There is No Need for Love

S2: Tracing Panorama of Central Tapanuli Sibolga (5)

It was still dawn that Haris's entourage had reached Barus. The trip this time in the beginning to the Tomb of Papan Tinggi complex, they do not walk alone, there are local residents who are recommended by Faisal to accompany, his name is Satria Limbong, he prefers to be called surname only, he prefers, called Limbong.

After breakfast, the group went straight to the first target, from the beginning Haris had warned that this would be a tiring journey, would climb hundreds of stairs that reach up to 1 KM and climb, he said, everything was just a smile and immediately stepped following Limbong and Haris who walked the front.

At first it looked beautiful, everyone was still laughing and joking, but the further they all found out the truth of Haris' words, Risda who was so excited now began to step one, one, Asrul realized that his wife had a history of heart, but Asrul was silent, only to slow down and stop more, so the two were left far behind.

“Gendong Bang”.

Asrul rounded his eyes. “What ?”.

“Gendong yes ..”.

Asrul. “What's carrying ?, already, we're slow just”.

Asrul continued to shake his head, carrying his own body somehow, want to be carried anyway?, if the child was carrying, maybe it was, this is Risda, this is Risda, which weighs almost 60 Kg, can faint us, inner Asrul who continues to shake his head.

Asrul really patiently waited and followed the steps of Risda who was limped, but finally they arrived as well. Faridha and Farhan had been waiting for Asrul and Risda at the entrance of the tomb, in Faridha's hands there was also drinking water, Risda's hands immediately grabbed and gulped.

Risda sat at the entrance of the tomb looking out towards the ocean, however much weary, it turned out that until here everything could be lost easily, not just because it could see the tomb of an aulia, but because it could see the grave of an aulia, but the scenery is incredible, the expanse of rice fields, the expanse of the ocean and the pile of villages.

All the scenery makes the feeling so calm, the breeze also infiltrates deep into the sanu bari, so that all it finds is calm, peace and comfort. Like the others, Risda also discovered that, so there were many smiles adorning her lips.

In just a few minutes, Risda has returned to normal and back again with his behavior, photo. Asrul was drawn here to get the most beautiful moment. Asrul just shook his head, fortunately the activity was not long, everyone was now sitting in a circle, wanting to hear the Limbong story.

In the 7th century AD, Islam has existed in Barus, the old city located on the coast of Central Tapanuli Regency, North Sumatra. Barus became the entrance of Islam in Indonesia, much older than the history of Wali Songo, the spreader of Islam in Java in the 14th century.

Tomb of Papan Tinggi, Barus, Central Tapanuli, North Sumatra

Many historical literature mentions that the religion of Islam in Indonesia was first present in Barus. This is evidenced by the existence of an old tomb in the Mahligai burial complex, Barus, in the 7th century. On the tombstone is written Sheikh Rukunuddin died in 672 AD or 48 Hijri, strengthening the Muslim community at that time.

Barus is 290 kilometers from Medan City, the capital of North Sumatra. If taken by land takes about 7 hours drive. From the city of Sibolga, it takes about 2 hours road trip. Barus is a historic place and is currently one of the religious tourism destinations in North Sumatra. Unfortunately, there are still many people who do not know Barus because of the lack of information about the old city.

In fact, Barus store many historical ancient objects such as jewelry, currency from gold and silver, inscriptions and fragments of sculpture. In addition, there are tombs of auliya and Islamic scholars in 7th century Indonesia. Among them are the Tomb of Papan Tinggi, Tomb of Mahligai, Tomb of Shaykh Mahdun, Tomb of Shaykh Ibrahim Shah, Tuan Ambar Tomb, Tomb of Tuan Shaykh Badan Batu.

Barus position located on the edge of the West Coast of Sumatra Island and directly opposite the ocean off the Indian Ocean made it known to the world in the 7th century. Moreover, thanks to its forest products, camphor, frankincense and gold, Barus became a city that is often visited by many merchants around the world.

The name Barus also appears in the history of Malay civilization through Hamzah Fansyuri, a famous Sufi poet. Barus, also known as Pancur, was later changed into Arabic to Fansur. In the book “Barus A Thousand Years Ago” written by French archaeologist Claude Guillot assisted several other authors mention, Barus belongs to the class of ancient cities that are famous throughout Asia since the 6th century AD.

In the last chapter of the book mentioned, there is a place in the hills of Barus that the local people need to get special attention. This remote tomb, marked with two vertical gravestones, is believed to be the tomb of a guardian.

What is meant is the tomb of Papan Tinggi which is located on a hill as high as 215 meters above sea level. To get to the tomb, you have to pass 730 steps. It is said that in this tomb, there is an urn whose water continues to exist despite the dry season. But the back of the urn broke because it was not maintained.

In terms of language, almost every major tombstone reads Arabic. It is very rarely found, not only in Barus but throughout the archipelago in general.

If reviewing a glimpse of the history of the old city of Barus, Claude Guillot described it in the book Old Lobu: Early History Barus. This book is an effort to solve the secrets of Barus' history has been done since almost a century and a half ago, especially in the field of epigraphy and discussion of written sources. However, in-depth research in the field only began to be conducted in the late 1980s on the efforts of the National Akeological Research Center .

Then in 1995, thanks to the approval of Prof Dr. Hasan M. Ambary, when it served as the head of the PPAN institute, together with the Ecole francaise d’Ectreme-Orient launched an archaeological research program in Barus, especially in Lobu Tua where many ancient objects have been found.

Barus is one of the places that is very instrumental in the beginning of civilization the entry of Batak culture, the birth of the Batak Parmalim religion, the entry of Christianity, the entry of Islam to the blending of Malay Culture. However, not many know about it because Barus is now only a backward and remote area on the coast of Central Tapanuli.

If you see some relics and the existence of the High Board Tomb. At this location, there is the longest tomb and has a large and high tombstone. It is said that the length of the tomb was estimated to be about seven meters more.

On a tombstone made of rock inscribed the name of Shaykh Mahmud Fil Hadratul Maut, Yemen. It was ruled from 34 Hijri to 44 Hijri who at that time was the leadership of Caliph Umar Bin Khattab. In addition to the long tomb, inside the location of the Tomb of Papan Tinggi there are also five other tombs that according to the story are the tombs of his descendants.

During the time of Caliph Umar bin Khattab, many emissaries of the caliphate and Arab merchants mainly from Yemen expanded into Asia. At that time Barus became a stopover because the area was directly faced with the open ocean. Merchants from Arabia, Jordan, Yemen, Persia and the Indies also made many voyages to this area for the benefit of the spice business and the purchase of camphor.

While the scholars who are representatives of the Caliph set foot to Barus to spread began to spread Islam in Indonesia. No wonder, if in the Barus area there are many tombs of scholars. One of them is the High Board Graveyard.

In addition to the Tomb of Papan Tinggi, in Barus there are also more than 200 tombs located above the hills of Dakka Village, Barus District. This tomb is called Mahligai Tomb with a large and small tombstone. At that location, there is one of the tombs of Mr. Shaykh Rukunuddin, died in 672 AD or the year 48 Hijiriyah in the 7th century AD. Shaykh Rukunuddin died at the age of 102.

Archaeological evidence shows that Shaykh Mahmud was an immigrant who had long settled in Barus. The tombstone of Shaykh Mahmud is not a common stone used by Barus residents, but a type of stone imported from India.

Shaykh Mahmud is an Islamic propagator from Hadramaut, Yemen, who came to Barus since the 7th century. In addition to Papan Tinggi and Mahligai, there is also the tomb of Tuan Shaykh Bodies Stone. This tomb is called the Tomb of Aulia 44 Barus Country is located on the hill of Mount Hasang Village, about 2 kilometers from Barus City.

“President himself admitted that Barus is the first and oldest Islamic city in Indonesia. The government has inaugurated the zero point monument as the center of Islamic civilization Nusantara here in Barus. Later we see, after this we rest for a while, dhuzur, then we go to the Tomb of Mahligai”. Limbong.

“So this is the tomb of a friend Sir ?”. Asrul asked.

Limbong. “The estimate is so Nak Asrul, from some existing historical evidence, the chances are true also many”.

Asrul nods his head. “That is also the reason why Barus is set as the zero point of entry of Islam in the archipelago ?”.

Limbong back nodding his head. “That's How Nak Asrul. They certainly decide that with a lot of consideration, research and other scientific activities. It's not easy to decide that. Even who inaugurated it directly President”.

All the head nods, actually Haris still has a lot of questions, but looking at the clock, Haris felt it would be better to ask while walking down, it would also be positive according to Haris, because it can make him more relaxed later.

After all felt enough, the group went down, actually Risda's legs were still trembling, but Risda pura pura rigid and stepped behind Asrul, as well, Risda had no response whatsoever to hear the cheerful story of Farhan and Faridha who had been engrossed in laughter ever since.

Asrul also did not comment much, Asrul actually knew what Risda was feeling, but Asrul chose to be silent, letting Risda compose the power by itself, it was good for Risda as well, as a medium to measure the strength and ability of Risda that has never been tried.

The entourage had reached Mahligai Cemetery, Limbong explained one by one the existence of the graves there, but only Haris, Asrul and Risda were listening, Farhan and Faridha took their own path, looking at the view and reading, seemed to discuss alone, this time it looked serious, because both of them were completely without laughter, while Natalia waited outside, not coming in.

Mahligai Tomb, Barus, Central Tapanuli, North Sumatra

Only briefly in the Mahligai Tomb, the group went back down, continuing to follow Limbong who chose to stay with his motorbike, Risda continued to stare out the window as Limbong pointed the way through a different path, and the other side of the road was still there, passing through small roads and rice fields, very soothing to the eyes.

The next stop is the Zero Point Monument of the Entry of Islam in Nusantara which was inaugurated by the president some time ago, located in Pasar Batu Gerigis Village, the center of Barus Old City. Although born and his childhood in Sibolga, but Haris had never been here before, it was Asrul who had, but the monument did not exist.

Limbong brought Haris troupe stop for a while to Barus Port which is not yet operational, see this, fill Haris head directly into fishing, but it is not possible, it could be a long time if Haris still plays his hobby, he said, while the time continues to run, a decent place to stop by is also still a lot.

Deviated Si Gambo Gambo troupe stopped, they had to part with Limbong here, Limbong could not come anymore, he only gave an explanation of some places worth visiting, starting from Kade Tigo, Sibintang, Sibintang, Pulo Pane, up to Binasi Beach in Sorkam.

All shook Limbong's hands with full smiles that were answered with the same smile as well, the last person to greet was Asrul, after shaking hands and saying thank you, Asrul stuffed something into Limbong's front pouch which continued to develop a smile.

When the car that Asrul was driving away and lost, Limbong took what Asrul had put into his pocket, Limbong immediately scattered, not a strange thing there is a group that from afar brought by Limbong and gave an explanation of tourist destinations in the Old City Barus gave Limbong a thank you and a donation of money, he said, but there's never been one this much.

Limbong shook his head and went back to counting, right. The money in his hand is indeed 2 million rupiah. Limbong shook his head again, usually the guests were only two hundred thousand at the most, even one hundred thousand.

So that the grant of guests that Limbong knew came from the capital of Jakarta made Limbong very surprised, amazingly surprised, there was even a day in his heart. And now Linbong can only give prayers, hopefully the group is healthy wal afiat and still happy.

Asrul pulled over when he saw someone selling lemang, and it turns out they all have the same taste. Unmitigated, they ordered three lemang sticks, whereas who wanted to eat only six people, it means one rod for two people.

This time Risda who swelled, he just spent two pieces of lemang, while Asrul was almost six, even a stick they faced only left two more pieces, leaving Asrul was almost six, since one stick is only ten pieces, Risda will only take the third piece, the plate is no more left, Risda kidnaps from the plate of his father and mother, uh, Asrul takes part, Risda nodded.

“How many pieces has Bang been ?”.

Asrul smile. “Ah, new nine, not yet 10 right ?”.

Risda. “10 ?, one rod Just the same brother doang ?”.

Asrul chuckled, poking at his wife's cheek which was looking at him with a confused look with his left hand, while his right hand was pointing towards Farhan and Faridha's plate, complete, 10 pieces, and full, 1 Stem goes into Asrul's stomach.

“Abang what the hell ?, that rice pulut lho Bang, less good to gutu if many”.

Asrul was just a wry smile. “It's good anyway, whose fault is it?, who told the glue is good, wrong glue, why yummy”.

Risda came back just shook her head, the sense of luck was also when she saw the other plate was all empty, otherwise Risda was sure Asrul would come back to pluck it, could the story is not just a stick, but not just a stick, but it's a plus one.

Already almost ashar, all agreed to walk first, where later to meet the new mosque stop, no more intention to stop by again except in the mosque, just look from the car window only, just look at it, so Asrul runs the car quite slowly, so that everyone can enjoy the scenery well.

Barus Beach

…. Connect …