Wali Songo (Nine Founding Saints of Indonesian Islam)

http://www.eastjava.com/books/walisongo/

http://www.gimonca.com/sejarah/walisongo.shtml

These founding walis (saints), which included probably more than nine, were instrumental in the spread of Islam in Indonesia.
From the brief reading I've done, it seems that these figures were quite diverse in both their backgrounds and understanding of Islam.
I was struck by how one of the saints used wayang kulit, or Indonesian shadows puppet plays as a way of teaching Islam. I have had no luck trying to find an example of how Islamic stories were integrated into this form.
Reasearching this topic, I did find over and over again that many tried to distance wayang kulit from Islam, and kept saying how it predated Islam. This art obviously did, yet it is strange that many scholars and writers, especially outside of Indonesia want to see this art as somehow a "pure" form which has no relationship to the "intrusive" Islamic influence.
Interesting also how when classes are taught on Islam and books written, Indonesia is given only a brief mention. This is criminal!

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Papa Sain: Pakistani Dhol player



At Baba Shah Jamal's shrine in Lahore, Pakistan

Bulleh Shah poem:

You alone exist; I do not, O Beloved!
You alone exist, I do not!
Like the shadow of a house in ruins,
I revolve in my own mind.
If I speak, you speak with me:
If I am silent, you are in my mind.
If I sleep, you sleep with me:
If I walk, you are along my path.
Oh Bulleh, the spouse has come to my house:
My life is a sacrifice unto Him.
You alone exist; I do not, O Beloved!

first post and why I created this blog

786
I needed to start a new blog dedicated to following the various threads in my academic work. I'll be doing writing, posting links and just doing some old fashioned copying and pasting here.
Specifically, I created this for my Islam in India and Andalusia online classes for GTU/Starr King.
Let the fun begin! Oh wait, can't academic work be fun?