After completing his education at the equivalent of Madrasah Aliyah (Islamic Senior High School), Abuya Moh. Wahyudi chose to remain at Al-Hidayah Islamic Boarding School to serve his teachers. He firmly believed that the blessings of knowledge come from sincere devotion. Amid his busy service, he took a major step by continuing his studies at IAIN Sunan Ampel Surabaya (now UINSA), majoring in Muamalah Jinayah at the Faculty of Sharia.

Before being accepted, he made a vow: if he passed the entrance exam, he would walk from Wonokromo to Ngampel while reciting the Qur’an until completion. He truly fulfilled that vow. His university journey was filled with perseverance. Every day, he commuted from Sukorejo to Surabaya using a monthly train pass that cost only forty thousand rupiahs. He had to arrive at the station before dawn, sometimes standing the entire trip because there were no available seats. On the train, he spent his time reviewing the Qur’an, reading books, or engaging in conversations with fellow passengers.

Upon arriving at Wonokromo Station, he walked for about 30 minutes to reach the campus, as he couldn’t afford public transportation. Even when floods inundated the area, he continued walking through knee-deep water, determined to seek knowledge.

University life was far from easy. In addition to paying his own tuition fees, Abuya also helped finance his younger sibling’s education. Many times, he had to endure hunger. To survive, he brought simple rice cakes (lontong) and quietly ate them in the campus mosque restroom so that his friends wouldn’t notice. Yet despite these hardships, his determination never wavered.

On campus, Abuya was known as a humble student. He was always the first to arrive and often volunteered to carry his lecturers’ bags. He did not do this to gain attention, but because he believed that honoring teachers opens the door to the blessings of knowledge.

Starting from his third semester, Abuya began to pursue writing more seriously. He sent his first manuscripts to various publishers, but all were rejected. Refusing to give up, he visited bookstores to note down publishers’ contact details listed in the opening pages of books.

That long struggle finally bore fruit. His manuscript titled Ahkamu Qira’atil Qur’an (The Laws of Qur’anic Recitation) was successfully published. The book received an excellent response and even reached international readers in Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei. From the royalties of his first book, Abuya was able to live more decently, support his sibling’s education in Pare, Kediri, and ease the burden on his parents.

Writing, in fact, was not new to him. During his time at Al-Hidayah, he had managed a magazine and bulletin for alumni and the youth of Al-Muhlashin Mosque. That experience became a valuable foundation for producing his later, greater works.