There is evidence that the Shattariyyah silsilah in Java follows two main lines. The first can be traced back to Cirebon on the north coast. According to Muhaimin (1995:333-336) the Cirebon chain reaches back to Shaykh Ahmad bin Qaras al-Sanawî. Al-Sanawi was the father of al-Qushâshî who taught Abdul Muhyi’s teacher, ‘Abd al-Raûf al-Singkel. Shaykh Ahmad bin Qaras al-Sanawî in turn taught Shaykh ‘Âlam al-Rabbânî who in turn taught Shaykh Hatib Qabat al-Islam who in turn taught Shaykh ‘Abd al-Waqâb who in turn taught Shaykh Imam Tarbiyi who in turn taught Tuan Shaykh ‘Abd Allâh bin ‘Abd al-Qahhâr who in turn taught Tuan Haji Muhammad Mu’tasin who in turn taught Shaykh Imam Qâdir Îmân Hidâyat bin Yahyâ who in turn taught Sayyid Shaykh Muhammad Arifudin who in turn taught Raden Muhammad Nûr Allâh Habîb al-Dîn ingkang apilenggih ing Nagari Cirebon, Kanoman ing Dalem kaprabonan, (“who sat on the kanoman or junior throne of Cirebon”) (Muhaimin 1995:333).

The second tradition, attributed to Shaykh Abdul Muhyi of Safarwadi, is a more popular one, at least in West Java, than the Cirebon tradition. This is a clear indication that Pamijahan was an important place in Java for the transmission of the Shattariyyah. This present study focuses on the Pamijahan branch.