Divine Love as a Base for Transformation: A Case of Nyai Masriyah Amva from Cirebon, West Java

Abstract

. This paper examines the thoughts of Masriyah Amva, the leader of the Kebon Jambu Al-Islamy pesantren in Cirebon, West Java. The self-transcendence that occurred in Masriyah Amva was a very deep process of soul struggle so that she made God the Center. God became the object of Divine Love which aroused great fighting power for Masriyah Amva. With this Divine Love, she has an actual spirit and gives meaning and value to struggle as part of self-actualization towards perfection. The implication of Divine Love being the basis for transformative values encourages her to become a frame of mind and action, so that her thoughts and actions bring benefits to larger interests, no longer related to her personal interests. The implication of the former is Masriyah Amva's courage to give new colors to Islamic discourses that have been "taboo" in the pesantren world. She dared to discuss Divine Love as the basis of her struggle for social change. The most concern is women empowerment. She wants women to be independent and no longer have dreams of leaning on men. Because, the independence of women is also the independence of the future of their children who will create the nation's next generation..