The tradition of Qur‟anic discourse and tafsir among Ulama in Nusantara has an important contribution to spread the Islamic values. Inside the history, the strategy of da‟wah (Islamic campaign) among ulama—from the Walisongo in earlier until our generation—the da‟i and scholars, within the pattern of Islamic values and local culture. Based on the background, the strategy to spread the Islamic values using the media of text, pesantren and “pengajian”. From this background, the literary tradition among ulama was implied in the network and genealogy of knowledge.
This paper wants to highlight the literary tradition among ulama in coastal Java, which is the central of connection among pesantren in Java. The discourse of pesantren in pesisir Java contributes to mapping the pattern of Islam Nusantara. This paper, especially analyze the pattern of tafsir tradition from Kyai Saleh Darat and Kyai Bisri Musthofa. In the history of Islam in Indonesia, Kyai Saleh Darat contributes to spread the Islamic values on pesantren leaders in Java. He is the teacher of Kyai Hasyim Asy‟ari, Kyai Ahmad Dahlan and other Islamic leader in Indonesia. In other side, Kyai Bisri Musthofa is a pesantren leader and charismatic Kyai in Java.