A friend, who frequently reads
this rubric, grumbles to me trough a phone cell.
“You don’t write only big
cases around politics in this country. Although you write various topics on
corruption, illicit timber industry, fuel oil smuggling, nomination toward legislative
position or rice import that inflicted a loss upon the farmers, the result is
nothing! We are afraid the writing only makes crime executors become an invulnerable
and more vicious person.”
“So, what I should write?”
“Why you ask me? But, it’s
ok. I propose to you to write on family life or whatever you want. Fundamentally,
you should write on human interest topics. I bore with your views on the corruption
crime. It has neither impact nor influence!”
I more or less get annoyed when I hear the complaint
of my friend. After I am silent for a while, I assume that the complaint is not
wrong. Many kinds of writings give critics to all corruption perpetrators, but
the effect is naught.
“Ok, mate. I will write other topics.”
I think for a few minutes.
“How do you think if I write on a kyai kampung?”[1]
“I can guess the article that you will write either on
a kyai who has obstacles in looking
for finances to build his pesantren[2] or on his political interest.”
“No both of them. I will portray on the commitment of
the kyai to his wife.”
“Okay. I wait to read it. Please, write!”
I abruptly ask to myself why I should write something
only to give a pleasant to my friend. Because I promised, I eventually write it.
This is an extremely true story. The kyai
is a principal in the small pesantren,
around 50 km western of my house. He is about 40 years old. He has married for
decades, but he not obtains yet a child wholly. He seems not regret for his
circumstance. Many other kyai suggest
him to marry for a second time to get descents. To respond these advices, the kyai only gives a smile. Because of his firmness,
one day he ever invited by another kyai
to visit his girl pesantren. After
they encircle the pesantren, the host
chats with the kyai each other.
“How do you think?” the host said.
“Very good. Your pesantren
can develop fast.”
“I don’t ask it. Have you found the proper couple?”
the host adds.
The kyai
suddenly stuns, but he can understand immediately. Actually, the host gives him
a chance to select a wife candidate among the host’s girl santri.[3]
“So, how do you think, Kyai?”
“Alhamdulillah
(All praises to Allah).”
“Good. So, have you found her? I will maintain
everything soon.”
“No, Sir. I don’t see anything except new buildings in
the pesantren a while ago.”
“What are you doing here?”
“Forgive me. Allow me to follow the Prophet’s
attitudes toward his first wife.”
“What did you mean?”
“I think that you know. All kyai also know that the Prophet much loves his first wife even she
was 15 years older than the Prophet.”
“Aye, we absolutely know it.”
“So, you also know that because of his deep love, the
Prophet not marry for a second time during his first wife still life.”
“That’s right. We definitely know it too.”
“Alhamdulillah…
Although my knowledge is not excellent, I quite want to follow the Prophet’s
attitudes. He not gets married once more during his first wife still life.”
“Is the Holy Qur’an allow us to wed with two, three,
four and more of the wife, isn’t it?”
“Aye, all of we understand and believe to the verse
rightness. But, I only want to follow the Prophet, because he is the only
reviewer of Al-Qur’an. In fact, he wed again after his first wife dead.”
This is a story on the kyai kampung that he has a commitment to his wife. A model story.
Lastly, hopefully my friend not grumbles again to me.
Source:
Ahmad Tohari, Rubric of
Resonansi, Republika Daily