Origins & Early Life

Born in 1812 in Cokromenggalan, the eldest son of KH. Ghozali bin K. Nawawi (Majasem) and Ny. Majasem. He learned to read and write Arabic and the Qur’an from his father, a hafiz (one who has memorised the whole Qur’an), then boarded (mondok) at Pesantren Tegalsari under the care of Kyai Ageng Raden Hasan Besari — a contemporary of the santri (student) and court poet R. Ng. Ronggowarsito. After returning from Tegalsari, he helped teach at his father’s pesantren (Islamic boarding school) and was matched in marriage with a humble (tawadhu’) female santri, Ny. Sudjinah.