Wali Sanga

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Part of a series on
Religion of Java
Java Java Javanese culture Javanese people Sundanese culture Sundanese people Religion in Indonesia
Early religiosity Dewi Sri Hyang Kapitayan Sunda Wiwitan
Hinduism Hinduism in Java
Buddhism Buddhism in Indonesia Sanghyang Adi Buddha Ashin Jinarakkhita
Islam Spread of Islam in Indonesia Santri Abangan Wali Sanga Kyai Muhammadiyah Nahdlatul Ulama
Kebatinan Kebatinan Subud Aliran kepercayaan
Christianity Christianity in Indonesia Divine Word Missionaries Ganjuran Church
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Wali Songo (Javanese: ꦮꦭꦶꦱꦔ, lit. 'Nine Saints'), also transcribed as Wali Sanga, are revered saints of Islam in Indonesia, especially on the island of Java, because of their historic role in the spread of Islam in Indonesia. The word wali is Arabic for "trusted one" or "friend of God" ("saint" in this context), while the word sanga is Javanese for the number nine.

Although referred to as a group, there is good evidence that fewer than nine were alive at any given time. Also, there are sources that use the term "Wali Sanga" to refer to saintly mystic(s) other than the most well-known nine individuals.

Each man is often attributed the title sunan in Javanese, which may derive from suhun, in this context meaning "honoured".^[1]

Most of the wali were also called raden during their lifetimes, because they were members of royal houses.

The graves of the Wali Sanga are venerated as locations of ziarah (ziyarat) or local pilgrimage in Java.^[2] The graves are also known as pundhen in Javanese.