Tuan Guru Kyai Haji Muhammad Zainuddin Abdul Madjid was born in Pancor, East Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara on 17th Rabiul-awal, 1326 Hijri / 5th August, 1904 from the wedding of Tuan Guru Haji Abdul Madjid (he was familiarly called by Guru Mukminah or Guru Minah) with a pious woman namely Hajjah Halimah as-Sa'diyah.
His first name was Muhammad Saggaf derived from the Arabic (سقف- يسقف) which means making roof; meanwhile (سقاف) means the someone who repairs the roof, then this word was indonesianized to be saggaf, which was in sasaknese usually called Segep. That was why his mother, Hajjah Halimah al-Sa'diyah, often called him "Gep"
It is the historical name, among the histories, three days before his birth, his father was visited by two saints, one of them was from Hadhramaut and another one was from Maghribi , both of the saints were by the name of ‘Saqqaf’. The two saints adviced the father to name his child ‘Saqqaf’,same as their name. Another good news brought by one saint, Syeikh Ahmaf Rifa’i from Maghribi, he told the father of saggaf that his wife would give birth a very influential scholar of Islam. It made his parents happy before his birth.
Since he was very young, he showed noble characteristics and intelligence. It was not amazed for the father to love him with so much love. When he continued his study in Mecca, his father and mother came along with him. His own father searched for the teachers himself, and his own mother took care of him during the early years of him in Mecca. Three and a half years afterwards, his mother passed away.
After he made hajj with his father, his name was changed into Muhammad Zainuddin. The changing of his name was motivated by his father’s interest in the name of a great Islamic scholar in Masjidil Haram, he was Syaikh Zainuddin Serawak who had noble character and personality.
When he was 15 years old, he studied in Masjidil Haram to his father preferred teachers. Moreover, about 1928, he entered the prestigious Ash-Shaulatiyyah-Mecca where he studied the finer points of Islamic theology and fiqh for many years, and at that time, Syaikh Salim Rahmatullah, a son of Syaikh Rahmatullah who was the founder of Ash-Shaulatiyyah, led it.
Moreover, because of his diligence, intelligence, and sincerity that he showed while his learning, his great teachers and friends paid more attention to him. There are many compliments given to him, such as what his great teacher, Asysyaikh Assayyid Muhammad Amin Al-Kutbi, said in the form of Arabic poetic words, which means:
Demi Allah saya kagum pada Zainuddin
Kagum pada kelebihannya atas orang lain
Pada kebesarannya yang tinggi
Dan kecerdasannya yang tiada tertandingi
Jasanya bersih ibarat sebuah permata
Menunjukkan kebersihan nenek moyangnya
Karya-karya tulisnya indah lagi menawan
Penaka bunga-bungaan
Yang tumbuh teratur dilereng pegunungan
Dilapangan ilmu ia dirikan Ma'had
Tetap dibanjiri thullab dan thalibat
Menuntut ilmu mengkaji kitab
Ia kobarkan semangat generasi muda
Menggapai mustawa dengan karyanya
"Mi'rajushshibyan ila sama''i 'ilmilbayan"
Semogalah Allah memanjangkan usianya
Dan dengan perantaraannya
ia memajukan ilmu pengetahuan
di Ampenan bumi Selaparang
Terkirimlah salam penghormatan
Harum semerbak bagaikan kasturi
Dari Tanah Suci Menuju 'Rinjani"
In addition, his beloved teacher, Asy-Syaikh Hasan Muhammad Al-Masysyath, also delivered the same matter. He stated, “I shall not pray to Allah, unless Zainuddin is already apparent in front of me and with me. He also said: “ I love Zainuddin and love whom love him, and I do not love someone whom does not love him”. His friend, Syeikh Zakaria Abdullah Bila also stated, “Syeikh Zainuddin is true genius, I have never been able to surpass him in his academic achievements”.
At 1352 Hijri, he completed his studies at Ash-Shaulatiyyah with summa cum laude predicate, but he did not return directly to Indonesia at that time, because he waited for his younger brother who was still in learning. Moreover, after two years, he returned to his fatherland, Indonesia and joined the Indonesian independence’ struggles against the Dutch. Around this time he started preaching and contributing to the ummah, and opened his first traditional Islamic boarding school in 1934 namely Almujahidin, and after several years, he founded NWDI (on 15th Jumadil Akhir 1356 Hijri / 22nd August, 1937), NBDI (on 15th Rabiul Akhir, 1362 Hijri /21st April, 1943), and Islamic Organization namely NW on 15th Jumadil Akhir, 1372 Hijri /1st March, 1953. These educational institutions grew very fast. Every student of him was asked to open up branches of these institutions at their respective villages and hometowns, thus Nahdhatul Wathan grew bigger till now
In his struggles, he was always accompanied by his families especially his wives. He married seven women coming from different backgrounds, they were Hasanah, Hajjah Siti Fatmah, Hajjah Raihan, Hajjah Siti Jauhariyah, Hajjah Rahmatullah, Hajjah Baiq Zuhriyah Mukhtar, and Hajjah Adniyah. From his seven wives, he only had two daughters: Siti Rauhun from his wife, Hajjah Siti Jauhariyah and Siti Raihanun from Hajjah Rahmatullah. Then from his two daughters he got 13 grandchildren. From his first daughter, Siti Rauhun, he got six grandchildren, namely: Siti Rohmi Jalilah, Muhammad Syamsul Lutfi, Muhammad Zainul Majdi, Muhammad Jamaluddin, Siti Suroyya, and Siti Hidayati. Meanwhile, from the second daughter, Siti Raihanun, he got seven grandchildren, namely: Lalu Gede Wiresakti Amir Murni, Lale Laksmining Puji Jagat, Lalu Gede Syamsul Mujahidin, Lale Yaqutunnafis, Lale Syifa’unnufus, Lalu Gede Zainuddin Ats-Tsani, Lalu Gede Muhammad Fatihin. All of them become his successor after his death and facing to Allah SWT.
Finally, on 20th Jumadil-Akhir, 1418 Hijri (21st October, 1997 ), he passed away in his lovely home at Pancor, East Lombok, in 90’s years old, after such a long time he struggled among the societies. His contributions during his life must be continued by anyone, especially by all citizens and the cadres who have been taught in educational institutions of Nahdlatul Wathan.
