Biography of KH. Muhammad Ilyas Ruhiat, Rais ‘Aam PBNU 1992, and Leader of Pesantren Cipasung Tasikmalaya

Table of Contents 

1. Life History and Family 
1.1 Birth 
1.2 Family Background 
1.3 Passing 

2. Lineage of Knowledge and Education 
2.1 Education 
2.2 Teachers 

3. Successors 
3.1 Students 

4. Life Journey and Preaching 
4.1 Becoming the Leader of the Pesantren 
4.2 Contributions in Nahdlatul Ulama 

5. Organizations 

6. Lineage Chart of Teachers and Students 
6.1 Lineage Chart of Teachers 
6.2 Lineage Chart of Students 

7. References 

1. Life History and Family

1.1 Birth 
KH. Muhammad Ilyas Ruhiat was born on January 31, 1934, in Cipasung, Tasikmalaya, West Java. He was the son of KH. Ruhiat and Nyai Hj. Siti Aisyah.

1.2 Family Background 
KH. Muhammad Ilyas Ruhiat married Nyai Hj. Dedeh Tsamrotul Fuadah. From this marriage, they were blessed with three children: 

1. Gus Acep Zamzam Noor
2. Neng Ida Nurhalida
3. Neng Enung Nursaidah Rahayu

1.3 Passing 
KH. Muhammad Ilyas Ruhiat passed away on December 18, 2007, at his home in Cipasung, Tasikmalaya.

2. Lineage of Knowledge and Education

2.1 Education
KH. Muhammad Ilyas Ruhiat never studied at any pesantren other than with his father. He learned several classical Islamic books, such as Jurumiyah, Alfiyyah, and many others. 

He didn't stop there, as he also took foreign language courses in Arabic and English. At the age of 9, he had mastered Jurumiyah, and by the age of 15, he could memorize and master Alfiyyah by Ibn Malik. At 15, he was entrusted by his father to teach at Cipasung. 

KH. Muhammad Ilyas Ruhiat began his formal education at HIS Banjar (1940–1943), then continued at Madrasah Diniyah Cipasung (1943–1946), and then at SPI Cipasung (1950–1953). 

During his high school years, he continued his education at Madrasah Aliyah Persamaan (1968). After completing secondary school, he pursued further studies at Madjapahit University Jakarta, Sheikh Yusuf Islamic University Jakarta, and finally at the Islamic Institute Siliwangi Bandung, although he did not complete any of these programs. He also attended a preacher cadre course at Pesantren Cipasung in 1954.

2.2 Teachers 

1. KH. Ruhiat (father)
2. KH. Abdullah Syatori

3. Successors

3.1 Students 
1. KH. Mawardi Ishaq
2. KH. Hasan Syafi'i
3. KH. Choer Affandi
4. KH. Acep Adang Ruhiat
5. KH. Dr. Abun Bunyamin, MA.

4. Life Journey and Preaching

4.1 Becoming the Leader of the Pesantren
In 1980, KH. Muhammad Ilyas was appointed by his father to continue the leadership of Pesantren Cipasung.

4.2 Contributions in Nahdlatul Ulama 
From a young age, KH. Muhammad Ilyas Ruhiat was known as a humble figure, often yielding and avoiding confrontation. This also characterized his tenure as Rais Aam of PBNU. He frequently deferred to the Chairman of Tanfidziyah PBNU, KH. Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur). As a result, when Gus Dur introduced ideas that were seen by many as straying from NU’s traditions, there was little opposition from the Syuriah.

In his later years, Ajengan KH. Ilyas Ruhiat devoted more attention to education, particularly within Pesantren Cipasung, Singaparna, Tasikmalaya, which he led. 

As Rais Aam, his flexible and humble personality often seemed “cool” in contrast to Gus Dur,

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