SONG: TOMbo ati
LYRICS: Sunan Bonang (1465-1525); MELODY: Traditional Javanese
LANGUAGE: Javanese; ORIGIN: 16th Century Java
Can a single song change the destiny of an entire society? The answer is yes. This song, Tombo Ati, helped to transform Java from an almost entirely polytheistic to an almost entirely monotheistic society and civilization. Rooted in an ancient melody, it aided in the spread of deeni practice amongst the Javanese. Today, it is still widely known and much beloved in Java. Almost every Javanese musician, even pop stars like Opick & Dhevy Geranium, does their own rendition.
Tombo Ati is a much-loved traditional Javanese song composed by Sunan Bonang (born Raden Maulana Makdum Ibrahim in Tuban, East Java, in 1465 CE; died in 1525 CE at Pulau Bawean), one of the illustrious Wali Songo — the group of saints credited with spreading the Deen in Java. Sunan Bonang changed traditional Javanese songs, which had been heavily influenced by Hindu philosophy, and incorporated Deeni thought. He also employed gamelan as a medium of sacred knowledge. The song was important in Java’s embrace of monotheism. Tombo Ati is about a believer’s ways of gaining spiritual peace and tranquility through the constant remembrance of God, by way of prescribed “Remedies for the Heart.” The song is especially popular during the fasting month of Ramadan.
ORIGINAL JAVANESE LYRICS
Tombo ati iku limo perkorane
Kaping pisan, moco Kuran lan maknane
Kaping pindo, sholat wengi lakonono
Kaping telu, wong kang sholeh kumpulono
Kaping papat, kudu weteng ingkang luwe
Kaping limo, dzikir wengi ingkang suwe
Salah sawijine sopo biso ngelakoni
Mugi-mugi Gusti Allah nyembadani
Obat hati ada lima perkaranya
Yang pertama baca Qur’an dan maknanya
Yang kedua sholat malam dirikanlah
Yang ketiga berkumpullah dengan orang sholeh
Yang keempat perbanyaklah berpuasa
Yang kelima dzikir malam perpanjanglah
Salah satunya siapa bisa menjalani
Moga-moga Allah Ta’ala mencukupi
TRANSLITERATION & TRANSLATION
Tom-bow ah-ti ee-koo lee-moh peRR-kah-rah-neh
Five well-known ways there are to remedy our hearts
Kah-ping pee-san, moh-joh Qur’an lahn maak-nah-neh
First, read the Qur’an and comprehend its wise words
Kah-ping peen-doh, so-laat wen-gee lakoh-no-no
Second, pray in the early hours of morning
Kah-ping te-loo, wong kang soleh koom-poo-loh-no
Thirdly, seek the company of pious people
Kah-ping pah-paat, koo-doo wuh-teng ing-kang loo-weh
Fourthly, keep your belly hungry regularly
Kaping lee-mo, dzikir win-gee ing-kang soo-weh
Fifth, remember God long into the night
Sal-laah sawee-jee-nay soh-poh bee-soh geh-lah-koh-nee
Anyone who can do even one of these things
Moo-gee moo-gee Goos-tee Allah nyim-bah-dah-nee
Allah! The Almighty will surely favor them
Opick is a leading Indonesian performing artist. This video includes the lyrics in Indonesian.
