Sunan Kalijaga

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Sunan Kalijaga (1460–?), born as Raden Mas Said son of a Regent of Tuban in East Java, Indonesia, was one of the "nine saints" of Islam (Wali Sanga). He was a best friend to Sunan Gunungjati and said to have lived up to one hundred years which gave him the chance to witness the downfall of Majapahit (ended in 1478 A.D), Kingdom of Demak, Kingdom of Cirebon and Banten, also the kingdom of Pajang which in 1546 A.D.^{[citation needed]}

The Kalijaga title was driven from an orchard name called Kalijaga in Cirebon. According to other account his popular hobby of submerging himself in Kali (another name for river in Javanese) gave him this title. But also some noted that the name Kalijaga derived its nature from the Arabic notion of "qadli dzaqa" which means (holy leader) in the sultanate.

Among his missionary activities (dawah), he built two mosques, Masjid Agung Cirebon and Masjid Agung Demak. His main mentor was Sunan Bonang, another saint of Wali Sanga. His belief is more to sufistic based salaf in his teaching, applying arts and culture as medium for his dawah. He was also tolerance to local tradition. His exegesis from the Quranic perspective giving him the understanding that people will keep away from dakwah if their personality is questioned. In this premise one should consider a step by step approach to his people by the principle of following yet influencing. To him, if Islam is truly/fully understood, then people will gradually give up their old habits.

This method can be seen in Indonesian artworks, particulary in carvings, shadow puppets (wayang kulit), gamelan (javanese traditional musical performance), and singing. From this idea he popularized Baju Takwa (a traditional dress custom for Indonesian moslems), Sekatenan (a festivity), Grebeg Maulud, amongst others.

Sunan Kalijaga was buried in Kadilangu south of Demak.