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Birth
linages of the Javanese & Malay Sufi saints?
1. Shrine of Syed Shahul Hamid, George Town, Penang
Honouring
pious Muslims
Shrines
of devout Muslims, such as Caliphs and Sufis for example, are
quite common and can be found in many parts of the world. Some
of these include the 8th century shrine of Hadhrat Masoumeh
in Iran and in Bangladesh the shrine of Hazrat Shah Jalal who
died some six centuries ago. Until today, the latter's shrine
is visited by many devotees of every caste and creed, some of
whom journey from distant lands.
Even
on a relatively small island like Penang, several shrines and
tombs of famous Muslims dot the landscape. These include the
shrine of Syed Mustapha Idris aka Dato' Koyah, from Malabar,
India and the Noordin tomb. According to Penang historian Khoo
Salma, Dato Koyah reportedly worked miracles, healed the sick
and fed the masses.
In
Penang, a shrine built in honour of a well-respected 13th
century Muslim sufi called Syed Shahul Hamid is found on the
corner of Chulia Street and King Street. Syed Shahul belonged
to the Qadiriyah Sufi order, a movement founded by Shaykh Abd
al-Qadir Jilani. Similar shrines dedicated to Syed Shahul are
also found in Singapore and Sri Lanka.
Incidentally,
the word Chulia (as in Chulia Street) came from the name given
to Tamil Muslims traders from the Coromandel coast on the east
coast of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Even today, Chulia Street
is lined on both sides with Indian Muslim restaurants and shops.
Who
was Syed Shahul Hamid? Throughout history, saints have been
credited with uncommon and metaphysical powers. Muslim saints
are no exception, although it should be noted that in the Quranic
tradition, a saint is known as a wali, and any miracles performed
by them are a gift from God, rather than from any miraculous
power inherent in or acquired by the person. This special gift
is known as karama, from which the word keramat is derived (Malay
Folk Beliefs, Mohd. Taib Osman).
Syed
Shahul's gift was in the rescue and protection of seafaring
ships, according to Prof. Dennis B. McGilvray, an American anthropologist
from the University of Colorado. Thus, he continued, the location
of the shrines were found at Southeast Asian maritime trading
networks of his chief patrons, the wealthy Marakkayar Muslim
shipping magnates.
As
Penang is an important port city still, the presence of the
Nagore shrine is of importance to the shipping agencies owned
and operated by Indian Muslims.
The
Nagore shrine today Built in the design of a miniature Moghul
monument, the shrine has retained its original architecture
since the 1800s. The little shops built into alcoves of the
temple's sidewall still house petty traders and a songkok maker.
These shops are called butica or boteca (from where the word
boutique comes from) which was a common word in Ceylon for a
small native shop or booth (The Concise Guide to the Anglo-Sri
Lankan Lexicon, Richard Boyle).
These
days, the shrine is mostly a sanctuary of sorts to people, mainly
Muslims, who need a place to pray, rest or eat. In the cool
and quiet interior of the building, the noise and bustle of
the traffic just outside seem suddenly far away. Worn prayer
mats and well thumbed prayer books are a tell-tale sign of the
shrine's popularity as a place to pray. Visitors in need of
a drink can help themselves to the jerry cans of water and plastic
cups.
Abu
Bakar, who has been caretaker of the shrine for over 14 years
said that many people drop by the shrine –- these include
tourists, well-wishers and old acquaintances. Abu Bakar is often
seen sitting on the concrete platform outside chatting with
friends. He is friendly, approachable and willing to answer
questions in Malay or Tamil.
Visitors
should bear in mind though that this humble shrine is not a
typical tourist attraction – its main purpose now serves
as a quiet place to pray and to rest.
The
costs of upkeeping the place is provided for by the State Religious
Council, and through donations made at the shrine. There are
no fixed visiting hours but you should ideally visit the place
in the day, and not during prayer times. Shoes must be left
at the entrance, and clothing should be modest.
A short history of Saiyed Shahul Hameedi According
to the shrine's records (see picture), Hazareth Saiyed Shahul
Hameedi Qadir Gunjasavoy Andavar Avargal (the Saint's full name)
was born in Manickapur near Ayodyah in India on a Friday in
the 14th century. His father, Hazareth Saiyed Hasan Kuddus Sahib
was the 21st lineal descendant of the Prophet Mohamed. Like
the birth of all great men, Saiyed Shahul's coming was announced
by a Messenger of God to his mother Beebi Fathima in a dream.
Beebi was told that she would be blessed with a son who would
be the Saviour of the people and the Captain of Islam.
The
records then go on to explain that even as a child, Shahul showed
signs of great wisdom, intense piety and divine communion. He
mastered the Arabic language by eight. After several years of
training with a guru in divine knowledge, he went to Manickapur
with 404 disciples and then toured Afghanistan, Baluchistan
and other places performing innumerable miracles like raising
the dead, giving speech to the mute, healing the lame and curing
various diseases.
At
a mosque in Lahore, we are told, Shahul met a childless but
wealthy and pious man by the name of Kazi Hazareth Noordin Sahib,
who asked that the saint bless him with children. This did the
saint agree to do, and gave some betel nuts to Noordin to hand
over to Beebi Johra, his wife. Noordin was also instructed to
stay by the saint's side for 40 days without seeing his wife.
A son was soon born to Beebi, in the year 959, and was named
after the saint's brother, Saiyed Muhammed Eusoff Sahib.
One
of the last miracles performed by Shahul was when he cured the
King of Tanjore of a grievous illness, according to the records.
He also blessed the Queen with many children which soon came
to pass. The grateful king offered the saint rich rewards, which
he refused, and instead asked for a piece of land upon which
to build his shrine. It was here where he was laid to rest when
he died at age 68.
Soon
after, the shrine became a place of great veneration for Muslims
and non-Muslims alike. His anniversary is marked annually by
a celebration called Kandoori Festival, which lasts 14 days
starting from the first day of Jamadilakhir.
Also
Visit ::: www.penangtime.com
is
mainly on Online Service ( hotel,flight booking ) & 1st
business is E-IKLAN ( E-advertisment ) - which focus for muslim
biz ONLY. - in another word - muslim biz directory ( at this
moment focus in MALAYSIA with MALAY language ).
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Taken
from a email sent to us by an alert surfer who personally visited
Malaysia..
2.
Tomb of Ismail Nagore, George Town, Penang
3. Tomb of Noordin Sahib, George Town, Penang (His actual
official name is Maulana Miskin. The board at
the entrance says Makam Maulana Miskin Jalan Masjid, Palua Pinang)
The shrine of Syed Shahul Hamid RA (corner of Chulia street)
and dargahs of Maulana Miskin RA and Syed Mustapha Idris RA
were closeby.
4. Tomb of Syed Mustapha Idris a.k.a. Dato' Koyah, George
Town, Penang
(Will
be closed by Magrib Time so appropriate time is between Zohar
to asar)
5. Tomb of Wali Mohammed Salleh, Batu Uban,Penang - frequented
by Naqshabandi Malays.
6.
Dargah of Alim Shah.
Mazar
of Hazrat Alim Shah
7. The name of the Dargah is Makam Saidina Kaful Ali Wali
Allah.
Location:
Jalan Jasselton, Pulau Pinang.
Jalan means street in Malaysian.
It
was in a neighbourhood where there were only houses of rich
people. And we had to park at the end of the street and walk
for 3 minutes because the dargah is actually in a mountain.
The man at the shrine of syed Shahul Hamid, gave us a
few more names of dargahs in Penang and another city in Malaysia,
Melaka. He wrote them on my piece of paper when our driver asked
him in Tamil. So I don't know to what extent the names are correct.
Another
dargah in Penang is that of "Yusuf Wali"
Two
dargahs in Melaka, Pulau Besar:
- Sultanul Arifin Shaile Ismail (Wali)
- Abdul Jalil (Wali)
Also
Visit ::: www.penangtime.com
is
mainly on Online Service ( hotel,flight booking ) & 1st
business is E-IKLAN ( E-advertisment ) - which focus for muslim
biz ONLY. - in another word - muslim biz directory ( at this
moment focus in MALAYSIA with MALAY language ).
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