Tasbih Biji Pisang Pidak
by Balai Bahasa Surabaya · from Cerita Rakyat Jawa Timur
Original Story
Tasbih Biji Pisang Pidak
unan Bonang memang dikenal sebagai wali kelana. Ia berkelana sambil menyebarkan
agama Islam mulai dari Demak, Lasem, Tuban, Lamongan, hingga ke luar Jawa atau ke
seberang laut, seperti Madura dan Bawean. Jejak pengembaraan dan penyebaran Islam
Sunan Bonang itu terlihat dari berbagai peninggalannya, seperti tempat-tempat petilasan.
Dalam berbagai perjalanannya, Sunan Bonang selalu membawa tasbih. Ternyata, tasbih itu
tidak hanya berfungsi sebagai sarana untuk berzikir atau mengingat Allah SWT, tetapi juga
sebagai senjata.
Suatu ketika, pada bulan Ramadan, Sunan Bonang dan muridnya, Sunan Kalijaga,
sedang berkelana di sekitar Tuban. Saat itu Tuban masih berupa hutan belantara yang
dipenuhi pohon-pohonan dan semak belukar. Di tengah hutan itu, Ia dicegat segerombolan
penjahat yang dipimpin oleh Bajilul, seorang berandal yang dikenal sakti mandraguna, papak
paluning pande, ora mempan graji lan grenda, “berotot kawat bertulang besi, tidak mempan
digergaji dan digerinda”.
“Hai orang asing, berhenti! Tinggalkan semua bawaanmu!" kata Bajilul membentak
sambil berkacak pinggang berdiri di tengah jalan yang hendak dilalui Sunan Bonang.
“Ada urusan apa, kisanak menyuruh kami berhenti?” jawab Sunan Bonang dengan suara
yang tenang dan lembut.
“Jangan banyak tanya! Ayo! Cepat, serahkan barang bawaannu jika kamu masih ingin
hidup!" bentak Bajilul sambil mengayun-ayunkan parangnya.
Sunan Bonang berhenti, diikuti muridnya Sunan Kalijaga. Kemudian ia menyerahkan
bingkisan dan tongkatnya kepada Bajilul.
“Serahkan juga tasbihmu!” bentak Bajilul.
Sunan Bonang menggeleng.
“Ayo cepat serahkan!” bentak Bajilul lebih keras.
“Maaf kisanak, tidak sembarang orang bisa membawa tasbih ini. Karena sering
dijadikan sarana pengingat Allah, tasbih ini bisa menjadi semakin berat. Tidak sembarang
orang bisa membawanya, bahkan kalau dipukulkan pada orang, orang itu bisa pingsan bahkan
mati!” jawab Sunan Bonang dengan halus dan tetap tenang.
Bajilul tertawa terbahak-bahak. Baginya, apa yang diucapkan oleh Sunan Bonang adalah
lucu dan mengada-ada. Ia berpikir, benda-benda tajam saja tidak mempan pada kulitnya
apalagi hanya butiran tasbih. Oleh karena itu, ia pun kemudian menantang Sunan Bonang
untuk membuktikan kekuatan tasbihnya itu.
“Ha ha ha ha. Aku tidak percaya! Tapi, baiklah! Untuk membuktikan omonganmu itu,
pukulkan tasbih itu ke tubuhku!” tantang Bajilul.
Bajilul kemudian membuka baju untuk pamer diri di hadapan anak buahnya. Selama ini,
ia memang terkenal kebal. Anak buahnya sudah tahu sehingga mereka pun turut memberi
dukungan sambil menertawakan Sunan Bonang. Anak buah Bajilul sudah tahu bahwa
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pemimpin mereka sakti mandraguna dan tak mempan senjata apa pun sehingga sangat
“Maafkan aku, Kisanak. Jika kamu nanti terluka, jangan menyesal,” kata Sunan Bonang
mengingatkan.
“Tak usah menakutiku, aku tidak akan takut. Cepatlah pukul aku!” sesumbar Bajilul,
“Baiklah, Kisanak. Maafkan aku...” kata Sunan Bonang.
Dengan mengucap bismillah, Sunan Bonang mengayunkan pelan-pelan tasbihnya ke
punggung Bajilul, Saat untaian tasbih menyentuh kulit Bajilul terjadilah ledakan dan percikan
api. Biji tasbih itu pun bertebaran, sedangkah Bajilul langsung terjerembab ke tanah. Ia tak
sadarkan diri. Anak buahnya ketakutan melihat pemimpin mereka tak berdaya. Mereka pun
akhirnya menyembah Sunan Bonang dan minta diampuni.
“Ampuni kami Tuan. Ampuni kesalahan kami...tolonglah pemimpin kami, Tuan.”
Sunan Bonang mengangguk-angguk kemudian menyadarkan Bajilul. Ketika siuman,
wajah Bajilul pucat pasi menahan sakit dan malu. la pun berlutut dan mengakui
kesalahannya.
“Ampuni saya, Tuan. Saya terlalu sombong. Saya bersalah telah berani menantang
“Syukurlah kalau kalian telah menyadari kesalahan kalian.”
“Kami berjanji Tuan, tidak akan mengulangi perbuatan kami lagi. Kami akan menuruti
semua perintah Tuan dan bersedia menyembah Tuan.”
“Jangan...jangan menyembahku Kisanak. Sembahlah Tuhanku, Allah SWT,” jawab
Sunan Bonang.
“Baiklah Tuan!”
“Ingat, kalian jangan takabur, merasa diri kalian kebal, tahan serangan apa pun. Sekali
lagi ingat, bahwa di dunia ini tidak ada kekuatan yang melebihi kekuatan Allah!”
“Baik Tuan...,” jawab perampok itu serentak.
“Bagus! Kalian harus bisa hidup di jalan yang benar, yaitu jalan yang telah ditunjukkan
oleh Allah SWT. Untuk itu, kalian harus belajar agama dengan benar. Tinggalkan cara hidup
“Terima kasih atas nasihat, Tuan. Kami berjanji akan belajar agama... .”
Melihat kesungguhan Bajilul dan anak buahnya, Sunan Bonang mengangguk-
anggukkan kepala. Sunan Bonang menyuruh Bajilul dan anak buahnya pergi meninggalkan
tempat itu dan mencari tempat belajar agama. Sunan Bonang merasa yakin bahwa Bajilul dan
anak buahnya akan menjadi orang-orang yang berjalan di jalan yang benar.
Selanjutnya, Sunan Bonang minta Sunan Kalijaga mengumpulkan biji tasbih yang
berhamburan di tanah. Begitu dikumpulkan ternyata biji-biji tasbih itu hanya terkumpul 99
butir, padahal sebelumnya berjumlah 100 butir. Sunan Bonang tidak memaksa Sunan
Kalijaga untuk menemukan satu butir biji tasbih yang belum ditemukan. Sunan Bonang ingin
segera melanjutkan perjalanan syiarnya.
“Sudahlah, mari kita lanjutkan perjalanan. an er apa ai sini agar
kelak menjadi warisan buat anak cucuku,” demikian kata2 Sunan Bonang kepada Sunan
Kalijaga.
“Tapi... '” Sebelum Sunan Kalijaga menyelesaikan perkataannya, Sunan Bonang seakan
tahu apa yang hendak dikatakan oleh muridnya itu sehingga ia memberi penjelasan yang
lebih terang.
“Tasbih ini berasal dari biji pisang. Kelak ketika tumbuh, namakanlah pisang itu sebagai
pisang 'fidya', pisang untuk membayar denda bagi orang yang tidak berpuasa, karena aku
merasa bahwa puasaku telah ternoda oleh perbuatanku tadi yang memukul Bajilul dengan
tasbih biji pisang ini."
“Begitu rupanya...,” jawab Sunan Kalijaga pelan.
“Biji pisang itu bisa menjadi pembeli surga, kelak ketika kita sudah berpulang,” lanjut
Sunan Bonang.
Sampai saat ini, di Tuban, pisang “fidya' yang selanjutnya disebut pisang pidak itu masih
ada. Pohon pisang pidak tumbuh di makam Sunan Bonang, Tuban, dan bijinya masih dibuat
tasbih hingga sekarang. Biji pisang pidak sangat mudah dirangkai menjadi tasbih. Untuk
membuat tasbih, tidak perlu melubangi biji pisang pidak karena atas kebesaran Allah biji
pisang pidak sudah berlubang di tengahnya. Pisang pidak sulit tumbuh di tempat lain karena
tidak beranak atau bertunas. Pengembangbiakannya dilakukan dengan cara menanam bijinya.
Hingga kini, banyak orang Tuban yang meyakini khasiat tasbih biji pisang pidak itu.
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Story DNA
Moral
True strength and power come from God, and humility is essential for spiritual growth.
Plot Summary
Sunan Bonang, an Islamic saint, and his disciple, Sunan Kalijaga, are ambushed by the invincible bandit leader Bajilul. Bajilul demands Sunan Bonang's tasbih, but Sunan Bonang refuses, explaining its sacred power. Bajilul, scoffing, challenges Sunan Bonang to strike him with it. Sunan Bonang complies, and the tasbih explodes upon contact, incapacitating Bajilul. Humbled, Bajilul and his men repent and convert to Islam. Sunan Bonang then explains that the tasbih was made from banana seeds, and the scattered beads will grow into a special banana tree, Pisang Pidak, whose seeds are still used for tasbih today, symbolizing atonement and divine power.
Themes
Emotional Arc
confrontation to submission to enlightenment
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Sunan Bonang and Sunan Kalijaga are prominent figures among the Wali Songo, revered for spreading Islam in Java during the 15th-16th centuries. The story blends historical figures with miraculous events to explain the origin of a local phenomenon (Pisang Pidak).
Plot Beats (13)
- Sunan Bonang, a traveling wali (saint), spreads Islam across Java and beyond, always carrying a special tasbih that also serves as a weapon.
- During Ramadan, Sunan Bonang and Sunan Kalijaga are ambushed in a Tuban forest by Bajilul, a notorious and seemingly invincible bandit leader.
- Bajilul demands their belongings, but Sunan Bonang calmly refuses to surrender his tasbih, explaining its spiritual weight and power.
- Bajilul, arrogant and confident in his invincibility, laughs and challenges Sunan Bonang to strike him with the tasbih.
- Sunan Bonang warns Bajilul but, with a prayer, gently strikes him with the tasbih.
- The tasbih explodes upon impact, scattering its beads and knocking Bajilul unconscious, terrifying his men.
- Bajilul's men beg for forgiveness and help for their leader, acknowledging Sunan Bonang's power.
- Sunan Bonang revives Bajilul, who, humbled and in pain, repents and pledges to follow Sunan Bonang's teachings.
- Sunan Bonang instructs them to worship Allah, not him, and to abandon their old ways for a righteous path.
- Sunan Bonang then asks Sunan Kalijaga to collect the scattered tasbih beads, finding only 99 of the original 100.
- Sunan Bonang explains that the tasbih was made from banana seeds and instructs Kalijaga to name the resulting plant 'Pisang Fidya' (later 'Pidak'), as atonement for his act of striking Bajilul.
- Sunan Bonang states that the banana seeds will be a means to buy heaven.
- The story concludes by noting that Pisang Pidak still grows at Sunan Bonang's tomb in Tuban, its seeds naturally pre-holed for tasbih making, and is believed to have special properties.
Characters
Sunan Bonang
A man of average height and build, with a calm and composed demeanor. His movements are deliberate and graceful, reflecting his spiritual discipline. He carries himself with an air of quiet authority.
Attire: Simple but dignified traditional Javanese attire, likely a long-sleeved tunic (baju koko) made of natural fibers like cotton or linen, paired with a sarong (kain sarung) of batik fabric, possibly in muted earthy tones. He might wear a peci (traditional cap) or a simple headwrap.
Wants: To spread the teachings of Islam and guide people towards a righteous path, using his wisdom and spiritual power.
Flaw: His compassion might be perceived as a weakness by those who misunderstand his gentle approach, though he is firm when necessary.
He demonstrates his spiritual power and wisdom, reinforcing his role as a guide and teacher. He also shows humility by acknowledging a perceived 'blemish' in his fast due to using the tasbih as a weapon, leading to the naming of the 'pisang pidak'.
Wise, calm, patient, compassionate, and firm in his faith. He is a teacher and a spiritual guide.
Sunan Kalijaga
A young man, likely strong and agile, reflecting his past as a potential 'berandal' before becoming a murid. He is observant and respectful.
Attire: Practical, simple traditional Javanese attire suitable for travel, perhaps a plain cotton tunic and trousers or a simple sarong, in earthy or muted tones. Less ornate than Sunan Bonang's, reflecting his status as a murid.
Wants: To learn from Sunan Bonang and follow the path of Islam, assisting his mentor in his mission.
Flaw: Still learning and sometimes questions his mentor's actions, though out of curiosity rather than defiance.
He continues his journey of learning and understanding under Sunan Bonang's tutelage, gaining deeper insights into spiritual matters.
Loyal, observant, earnest, and eager to learn. He is respectful of his mentor.
Bajilul
A powerfully built man, described as 'berotot kawat bertulang besi' (muscles of wire, bones of iron), implying a very muscular and imposing physique. He is tall and intimidating.
Attire: Initially, minimal clothing to show off his physique, perhaps just a simple dark sarong or trousers, with his torso bare. Later, after his defeat, he might wear a simple, rough tunic. His clothing would be practical for a bandit leader.
Wants: Initially, to rob travelers and assert his power as a bandit leader. Later, to seek forgiveness and follow a righteous path.
Flaw: His extreme arrogance and overconfidence in his physical invulnerability, which leads to his downfall.
Transforms from an arrogant, violent bandit leader who believes himself invincible into a humbled, remorseful follower of Sunan Bonang, willing to change his ways and learn religion.
Arrogant, boastful, defiant, and initially violent. He believes in his own invincibility. After his defeat, he becomes remorseful, humble, and willing to change.
Bajilul's Gang
A group of rough-looking men, likely of varying builds but generally strong and hardened by their bandit lifestyle. They appear intimidating as a group.
Attire: Simple, worn, and practical clothing suitable for bandits, likely dark or earthy-toned tunics and trousers or sarongs made of rough cotton or linen.
Wants: To follow Bajilul and participate in his banditry. Later, to seek forgiveness and follow a righteous path.
Flaw: Their dependence on Bajilul's perceived strength and their own lack of independent courage.
They witness the defeat of their 'invincible' leader, leading them to fear Sunan Bonang and ultimately seek forgiveness and a new path.
Loyal to their leader (initially), fearful, easily swayed, and ultimately remorseful and willing to change.
Locations
Tuban Wilderness
A dense, untamed jungle in the Tuban region, filled with various trees and thick undergrowth, creating a secluded and somewhat dangerous atmosphere.
Mood: Wild, untamed, initially tense and dangerous, later solemn and reflective.
Sunan Bonang and Sunan Kalijaga are ambushed by Bajilul and his gang. The miraculous event of the tasbih striking Bajilul and his subsequent conversion occurs here.
Sunan Bonang's Tomb in Tuban
The sacred burial site of Sunan Bonang in Tuban, where the unique 'pisang pidak' (pidak banana) trees grow, known for their naturally holed seeds used for tasbih.
Mood: Reverent, peaceful, historical, and subtly magical due to the unique banana trees.
This location is mentioned as the present-day site where the legacy of the 'pisang pidak' continues, linking the story to a real, enduring cultural and religious site.