The'chanting of the holy Koran verses echoed from inside the unfinished mosque. Rows of students sat neatly in a circle, opening page after page of the Koran. Sometimes the 'ustadz' supervisor watches from behind. Not long after, a number of other students rushed in to join in.'

That's a bit of the story from one afternoon at the Nuu Waar Al Fatih Kaffah Nusantara (AFKN) Islamic Boarding School, Bunut Village, Tamansari Village, Setu District, Bekasi Regency. The Islamic boarding school, which is located far from the hustle and bustle of the city, was founded by Ustadz Fadlan Garamatan in 2012. Currently, the Islamic Boarding School fosters 750 students, 80 percent of whom are from Papua and have graduated 3700 students since its establishment.

'Nuu waar' means the land of secret light.'In the past, the word 'Nuu waar' was used by the Papuan people to refer to the largest island at the eastern tip of Indonesia, before the name Irian or Papua was'assigned', said the 'ustadz' who was born in Fakfak, West Papua.'Fadlan explains that historically the traces of the spread of Islam on the earth of paradise began in the 12th century by the Samudra Pasai Kingdom, long before the Portuguese and Dutch set foot in Indonesia.'

Continuing the footsteps of his predecessor, Ustadz Fadlan founded this pesantren so that the next generation from eastern Indonesia whom he fosters has knowledge, faith, and the Koran in their souls as a provision to build their hometown in the future.'In addition to teaching religious knowledge, the Nuu Waar Islamic boarding school also educates students to understand national insight.

'The spirit of the Islamic faith is instilled, but the Indonesian spirit is also given','he said.

The Nuu Waar Islamic Boarding School is managed without charging a penny from students.'Religious education as well as formal education take place from elementary school to high school level, while for higher education the Islamic boarding school accommodates through collaboration with educational institutions and universities as partners.'

Especially in the month of Ramadhan this year, the students focus on 'khatam' Koran activities (finish reading Koran) as much as 4000 times for students.'"One day at least each student reads15 juz'.'

Nuu Waar teaches students about independence, mental formation and tolerance and friendliness with the environment while fostering students to recognize Islam as a blessing for the universe.

Photo and Text : Indrianto Eko Suwarso'

Editor : Prasetyo Utomo