1.
The Nagore Durgha
:: 2. Maqam Habib Nuh
3. Shrine of Syed Shahul Hamid ::
4. Shrine of Hazrath Habibullah Shah
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The
Nagore Durgha is a shrine
in Singapore built by the Muslims of southern India in 1828-1830,
and was originally known as Shahul Hamid Durgha. When this
shrine was first built, Telok Ayer Street, where the shrine
was located, was a sandy beach crowded with sailing craft.
While its physical surroundings has since change, the monument
has changed little since the late 19th century. It has a
unique blend of Classical and Indian Muslim motifs.
Nagore
Durgha was actually built to commemorate a visit to the
island by a Muslim holy man of the Chulia people (Muslim
merchants and moneylenders from India's Coromandel Coast),
who was traveling around Southeast Asia spreading the word
of Indian Islam. The land was granted to a certain Kaderpillai
in 1827, on condition that it was not to be used for a building
of wood and attap.
In
1893, by an order of court, the Nagore Durgha properties
came under new trustees who were also appointed for the
Masjid Al-Abrar. The building resembles a multi-tiered wedding
cake, its sharp arches decorated with intricate moldings.
The architectural features of the building blends classical
motifs like molded arches and columns with Indian Muslim
elements such as perforated grilles at the roof. In 1974,
it was gazetted a national monument.
The
most interesting visual feature is its facade: Two
arched windows flank an arched doorway, with columns
in between. Above these is a "miniature palace"
-- a massive replica of the facade of a palace, with
tiny cutout windows and a small arched doorway in
the middle. The cutouts in white plaster make it look
like lace. From the corners of the facade, two 14-level
minarets rise, with three little domed cutouts on
each level and onion domes on top. Inside, the prayer
halls and two shrines are painted and decorated in
shockingly tacky colors.
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Maqam Habib Nuh Singapore
The
Waliullah: Habib Noh
Not much is known about the early life of this famous 19th
century saint except that he came from the northern Malaysian
state of Kedah and lived for a while in Penang an island
off the coast of Kedah. He was a direct descendant of our
Holy Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.). He was an Arab from Hadramaut,
the area of southern Arabia that is now known as Yemen.
He
made his appearance in Singapore after the island became
a British colony in 1819. He came into prominence because
being a majdhub he did things that are out of the ordinary.
He loved children who liked to accompany him everywhere
he went. He would enter a shop, take out all the money from
the cash drawer and throw it to the waiting children. Those
shopkeepers who were aware of his holy state did not make
any attempt to stop him and were rewarded by Allah with
prosperity in their business thereafter.
Such
activities however, were frowned upon by the British colonial
masters who tried to put him in jail a number of times.
However, after doing this many times, they finally gave
up and left him alone. The reason? Each time he was arrested,
and put in jail, he mysteriously disappeared from his cell
and was seen outside walking free. This is one of the signs
of awliya, their service to God has set them free from man.
People
in those days flocked to see him and sought the blessings
of his sincere invocation. Since those were the days of
sailing ships, traveling by ship was often hazardous and
it took a few months to sail from Singapore to Jeddah, Arabia.
Muslims planning to sail back to Indonesia, India and Arabia
made it their practice to come and ask him to pray for their
safe journey.
Stories on Habib Noh often revolve around his miracles--especially
his incredible ability to appear in a number of places at
the same time. He had been seen in Makkah when it was known
that he has not left Singapore. He has been known to say
farewell to travellers leaving Singapore with the words
'I will be there when you arrive'. When the traveller reached
his destination months later, Habib Noh would be there to
welcome him at the harbour.
Once
a prominent Singapore businessman was about to set sail
before lunch-time on a certain day. He received word that
Habib Noh wanted to have lunch with him in his house that
very day. Because of his love for this great wali, he did
not depart on the ship that day but stayed behind to have
lunch with Habib Noh.He did not know at that time that Habib
Noh--who was also known for his gift of knowing about events
to come and his state of unveiling (kashf)--had come to
lunch with a purpose. That was to prevent him from sailing
on a ship that was doomed to be shipwrecked near Penang
a few days later, going down with most of its passengers.
A
gentleman by the name of Tok Mat, who owned a horse carriage,
used to take Habib Noh on rides in his carriage. One night
Tok Mat was returning home alone in his carriage felt quite
frightened, as Singapore, one-hundred years ago, was not
a safe place as it is now. Robbers and bandits were everywhere,
waiting to take unwitting travelers by surprise. Tok Mat
felt fearful and wished Habib Noh was there to protect him.
He turned around and was shocked to see Habib Noh sitting
in his carriage and smiling at him.
Numerous
stories like these are still talked about till this very
day in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia and even in far
away India and Yemen, among people who accept the miracles
of awliya as commonplace. Speak to the present caretaker
of the Habib Noh shrine, 51 year old Hassan Al-Khatib, and
he will share with you his rich repertoire of stories on
the life of Habib Noh. He will also tell you of unsuccessful
attempts by local Wahabis and their Saudi friends to stop
people from visiting this maqam.
Habib
Noh died peacefully on Friday 14 Rabi`ul Awal 1283 Hijra
(1866 CE ) and was buried on the hill at his own prior request.
As with the martyrs and great saints, his spirit lives on
and many miracles are still happening to those who have
strong certainty and ask Allah for help with the baraka
of this Saint of Singapore
Maqam Habibullah Shah Singapore
Friend (Salman Chisty) at Shyakh Habib Nuh Maqam in
Singapore
