Wali Sanga

The most generally accepted history, supported by a reading by J. P. Mosquette of the inscription at Ibrahim's grave, identifies his origin from Kashan, modern-day Iran.

It appears that this name, which almost certainly is a corruption of Najmuddin al-Kubra, has attached itself to various legendary and mythical personalities, who have a common thought that they are the ancestors or preceptors of the founders of Islam in Java – an oblique acknowledgement, perhaps, of the prestige of the Qubrowi in the period of Islamisation.

Some of these spiritual lineages are cited by van Bruinessen in his study of the Banten Sultanate, particularly in regard to Sunan Gunung Jati who was an initiate of various Sufi orders.

[13] Although popular belief sometimes refers to the Wali Sanga as "founders" of Islam on Java, the religion was present by the time the Chinese Muslim admiral Zheng He arrived during the first of his Ming treasure voyages in 1405–1407 CE.

The following list is widely accepted, but its authenticity relies much on repeated citations of a handful of early sources, reinforced as "facts" in school textbooks and other modern accounts.

Notes from the time of the Tang dynasty of China indicated that merchants from the Middle East had come to the kingdom of Shih-li-fo-shi (Srivijaya) in Sumatra,[19][20][21] and Holing (Kalingga) in Java in the year 674 AD,[22][23][24][25] (i.e. in the transitional period of Caliph Ali to Mu'awiya).

The existence of the gravestone of Fatimah binti Maimun bin Hibatallah in Gresik, dated to the 10th century AD, is considered evidence of the incoming migration of the Persian tribes.

[28][29] In his testimony, he said regarding the "Kingdom of Ferlec (Perlak)" – "This kingdom, you must know, is so much frequented by the Saracen merchants that they have converted the natives to the Law of Mohammet — I mean the townspeople only, for the Java hill-people live for all the world like beasts, and eat human flesh, as well as all other kinds of flesh, clean or unclean.

[33] Multiple sources and conventional wisdom agree that the Wali Sanga contributed to the propagation of Islam (but not its original introduction) in the area now known as Indonesia.

However, it is difficult to prove the extent of their influence in quantitative terms such as an increase in the number of adherents or masjids in the areas of their work in contrast to localities where they were not active.

Even today, it is common in Java for a family friend to be called "uncle" or "brother" despite the lack of blood relationship.