SUKABUMI, WEST JAVA — Among the students of Pesantren Tahfidz Green Lido (PTGL) Sukabumi, there is a passionate teenager named Muhammad Yusuf Al Qordhowi. He is only 16 years old, but his enthusiasm for religious knowledge is so great. Yusuf, who hails from Gunung Kidul, Yogyakarta, has wanted to become a santri since he was in the second grade of elementary school.
The inspiration to become a santri came when Yusuf saw his older brother who had gone down that path first. Since then, Yusuf has been determined to follow in his brother’s footsteps. After graduating from elementary school, Yusuf decided to become a santri in Klaten, Central Java. Now, fate has brought him to PTGL this year to continue his high school education.
Behind that, Yusuf’s family story is quite touching. Yusuf’s parents used to work as teachers and sell vegetables to support their family. However, an accident happened to Yusuf’s father in 2009. He fell from a mahogany tree while looking for animal feed and became paralyzed. Since then, the family’s economic situation has become increasingly difficult, and they have even lived in an orphanage. Now, Yusuf’s parents earn a living by teaching Quran, selling yellow rice and rengginang tiwul.
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PTGL itself is a pesantren built on waqf land from the Benyamin Parwoto family. It was donated in 2018 and began construction on December 23, 2020. After its establishment, the As-Sa’adah Mosque began to function in early 2023. This pesantren is managed by Dompet Dhuafa with the concept of productive waqf. Currently, the pesantren activities are still centered in the As-Sa’adah Mosque, while the santri dormitory is still a hall that accommodates up to 34 people.
Despite the incomplete facilities, Yusuf and other students remain enthusiastic in studying. They study in the mosque and actively help local farmers maintain productive waqf gardens with the green house concept. In addition, Yusuf and his friends also try to grow chili peppers and raise chickens.
In the middle of the narrow and stuffy mosque hall, PTGL students diligently memorize the verses of the Holy Quran. The room that was supposed to be a hall is now a temporary sleeping place, because there is no dormitory building. Although this condition is far from ideal, the enthusiasm of the students to become Quran memorizers remains burning.
The hall they live in feels stuffy due to the lack of ventilation. However, despite all these limitations, the spirit of the students never dies. They continue to struggle, making the limited facilities not a barrier to achieving their dreams of becoming Quran memorizers.
Yusuf has experienced some memorable moments during his one month at PTGL. One of them was when he managed to memorize 10 juz in a short time. This made him feel very happy. In addition, Yusuf also enjoyed the family atmosphere among the other students. They help and support each other.
“My target this year is to memorize 30 Juz. Currently, I have memorized 10 Juz, please pray that it will be easy,” Yusuf said with confidence.
Yusuf has high aspirations. After completing his education at PTGL, he wants to continue his studies in religion and communication. He hopes to become an ustadz or preacher who can benefit the community. Yusuf also wants to return to his hometown to help develop religious education there.
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Muhammad Yusuf Al Qordhowi is an inspirational figure for the younger generation. Yusuf’s story is proof that the spirit of learning and the desire to achieve goals knows no bounds, despite having to face various challenges. Yusuf’s goal of becoming a santri is very noble. He wanted to make his parents happy and achieve Allah’s pleasure. Yusuf’s persistence and obedience to his parents are very inspiring.
Hopefully Yusuf and other students will continue to excel and become a young generation that is beneficial to religion and the nation. They dream of becoming great Quran memorizers, but the facilities are less supportive. Let’s give them the proper space to learn and worship. Your donation through digital.dompetdhuafa.org/wakaf/asramaetahfidz will bear fruit for Yusuf’s life and future as well as other students. (Dompet Dhuafa)
Text and photo: Dhika Prabowo
Editor: Dedi Fadlil