The Waliullah: Habib Noh (Singapur)

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

Habib Noh bin Muhammad Al-Habshi (1788 - 27/7/1866)

Habib Noh bin Muhammad Al-Habshi came from Kedah, Malaysia. Not much was
known about his early life. He came from a family of 4 brothers:

Habib Noh, Habib Ariffin and Habib Zain (both died in Penang) and the
youngest Habib Salikin, who died in Daik, Indonesia.

From his marriage with Anchik Hamidah who came from Wellesley Province,
Penang, they were blessed with only one daughter named Sharifah
Badaniah.

Sharifah Badaniah later married Syed Mohamad Bin Hassan Al-Shatri at
Jelutong, Penang. The couple then gave Habib Noh his only grandchild,a
girl named Sharifah Rugayah. She married Syed Alwi Bin Ali Aljunied and
they had five children, two boys and three girls namely Syed Abdul
Rahman, Syed Abdullah, Sharifah Muznah, Sharifah Zainah and Sharifah
Zubaidah.

By most account, Habib Noh arrived in Singapore shortly after Sir
Stamford Raffles landed on the island. He was in his thirties then.

Although he spent the rest of his life in Singapore, and died there, he
travelled around, mostly to Johor Baru and other peninsular states of
Malaysia, preaching Islam.

He was a very pious man. His nights were spent in praying till dawn.
And he was a constant visitor of the graveyards, often praying for the
souls of the dead. He always moved around with his closest friends
except when he specifically requested to be alone.

He was well loved by people from all walks of life, especially children.
He would often buy sweets and give money to children, the poor and
destitute.

Thus it was without surprise people recounted many of his karamah.

He possessed the ability to literally disappear, and be seen at far away
places. It was reported that he was ever seen praying in the Grand
Mosque of Mecca in Saudi Arabia without actually making the journey
there himself physically. Once he even told a departing haj pilgrim that
they will meet in Mecca. When the person arrived there, it was Habib Noh
himself who greeted him.

Habib Noh was also well known as a great healer, especially for children
whom he loved very much. There was once when he healed a child with an
injured leg, by simply putting his hands over the wound and reciting
some prayers. Within moments, the child was able to run again as though
nothing had happened to him. The father of the child was so happy; he
donated shillings to Habib Noh, who in turn gave the money away to the
needy.

Habib Noh would brave even the thunderstorm to tend to any sick child.
He ever walked to Paya Lebar from his home at Telok Blangah under heavy
rain to heal a child. When he arrived at the child's home, to the
astonishment of the parents, Habib Noh was not drenched at all.

In another incident, Habib Noh was awakened by the continuos crying of
his neighbour's child. When he went over, he found that the family was
too poor to buy food for the hungry child. With tears in his eyes upon
hearing the story, Habib Noh took a coconut kernel, poured some water in
it and recited some prayers. By God's will, the water turned into milk
for the child.

Habib Noh is also known for his powerful and accurate premonitions.
He seemed to know if people were in need, sick or have intentions meant
for him. Once there was an Indian Muslim man who traveled back to India
to visit his family via sea. He made a sacred pact with God that if he
were to return to Singapore safely, he would present Habib Noh with a
gift.

Upon returning, he was shocked when Habib Noh was already waiting for
him at the shore.

Habib Noh called out to him,"I believe you have made a promise to give
something to me." Surprised, the Indian Muslim man said, "Speak oh wise
one what you wish for and I will gladly present it to you."
Habib Noh replied, "I would like to have rolls of yellow cloth to donate
to the poor, the destitute and children."

Hugging Habib Noh, the Indian Muslim man cried, "By God, I will be most
willing to present it to a man who is exalted in the eyes of God for his
kindness towards mankind. Please give me three days to present them to
you."

He did within the stipulated time.

After 78 years of life devoted to Islam, Habib Noh passed away
peacefully on Friday, 27 July 1866 corresponding to 14 Rabiul Awal 1283.
A few days before died, he gave many advise to his beloved friends.
Amongst his treasured words were, "Don't be greedy for worldly materials
nor have any ill-feelings towards anyone throughout your life."

Habib Noh breathed his last breath in Telok Blangah, at the residence of
Johor's Temenggong Abu Bakar. When news spread, many people from all
walks of life, including Englishmen who converted to Islam through Habib
Noh, and those from the neighbouring islands came to pay their last
respect. All horse-drawn carriages in Singapore came to a halt from
their daily activities, to ferry the old folks, women and children to
the funeral for free. But just before the cortege left the Temenggong's
house for the burial ground, a strange phenomenon took place.

Before his demise, Habib Noh had actually instructed his friends to bury
him at the top of Mount Palmer, which during that time was a small
burial ground. Somehow on that fateful day, everyone had forgotten about
it and they were all preparing to go to the Bidadari Muslim cemetery.
When the time came to carry the coffin, it refused to budge from the
ground.
Nobody can lift it. The atmosphere turned panicky, and almost everyone
cried upon seeing the coffin not moving one inch, despite the strong
attempts of able men.

Fortunately, someone finally remembered the late Habib Noh's
instructions; came forward and addressed the true situation to everyone.
Each person realised their lapse in memory and immediately decided to
proceed to Mount Palmer instead. Through the will of God, the coffin was
able to move at much ease and cries of Allahu Akbar! (God is Great!)
filled the air. As per his parting wish, Habib Noh was safely buried at
Mount Palmer.

His karamah did not end there. During World War 2, when Telok Blangah
was extensively aerial bombed by the Japanese, not a single bomb touch
Habib Noh's tomb. And when the Singapore's government wanted to build an
elevated highway along Tanjung Pagar, it cannot be moved or demolish,
not even a single crane or excavator could move to unearth the area,
even though the soil is soft and can be pocked with a finger but it
would not bulge and therefore the bridge was designed to curved around
it, the height almost on the same level as Habib Noh's Mausoleum.
Subhanallah, Allah is great
It was almost impossible for every driver not to notice it. Now everyone
can visit him without going up the 49 steps to the top of the hill that
housed his grave.

Next time, when you drive around that corner towards the end of Tanjung
Pagar's highway bridge towards Changi Airport, do not forget to recite
Al-Fatihah for this great saint.

May Allah bless his soul

(source: Sheikh Hassan Abdullah Al-Khatib, caretaker of Habib Noh's
mausoleum)

Sufi Saints Dargahs in Singapore

1. Maulana Abdur Rahman d. 1822
2. Al Imam Al Faqih Haji Abdul Jalil, buried in Golden Landmark, Arab Steet, Singapore [1827] 
3. Al Arif Billah Khwaja Mohammed Saleh buried at Jami'Chulia Mosque, Mosque Road, China Town, Singapore [1830]
4. As Shafie Al Quaurawani d. 1837
5. As Sheikh Daud Al Ishtakhari d. 1839
6. Al Habib As Syed Omar bin Aljunied buried on Jalan Kubur in 1852, later re-buried at Omar Kampung Melaka Mosque,  at Keng Cheow Street in the Singapore River Planning Area.
7. As Sheykh Yusuf Al Basri d. 1852
8. Sheikh Sulaiman Al Kazaruni d 1855
9. As Sheikh Abdur Rahman Al Ajjuri d 1860
10. Al Habib As Syed Abdur Rahman bin Salim Al Habsyi d 1867 buried besides the tomb of Habib Nuh (RA)
11. Sharifah Ruqaiyah, the only grandchild of Habib Nuh (RA)is interred at Duxton Plain Park, Teo Hong Road, Singapore.