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
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