Ustadz Hanafi, CEO of the Company
Looking for Old Friends
On the 2nd day of the existence of Ustadz Hanafi in the city of Palembang, one of his uncles asked to be accompanied because he wanted to visit his best friend's house.
His uncle is usually called Mang Cak Mahmud, while the friend he will meet is his friend when High School (Upper High School) named Ali Syarif.
Mang Cak Mahmud's friend's house is in the Plaju area, which is about 5-7 km from the residence of Haji Abdullah family in the Kambang Iwak region.
By ordering a taxi online, Ustadz Hanafi with Mang Cak Mahmud left in the morning, and the plan in the afternoon both want to perform Friday prayers at the Great Mosque of Palembang.
Along the way, many roadside gates were erected to welcome 100 years of Indonesian independence. The archway says "DIRGAHAYU 100 YEARS OF INDONESIAN INDEPENDENCE 1945-2045".
The celebration of Indonesia's independence day is indeed near about 5 days, and this time the commemoration is planned to be held on a large scale throughout Indonesia.
It does not feel the car they are riding has been on the AMPERA Bridge that connects the ilir area with the upper area of Palembang City.
After reaching the end of the bridge, the car turns to the left entering the Plaju area. The residence of Mang Cak Mahmud friends is in a village of Arab descent known as Assegaf Complex.
After entering the complex, the car continued to go inside until it approached the edge of the Musi river. The location of Mang Cak Mahmud's best friend's house is indeed not far from the river bank.
According to the story of Mang Cak Mahmud, before living in Kambang Iwak the large family of Haji Abdullah had lived in Plaju near the Assegaf complex. But now the old house of Haji Abdullah is no longer there, turned into shops.
But unfortunately, after the location Mang Cak Mahmud got news that his best friend had moved to Semarang City about 3 years ago.
Due to the time of Friday Prayer is still quite long, Mang Cik Mahmud invites Ustadz Hanafi to rest as well as Pray Dhuha in the mushallah which is located right on the river bank.
After the Dhuha Prayer, Mang Cak Mahmud took Ustadz Hanafi to a dock to wait for a passenger ship. The location of the pier is not far from the Mushallah.
At the pier, Mang Cak Mahmud tells the story of the Arab community in Palembang City has existed for hundreds of years. They have been crowded since the reign of Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin Jaya Wikrama or known as Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin 1st.
Even some of the Sultan's daughters were married to the scholars who came from Hadramaut Yemen. So that the people of Arab descent lineage there is kinship with the Sultanate of Palembang Darussalam.
After waiting 15 minutes, there was one passenger ship docked to the dock. Before boarding the ship, Mang Cak Mahmud and Ustadz Hanafi wore special jackets for the safety of aquatic vehicles.
The passenger ship then departed for the dock which was right in front of Kuto Besak Fortress. Kuto Besak Fortress was a fortress when Palembang fought against the Dutch forces.
The Palembang War against the Dutch itself occurred during the time of Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin Prince Ratu or known as Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin 2nd. Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin Pangeran Ratu is the great-grandson of Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin Jaya Wikrama.
Arriving at the dock of Benteng Kuto Besak, Mang Cik Mahmud with Ustadz Hanafi walked towards the independent road, which is opposite the Great Mosque of Palembang.
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Hundred Years Tradition
Arriving at the Mosque, although it was only 10 am, it was very people who arrived. They are part of the community around the mosque and the market traders 16 ilir located near it.
Mang Cak Mahmud was seen approaching a mosque manager, after a short conversation Mang Cak Mahmud handed him a piece of paper.
Ahead of Friday prayers, the mosque administrator usually announces financial statements, and some prayer requests from worshippers.
A piece of paper given by Mang Cak Mahmud was also read, which asked for the sincerity of the Jum'at prayer congregation to send prayers and recitation of Surah al Fatihah for the late Haji Abdullah who had just died.
At the Grand Mosque of Palembang, preachers who delivered the sermon wore robed clothes and held a cane. The tradition of Friday khatib seems to have lasted hundreds of years.
Jamaat who attended Friday prayers on that day, until it filled the yard next to the mosque. Those who are outside are presenting mats as a base for the peace they carry.
The Great Mosque of Palembang itself stands in the time of Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin Jaya Wikrama, where one of the architects is a Muslim of Chinese descent named Babah Muhammad Najib.
According to history, Babah Muhammad Najib's ancestors came from a noble family of the Ming Dynasty, who migrated to Palembang due to a power struggle in China.
The father of Babah Muhammad Najib is famous as a very wealthy tycoon named Prince Merchant Ku Ching or Babah Yaw Jian.
Prince Merchant Ku Ching, also known as Kiyai Mas Husin, was once the royal treasurer and was instrumental in designing the construction of the city of Palembang Darussalam Sultanate.
As has become a habit, after the implementation of Friday prayers, in the courtyard of the mosque seen many traders marketing their products.
Various items exist, be it clothes, food and even herbal medicine. Ustadz Hanafi bought several pieces of traditional food typical of palembang, both in the form of cakes and of course the famous pempek.
"Pempek is an example of food that comes from cultural diversity and becomes a unity" said Mang Cak Mahmud when presented by the pempek by Ustadz Hanafi.
"Wah, interesting is also the history of Mang Cak" said Ustadz Hanafi while sitting near the stairs of the mosque.
Ustadz Hanafi can only look at the various types of pempek in a plastic bag. Because at that time, it coincided with Ramadan, the month of fasting for Muslims.
"Formerly this pempek was named keleesan. At first it was a typical Malay food to take advantage of sago plantations that grew in Palembang in the 15th century AD" said Mang Cak Mahmud explained.
"After the influence of Chinese culture brought by the followers of Admiral Cheng Ho, this lethargy is given additional river fish" said Mang Cak Mahmud added.
"While the sauce is called shopo, there may be curry influence from the culture of Indian or Arab society" said Mang Cak Mahmud while showing the black "shophouse" sauce.
Ustadz Hanafi only nodded to listen to his uncle's explanation.
"This cultural mixture can be understood because the city of Palembang since centuries ago was a port area, so various nations have interacted with each other for a very long time" said Mang Cak Mahmud at length.
Mang Cak Mahmud's description of the history of pempek food, has added to Ustadz Hanafi's insight into the relationship between humans and their neighbors.
Living in a diverse culture will feel beautiful if each individual can respect each other.
