Rock with me :D

Friday, May 21, 2010

The Story of Habib Noh

Introduction

Syed Habib Noh Al Habsyi was born aboard a ship in the year 1788 (1202/3 Hajirah). He was a direct descendant of Prophet Muhammad (Syed or Sayyid is an honorific title given to descendants of Prophet Muhammad). His parents were Arabs from Hadramaut, the area of southern Arabia that is now known as Yemen. According to Shaykh Hasan Al-Khatib, the caretaker of Maqam Habib Noh, who heard from Habib AlKhair, Habib Mohamad's wife was in labour when a huge storm hit the ship. It was a critical moment and the ship threatened to be overturned. At that time, Habib Mohamad made a nazar that if the baby arrives safely, he would name the baby "Noh" in remembrance of Nuh (Noah) who brought the light of mercy on his ship. Not long afterward, Habib Noh arrived safely into this world.

According to some sources Habib Noh's father, Syed Mohamad Al Habsyi (also spelled as Al Habshee) worked as a palace official under Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin Halim Shah II. The seat of the Kedah government then was at Kota Kuala Muda. When his wife passed away Syed Mohamad married Ku Pahmah, widow of Syed Yassin Al Anggawi who was killed at Limbong Kapal when Siam attacked Kedah in 1821. After the marriage, the family moved to Penang. Habib Noh also has a sister by the name of Sharifah Aloyah whose descendants now still reside in Penang.