrive must greet the other as Akang (elder brother). The Following Friday, after breakfast, Abdulmuhyi thought there was still time for a few puffs (cigarette) but evidently not, for the time thus spent caused him to lose the race through the air and earth. As he emerged from the Zamzam Well (earth) in Makka, Haju Mangsur had already landed from the air and had seated himself amidst the faithful. Shaikh Abdulmuhyi was compelled to acknowledge him as superior. From then onwards, he renounced the cursed habit which had so tricked him. He also forbad smoking to all his disciples.”