Zainal Mustafa

Kiai Haji Zainal Mustafa (189925 October 1944), born Hudaemi, and also known as Zainal Mustofa, was an Indonesian ulama and National Hero of Indonesia. He founded the Pesantren Sukamanah when he was 20. He was awarded the title of National Hero in 1972.

Biography

Early life and dealing with the Dutch colonial government Zainal Mustafa was born under the name Hudaemi in Singaparna, Tasikmalaya Regency, Dutch East Indies in 1899. He was a santri, an orthodox Javanese Muslim. After attending a standard elementary school, he went on to study at many Islamic schools, which earned him the nickname santri kelana (wandering student). In 1927 he went to Mecca on the hajj; after he returned to Indonesia, he changed his name to Zainal Mustafa. At the age of 20, he founded his own Islamic school named Pesantren Sukamanah. He later served as the Assistant Councillor for the Nahdlatul Ulama branch in Tasikmalaya. In response to this and increasing instances of Japanese-ordered forced labour, Mustafa formed his own militia and began training for an armed struggle, which he planned to launch on 1 Maulud (25 February 1944). His remains were claimed by his family and buried in Sukamanah, Tasikmalaya, on 10 January 1974.