Maulana Malik Ibrahim

Maulana Malik Ibrahim, later known as Sunan Gresik, was the first of the Wali Songo, the nine missionaries credited with bringing Islam to Java. A native of Kashan in Persia, he preached for thirteen years in Champa, marrying a king's daughter and fathering Sunan Ampel. In the late fourteenth century he settled near Gresik in Majapahit Java.

His equal treatment of different castes won support among lower castes and led to conversions. He treated the sick and founded an Islamic boarding school after meeting the Majapahit ruler, and died at Gresik on 7 April 1419.