Tasawuf for Street Children
Some people tend to avoid street children. Halim Ambiya (46 years) approaches them instead. They are invited to clean themselves, recite the Koran, and tap into their creative potential.
Some people tend to avoid street children. Halim Ambiya (46 years) approaches them instead. They are invited to clean themselves, recite the Koran, and tap into their creative potential. This is the path of "tasawuf", which embraces marginalized groups of society.
"Afdhalul jihaadi an yujaahidur rajulu nafsahu wa hawaahu." Halim Ambiya said this sentence aloud. He stood pointing to the Arabic script on the blackboard. In front of him, around 20 young men were sitting neatly, some of whom had tattoos on their bodies. They imitated Halim\'s words over and over again until the hadith narrated by Ad-Daelami stayed in their heads.
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"The most important jihad is someone who fights against himself and his desires," said Halim, explaining the meaning of the hadith.
"So, jihad is not always taking up arms, war. Demanding knowledge is also jihad. The biggest jihad is holding back from lust, wanting to get drunk, sniffing glue, doing drugs,” said Halim.
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That was the routine of the Underground Tasawuf community recitation that Halim founded and led. "Tasawuf" refers to the activity of reciting Islamic teachings by emphasizing spiritual practices to cleanse the soul and mind. "Underground" because of his unusual approach, he especially recruits street kids and buskers who are used to living on the streets.
The atmosphere was of a pleasant and warm Koran study group on the second floor of a shophouse (ruko) in the Cimanggis Market area, Ciputat, South Tangerang, Banten, on Saturday (19/12/2020) afternoon. The room was lively with a brown interior. Several gebyok (wooden doors) were erected in several corners. One area of the wall is covered with pieces of wood and plastered with a large inscription, "Underground Tasawuf".
The community is based in a three-story shophouse. Some people call the place a so-called punk kids’ Islamic boarding school. The first floor is used for laundry and angkringan (food stalls where people eat while sitting on the floor) business run by the community members. The second floor is for the recitation assembly. The third floor, which is equipped with wardrobes, is the residence for street children who become tasawuf students.
“Until now, there have been around 120 street children guided in this community. Some have "graduated", returning to their families at home, are independent by developing their own businesses, or are continuing their education to college. “We help them get off the road and find a road map back home,” said Halim.
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Instead of using the term repentance, Halim prefers to use the term road map to return home, either returning to family or returning to the path of God.
Deny Putranto (32), who was present at the study group that afternoon, managed to leave life on the streets and all its dark sides. He now lives in the shop as a student while working part-time. "Now, I live healthily, calm, can read the Koran. In the past, every time I woke up, I had alcohol for breakfast, hardly ever ate rice," he said.
We help them get off the road and find a road map back home.
Under the bridge
Underground Tasawuf rolls along with Halim\'s life journey. After studying at Gading Kroya Islamic boarding school in Cilacap, Central Java, he studied at the Department of Aqidah (Creed) and Philosophy at the State Islamic University (IAIN/UIN) Jakarta. He continued with a master\'s at Department of History of Islamic Civilization, ISTAC-Interbangsa Islamic University (UIA) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
While living in Malaysia, he traveled by bus to attend an invitation to a discussion in Bangkok, Thailand. In the middle of the road, suddenly a riot erupted. He was caught in the middle of it. Luckily, a street kid pulled him into hiding in a garage. "From then on, I felt I owed kids [like that] a debt of gratitude," he said.
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Returning to the country, he taught at UIN Jakarta and started the Salima Publika printing and publication house in Ciputat. Some of his books are on the theme of tasawuf, the study of Islamic spirituality. He uploaded some content on social media.
It turns out that many people also like it, especially the wisdom sentences from Sufi figures, such as Al Ghazali or Syeikh Abdul Qadir Al-Jailani. Halim is often invited to give lectures in a number of places, including in cafes.
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Invited into a duel
The experience of being rescued by street children in Bangkok encouraged Halim to focus on approaching this marginalized group. "Mosques sometimes seek donations on the street. However, when a street child enters the mosque, people get suspicious. There is no place for them," he said.
In 2017, he held a study group to recite Koran under a bridge in front of Tebet Station, South Jakarta. Twice a week, Friday and Saturday, this activity was attended by a number of street children and punks. They were taught to read the Koran, were introduced to how to do ablution, shalat (pray), and explore the wisdom of tasawuf that encourages people to become better human beings.
"Before reading the Koran, I invited the children to clean themselves first, take a shower, introduce taharah (purity and cleanliness). Only then do we learn to pray. Then, I tell them the wisdom of Sufi, which is light, but touching," he said.
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This activity is becoming increasingly popular. Several street children visited Halim\'s house to be able to study Islam more seriously. They are then accommodated and live in the publishing and printing office. Their activities became more varied.
Apart from the reciting Koran, they are sometimes invited to go on pilgrimage to the grave of the wali (guardian), to do dhikr (remembrance) at night, to sing the Prophet\'s salawat (salutation) in songs and to the accompaniment of fun pop music. "We fly” without the need to stiff glue or use drugs," said Halim, smiling.
However, it is not easy to guide street children. They have been accustomed to living on the streets with all its leniency. Not a few are addicted to psychotropic substances and are tied to dealers. Getting them off the streets means dealing with the network that binds them. Halim was intimidated, approached by thugs, invited to a duel, even threatened with weapons such as badik (Bugis knife).
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"I do not respond with fighting. I might die. [I] use strategy," he said with a smile. Halim protected himself by building networks with the police, social services and legal aid agencies. If there are problems, the network provides security support and legal advocacy.
Regarding the cost of activities, the Underground Tasawuf community receives help here and there. The shophouse in Ciputat, for example, can be occupied by them thanks to the helping hand of volunteers. There are people who are willing to share their wealth, knowledge and experience, from students, doctors, to army and police officers.
The toughest challenge, of course, is in the process of guiding street children who are accustomed to living freely and having a rebellious spirit, even against their parents. To solve this problem, it requires a flexible and gentle approach. For this reason, Halim positions himself as a friend with advice rather than a lecturer.
Barely using advice, I invite the children to live a more productive, healthier life.
Initial meetings are usually spent chatting over coffee. Once they feel comfortable, street children are told simple, touching stories. For example, there are stories from Sufis that talk about the spirit of sincerity, tawakkul (trusting God’s plan), learning, patience, or rida (contentment). As soon as they feel inspired, then grows the commitment to learn and improve themselves.
They generally like dhikr because it is a calming ritual. After being introduced to the meaning of shalat, some claimed to be able to pray solemnly, having found peace. "Barely using advice, I invite the children to live a more productive, healthier life,” said Halim.
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The street children are also introduced to productive businesses, such as management at a laundry business or an angkringan food stall. They have also been invited to try out other businesses on screen printing, design, or coffee.
The entrepreneurial spirit is cultivated so that they are more economically empowered. If they are independent, they will have the endurance to lead a healthy life without being tempted to return to the streets.
Halim Ambiya
Place, DOB: Indramayu, July 12, 1974
Education:
- Gading Kroya Islamic Boarding School, Cilacap, Central Java.
- Bachelor’s Degree, Department of Aqidah and Philosophy, State Islamic University (IAIN/UIN) Syarif Hidayatullah, Jakarta.
- Master’s Degree, Department of Islamic Civilization History, ISTAC-International Islamic University (UIA) Kuala Lumpur.
This article was translated by Stella Kusumawardhani.