Jefri Al Buchori

Jefri Al Buchori, also known as Ustadz Uje, was an Indonesian Islamic preacher, da'i, singer, and actor. He was born in Jakarta in 1973, to a family of devout Muslims. His father, Ismail Modal, was a Moluccan, and his mother, Tatu Mulyana, was a Sundanese. He received his early education from his father and other religious teachers, and learned Arabic, Malay, and other languages. He also developed a passion for reading and writing, and published his first novel, Saudagar Minang, at the age of 17. He was also interested in arts and entertainment, and joined several dance groups and theater clubs. He began his acting career on soap operas, such as Halilintar and Si Doel Anak Sekolahan. He also became a dancer in a nightclub, where he met his future wife, Pipik Dian Irawati, a model and cover girl for Aneka magazine. They married in 1999 and had four children. Jefri's career in da'wah began in 2000, when he succeeded his elder sister at a mosque in Singapore. He then became a regular preacher at several mosques in Jakarta, and gained popularity among the young and urban Muslims. He was known for his charismatic and humorous style of delivering Islamic messages, and for his involvement in social and humanitarian activities. He also produced several albums of Islamic songs, such as Shalawat Cinta, Sepohon Kayu, and Bidadari Surga. He wrote several books, such as Buku Pintar Ibu Hamil, Kiat-Kiat Menjadi Suami Idaman, and Renungan Hati. He also hosted and starred in several TV shows, such as Damai Indonesiaku, Uje TV, and Pesantren Rock n' Roll. Jefri died in a motorcycle accident in Jakarta in 2013, at the age of 40. He was buried in the Heroes Cemetery in Kalibata, Jakarta. He was a well-loved and respected figure in the Indonesian Muslim community, and was awarded the Bintang Mahaputera medal by the President of Indonesia. He was also immortalized in the new redesign of Rp. 5.000, new rupiah banknote in 2016. He was a man of many talents and passions, who dedicated his life to the service of Islam and humanity.