Indonesia
One of Indonesia’s most charismatic Islamic scholars and foremost authorities in Qur’anic sciences, KH. Bashori Alwi Murtadlo, widely known as Kiai Bashori and the founding leader (Pengasuh) of the Qur’anic Sciences Islamic Boarding School (Pesantren Ilmu Al-Qur’an/PIQ) Singosari, Malang Regency, passed away on Monday (23/3/2020) at 15:31 WIB, at the age of 93. A distinguished master of Qur’anic recitation, Kiai Bashori had dedicated his life to the art of melodic Qur’anic chanting (tilawah), serving from a young age as a judge (Dewan Hakim) at both the National Qur’anic Recitation Competition (Musabaqah Tilawatil Qur’an/MTQ) and the National Qur’anic Recitation Selection (Seleksi Tilawatil Qur’an/STQ).
The Rector of Universitas Islam Malang (UNISMA), Prof. Dr. H. Maskuri, M.Si., expressed his deepest condolences: “The leadership and academic community of UNISMA mourn the passing of our teacher, our role model, an intellectual pillar of the Qur’anic world, and the founder of Jam’iyyatul Qurro’ wal Huffadz, an institution that has produced countless Qur’anic scholars throughout Indonesia,” Prof. Maskuri stated.
The Director of UNISMA’s Postgraduate Program, Prof. Mas’ud Said, MM., Ph.D., along with the entire Postgraduate leadership, also joined in mourning his passing. “He was a teacher of teachers across East Java, particularly in the field of Qur’anic Sciences (Ulumul Qur’an),” he said.
Getting to Know Kiai Bashori
Kiai Bashori was often referred to as the “Professor of the Qur’an” a title that reflected an expertise in Qur’anic knowledge recognised not only within Indonesia, but also on the international stage.
Under Kiai Bashori’s guidance, the Pesantren Ilmu Al-Qur’an (PIQ) Singosari developed a specialisation and primary focus on Qur’anic teaching, a direction that was further reinforced by the broader demographic character of the Singosari community, where the majority of Islamic boarding schools are oriented around Qur’anic education.
As a pesantren with a concentrated focus on the Qur’an, PIQ and its distinctive pedagogical approach known as the Metode Jibril (Jibril Method) has frequently served as a subject of comparative study and academic research by other pesantren, universities, and various research institutions.
Read also: UNISMA Postgraduate Program in Mourning
Beyond his role as an educator, KH. Bashori Alwi was also a prolific author, producing a number of books and Islamic treatises (kitab), among them: Kumpulan Khutbah Jum’at (A Collection of Friday Sermons), At-Tadlhiyah (a guide on the sacrifice), At-Tartil Wa Al-Lahn (a treatise on correct and incorrect Qur’anic recitation), Bina Ucap (on Qur’anic articulation and letter characteristics), Dzikir Ba’da Shalat Jum’at (post-Friday prayer remembrance), Zakat dan Penggunaannya (Zakat and Its Application), Hukum Talqin dan Tahlil, Tarawih dan Dasar Hukumnya, and several other widely circulated works among pesantren communities and members of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU).
