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.
Arrival in Singapore
Around 1819, Habib Noh was invited to Singapore by Habib Salim bin Abdullah Ba Sumayr after the island became a British colony. Habib Noh stayed here (in Singapore) for about 50 years. Some reports mentioned that he stayed at Kampung Kaji (next to Al-Masjid Sultan.)
He came into prominence because being a 'majdhub' as he did things that are out of the ordinary. He loved children who liked to accompany him everywhere he went.
Among his honourable habits was to distribute food to the poor. Often, 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.
He frequently gave advice to the community. He urged his companions to always show compassion, to increase their religious knowledge and to be consistent in learning the Al-Quran. Among his advice was "Let there not be any spite or ill-will among you and let there not be even a bit of greediness among you."
Habib Noh often woke up at night to perform prayers till dawn. He often visited the graves of the Muslims in the middle of the night to read Quranic verses till dawn. Habib Noh later moved to Marang Road, near Masjid Temenggong. He would often khalwat (remain in solitude for zikrullah) atop Mount Palmer, which was then a thick jungle facing the vast sea. The peaceful setting was perhaps a way for him to get closer to Allah.
A friend of his, Hj Muhd Salleh wished to set up a small mosque for the convenience of the Habib, but Habib Noh ra passed on to the next world before his friend's intention was fulfilled. The small mosque was still built, but it was later demolished. In replacement, the Hj Muhd Salleh mosque was built at the foot of Mount Palmer, for the convenience of the guests who came to visit the Habib.
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 Mecca 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.
Story 1
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.
Story 2
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.
Story 3
One night, Habib Noh RA was resting when he heard the continuous cries of a child, from his neighbour's house. Habib Noh RA got up and went to his neighbour's house. He gave Salaam and entered the neighbour's house, upon which, he saw the father of the child crying. He asked the mother of the child about this. The mother answered, "Habib, my child is crying because he wants to drink milk but I do not have the money to buy it. My husband is crying because he's too overwhelmed when he heard the child crying." Habib Noh RA then requested for some drinking water. The mother gave him some water in a coconut husk. Habib Noh RA read a few verses and a while later, the water turned into milk and the milk was given to the child.
Story 4
One day, a group of people visited Habib Noh RA. They waited for him as he prayed Asar. Soon, Habib Noh RA came out to meet his visitors. While he was greeting the second person in the group, he observed the man's face and said, "It's better for you to leave now because your mom is facing her last moments, and is dying." The man rushed home accompanied by Habib Noh RA. When they arrived, the man's mother had just died.
Story 5
Once there was an Arab trader who was a follower of Habib Noh RA. One day, he invited the Habib RA to his home for a farewell supplications (du'a selamat) as he was going back to Yemen on some business. The trader made preparations for his journey. According to his plans, he would leave immediately after the farewell supplications, and would head down to Keppel where a ship was awaiting. At that time, there would only be a few ships which set sail to Yemen in one week.
Something strange happened. When the Habib RA arrived, he sat on the trader's luggage while making the farewell supplications. This had never happened before. Habib Noh RA made a very long supplication, until even the trader became restless, as his ship was set to sail soon. As a sign of respect to the Habib RA, nobody dared say anything. Finally, the Habib RA ended his supplication. By then, the ship on which the trader was supposed to be in, had already left the port. The guests started eating but nobody said anything or questioned the Habib RA. The trader had missed his ship. A week later, they heard the news that the ship on which the trader was supposed to be in had sunk at the Indian Ocean, and everyone on the ship died. That's when they realised the reason behind the Habib's behaviour.
Story 6
During World War II, a Japanese plane dropped a bomb which landed on the roof of the maqam. The building surrounding the maqam was completely ruined, even the entrance to the maqam was shattered. Habib AlKhair (the entrusted caretaker) was slightly hurt. By Allah's Will, the maqam remained untouched.
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.
Even after his physical demise, Habib Noh is still held in high esteem. Whenever he meets visitors from Singapore, Shaykh Nazim Al-Haqqani, Mufti of Cyprus and world leader of the Nasqshbandi-Haqqani order, requests that they convey his salaams to Habib Noh. He also makes it a point to visit Habib Noh whenever he is in Singapore.
A measure of the high respect given to this saint can be seen in the action of Shaykh Hisham Kabbani Chairman of The Islamic Supreme Council of America and a Sufi Shaykh from the Naqshbandi Haqqani sufi Order during this visit to the maqam. Shaykh Hisham took off his shoes at the bottom of the hill on which the maqam is situated and walked barefooted up the 47 steps leading to the tomb as a sign of respect, although he was told that normally visitors take off their shoes at the top of the steps.
Death Anniversary (Haul)
His death anniversary ceremony (or haul) is often held on the last day of the month Rabiul Akhir. It starts about 'Asr with various invited 'ulamas or religious scholars from within Singapore and overseas giving lectures.
Maulid and tahlil are read after Maghrib. Generous food is then served to the hundreds of guests regardless of race or religion, after Isya' prayers.
Taken outside my house by my fren..
SIAK TOL!!!
Mon 15 feb 2010..
I went to pulau ubin with my parentz ,
auntie cousin.. uncle in the morning
our boat jalan kul 10pagi.. and my journey g sana
was superb.. tak bedek.. best...
Tapi sebelom smpai sane.. pat changi aku ade gado dgn 3matrep ni
budak lagi.. they keep stare2 mcm maknye.. kene maki teruz tak tengok..
at 10 we board the boat.. bila smpai sane mcm rasa
maut ah.. mcm best.. then we naik van g pulau noordin..
mcm seram kan?? da memang seram pun!!!!
Bila da smpai tmpt pulau noordin.. next to me there is a big toilet...
da mcm istana.. ade tangga naik atas. sbb toilet tu mcm pat hill gitu..
pic luar dia aku terdelete lak.
Seram kan??? bilang aku sikit.. nak ke korg pergi toilet ni malam2??
Tapi yang worse dia... i guess they never pay the wate bill haha... AIR PUNYA LA SIKIT
NAK MANDI KAN KERBAU PUN TAK CUKUP... mcm mane lak lau nak terberak kan...
When i was near that toilet.. i was like have this feeling.. the feel like sumting is inside
and mcm ade orang tgh tengok sedang kan that time was around 11pagi i guess... then i just walk to the beach. and pasang tent bodo tu..
then my auntie told me sumting. she say ''pat sini mulut kene jaga.. nampak bende jgn teguh''
and i was like ''Wow'' cool hahaha.. so i just have to wait for the night to fall.....
So kite g la tmpt beach tu yang di nama kan pulau noordin..
aku pun pasang la fishing rod aku yang taksebrape and tent kan... and pancing...
sekali ngantok lak.. aiseman.. aku pun tdo la dalam condo bodo aku tu haha..
then i wokeup itz was already 8pm.. i just waste my whole day sleeping.. damm it...
teruz aku jln nak g toilet.. bila nak naik tangga tu aku tgk la.. ''MAK DATOK''
punya la gelap. ape tak.. kiri kanan depan belakang atas semua hutan..
ape lagi aku pun gostan... call my dad suro ikot g toilet haha...
bila tengah kencing tu.. tengah sedap pancut tgh feeling2...
pat belakang macam ade org tgh tgk siak.. sekali aku pusing ahhh..
bapak aku la.. hehe.. tpi serious mcm ade org tgh tgk...
Teruz aku g balik pat beach tu.. and take out my light stick..
and keep throwing pat hutan tuu so tak la nmpk gelap sgt pat dalam tu.
lepas tu kite g pancing balik... cuma aku pancing sebelah hujung la..
coz tkt later my fishing line tersangkut pat my uncle or my dad nye da
kene maki satu bakul... jadi.. smbil tgu ikan mkn..aku squad and isap rokok
bila tiba2 aku dgr bende.. pat belakang aku tu hutan besar.. then aku dgr
mcm ade org jalan inside that fucking forest!!! mcm ade org terpijak ranting..
aku pun buat bodo la keep pancing.. sekali bapak aku lak sebelah sane
suluh lampu pat hutan tu juga.. the he came to me.. and i say ''asl suluh dalam situ''
bpk aku ckp dia dgr org jln pat dalam.. hmm aku fikir telinga aku main2 and ingat
aku sorg jek dgr.. so aku ckp la aku pun dgr tadi.. then my dad ask tu jaga2...
Aku sambung pancing balik.. yg cool nye ni kann when i was fishing..
pat belakang aku ade org campak ranting and batu kecik2...
baik baik.. konek panjang terus jadi kecut...aku pusing la.. but there is nobody
behind me... tu yang pelik.. beh dia cmpak lagi.. teruz aku da fadup.. aku jalan
g masak maggie dn bpk aku la.. tat time was midnight semua da tdo. cuma tgl aku bpk aku
sedara and pakcik.. tgh sedap masak.. sekali pat belakang aku ade forest ade org lari ah..
terkejot berok aku.. aku ckp dgn bpk aku ''ade org pat dalam ah''..
kite sulu lampu tapi takde org...nmpk mcm bende putih tapi not sure la ape tu tkt lampu
nye sinar jek... then kite masak jek.. then aku da mkn.. aku pun rasa mcm nak tdo
bapak aku tdo pat pondok. aku lak tdo pat lua condo bodo aku tu pat luar ade tika..
Bila tgh tdo.. ade org cmpak bende lagi pat aku.. aku buat bodoh..
and the thing keep repeating throwing at me..
aku bgn aku ckp ''oi hantu pun taucmpak bende ke mcm kental gitu''
pasal tu aku tkel tdo... aku g pancing balik. dgn pakcik aku and sedara..
aku g sebelah hujung lagi... tgh tgu ikan mkn.. sekali kene ahh..
dapat ikan besar.. tu tkpe.. pat belakang aku ade org ketawe.. pmpn lak tu..
buah teruz pat teka siak...aku buat bodo juga.. aku tgk2.. aku maki2
kene cmpak batu lagi.. aku rasa kan hantu tu anti abiz dgn aku...
aku je yang kene... mana pat laut aku dgr bunyi anjing mana dgr bunyi mcm burung.. tpi aku tau tu bkn burung... paham2 jela kan.. anjing tu.. pelik sikit pat laut?? hmmm
Jadi aku pancing jela tat time was 6plus and aku tahan mata smpai matair timbul..
teruz kite kemas2.. sbb van amek kite kul 12.. time tgh kemas2 ade group family
ni dtg.. dorg pun g pancing.. dorg ganti tmpt kite pat pondok tu..
then ade satu nenek ni.. dia ddk pat pondok tu alih2 ade grasshopper dtg g pat tangan dia..
satu makcik ni ckp dgn laki dia..''bang tgk bang ade bende pat my mum nye tangan''
laki dia ckp ''biar la.. kau mana tau semua ni.. ni org lama dtg kau diam2 jek''
Then the nenek tgk bende tu beh mcm tgh bbl.. then she smile.. dia ckp ni org lama??
''smlm ade bende kacau eh'' from where the hell she know?? yg sial dia nye..
nenek tu ckp tu kawan dia.. org lama?? WTF...???
aku pun angkat bag teruz jln...mcm2 terjadi pat situ ah..
lau u all think aku ni main2 kan tk caye kan.. tkpe.. im goin there again'tak tau bila
lau nak ikot jom.. or korg g check it out sendiri g sane.. nanti korg tau
la sendiri... lau konek panjang leh jadi kecut.. ape lagi pmpn
tetek besar leh jadi jemput2 hahaha iskk gurau jek.. tapi nak ikot
standby duit boat ye.. hehe tkde duit haha... then aku g pat jeety tu teruz naik boat balik..
Kla tu jela cite aku yang creepy geli geli tu haha.. mata aku pun da ngantok
lom tdo satu hari ni mata da mcm nak terkua ni jari mcm nak tercabut...
ingat nak ikot standby duit sendiri ye.. hehe bye bye
Labels: Pulau Noordin
