From Aristocrat to Religionist: Kyai Pati and Islamic Renaissance in 16th-Century Semarang

Abstract

Semarang is a city with a sizeable Muslim population in Central Java Province, Indonesia. In 2022, the Muslim population in Semarang will reach 87.38%, and this indicates that the role of the Muslim community in various areas of life cannot be underestimated. Reading the history of Islamization in Semarang, a unique name will emerge: Wasis Jaya Kusuma, known as Kyai Pati; this figure is a symbol of concrete identity change in the life of traditional Javanese society in the 16th century. This change occurred because of his bitter life experience, being defeated in the war against the Islamic Mataram Kingdom under the leadership of Panembahan Senopati. Finally, he changed from being a nobleman to becoming a religionist who devoted himself to the people of the South Semarang area. This life story is a humanitarian phenomenon that is important to reflect from a global perspective that war can change a person's identity. Advantage or disadvantage, this change in identity has placed someone like Kyai Pati in a respected position; through the path of Syiar, he has become an essential part of the history of Islamization in Semarang.