Thursday, April 17, 2008

Syeikh 'Abdul Jalil al-Mahdani


Syeikh ‘Abdul Jalil Al-Mahdani, Mufti of the Government of Kedah Darul Aman
(adapted from Hj. Wan Mohd Shaghir r.h. ‘s Ulamas of the Malay World)

An early source – Al-Tarikh Salasilah Negeri Kedah by Muhammad Hassan bin Kerani Muhammad Arshad – mentioned that this ulama by name of Tuan Syeikh ‘Abdul Jalil al-Mahdani was the father of Syeikh ‘Abdus Shamad al-Falimbani. This document has later been republished by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka in 1968.

In any case the truth is still open for debate since several other sources mention that Syeikh ‘Abdus Shamad’s father being one Syeikh Abdullah, while other sources said his father goes by name Syeikh ‘Abdur Rahman.

Origin and Arrival in South-East Asia

His full name is Syeikh ‘Abdul Jalil bin Syeikh ‘Abdul Wahhab bin Syeikh Ahmad al-Mahdani, from San’a, Yemen.

It is unclear the year he arrived in Palembang. According to a manuscript by Society of Malaysian History – Kedah Chapter (published 18th July 1989), he came to Palembang towards the end of 17th century. Six months later he departed for Java together with disciple Tengku Muhammad Jiwa – son to the Sultan of Kedah. The Syeikh spread Islam to the people of Java for a while before setting sail for India.

His disciple Tengku Muhammad Jiwa acted as the Syeikh’s personal aide (khadam) and concealed his nobility very well. Moving from place to place in India, he maintained humility towards his master. Much later the Syeikh acquired another personal aide by name Hapisap, a similarly well-mannered disciple.

Probably driven by longing to return to his homeland, Tengku Muhammad Jiwa suggested to Syeikh ‘Abdul Jalil and Hapisap to visit Kedah since they had never been to that kingdom. He added some spice to that suggestion saying that Kedah was quite a prominent kingdom, ruled by a Muslim by name of Sultan ‘Abdullah. It might not be far-off if we speculate that Tengku Muhammad Jiwa also felt the need to spread his Syeikh’s vast knowledge of Islam to his homeland.

In 1710 (Hijri 1122) the trio boarded an Arab ship from Muscat stopping over en route to South-East Asia. The ship also made a re-supply stop at the Mergui harbor in present-day Myanmar (Burma).

The Empty Throne in Kedah

Unknown to Tengku Muhammad Jiwa, his father – Sultan ‘Abdullah Mu’azzam Shah had passed away in 1706 (Hijri 1118). He was succeeded by the crown prince Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin Halim Syah – who passed away shortly after. Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin did not leave behind an heir. The Kedah chieftains decided to set out and look for for his brother – Tengku Muhammad Jiwa to succeed the throne.

While Dato’ Kema Jaya set out to Sumatra and Java, his colleague Dato’ Seri Indera Mambang went to India and Burma. It happened that Dato’ Seri Indera Mambang bumped into Tengku Muhammad Jiwa in Burma (Mergui) during the stopover. Upon learning that both his father and brother had passed away, Tengku Muhammad Jiwa cried and related his real identity to his Syeikh. In company of the Kedah chieftain all three departed for Kedah.

The Mufti Appointment

Syeikh ‘Abdul Jalil recited the ceremonial do’a when Tengku Muhammad Jiwa was appointed as the next Sultan of Kedah. When the Chief Judge (Qadhi) of Kedah passed away, the new Sultan asked the chiefs’ approval to appoint his good friend Hapisap as the new Qadhi, and Syeikh ‘Abdul Jalil as the new Mufti.

Sultan Muhammad Jiwa then looked for a suitable bride for the Syeikh. He found one in Wan Zainab binti Dato’ Seri Maharaja Putra Dewa.

Descendants of Syeikh ‘Abdul Jalil

After a few months, an old student of Syeikh ‘Abdul Jalil by name Raden Siran came from Palembang for a visit. He suggested the Syeikh to return to Palembang and pay a visit to his old students.

Later in Palembang, the Syeikh married Raden Ranti/Rantai. From this marriage, they had a son – ‘Abdus Shamad. This child later became one of the most famous sufi alim in South-East Asia (even to this day). Syeikh Abdus Shamad al-Falimbani would later wrote famous books such as ‘Hidayatus Salikin’ and ‘Siyarus Salikin’. Syeikh ‘Abdus Shamad is known to leave behind at least one offspring – a daughter named Fathimah.

From his earlier marriage in Kedah with Wan Zainab, the Syeikh had 2 sons. One was named Wan ‘Abdul Qadir (later Mufti of Kedah). The second was Wan Abdullah, who grew up to hold important position in the government – Seri Maharaja Putera Dewa. Syeikh ‘Abdul Jalil’s grandchildren in Kedah have yet to be located.

Death

Syeikh ‘Abdul Jalil al-Mahdani passed away in 1782 (Hijri 1196). His grave is in Tanjung Pauh, Jitra, in district of Kubang Pasu, Kedah.

Wallahu a'lam


7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Salaam,
..From his earlier marriage in Kedah with Wan Zainab, the Syeikh had 2 sons. One was named Wan ‘Abdul Qadir (later Mufti of Kedah). The second was Wan Abdullah, who grew up to hold important position in the government – Seri Maharaja Putera Dewa. Syeikh ‘Abdul Jalil’s grandchildren in Kedah have yet to be located...

I am finding reading the article very interesting & I have read the original Malay version too.
I am finding it rather unusual for such an important person in Kedah's history to leave no trace of his descendents. The scholar and author of AlTarikh Salasilah Negeri Kedah, Muhammad Hassan b To' Kerani Muhammad Arshad has put his claim of the lineage to Syeikh Ahmad Mahdani and is displayed at the beginning of the section displaying old menuscripts and old documents.
Thanks. Wassalam
Ahmad Fuad b. Morad b Wan Chik b. To' Penghulu Muhammad Ilyas & also great grandson of To' Kerani Muhammad Arshad through marriage of To' Penghulu Muhammad Ilyas to To' Kerani Muhammad Arshad's sibling.

Islam In Us said...

Wa alaikmussalam,

>put his claim of the lineage to >Syeikh Ahmad Mahdani and is >displayed at the beginning of the >section displaying old >menuscripts and old documents.

So he is something like grand-niece to Sh Jalil?(and you aswell)? In which manuscript? Thanks for your info. I really don't have much to say... didn't do any research, simply translated over from Ustz Wan Shaghir's.

Anonymous said...

Assalamualaikum,

Many thanks for the message. I enjoyed reading through your many translations of Ustaz Haji Wan Shahgir r.h.’s writings. Going through your translations and the original writings in Malay is refreshing and very enlightening indeed. Keep it up!

I will try to link the relationships although it maybe disputed. Some words of caution; I am not an academician or a historian with no empirical evidences to qualify the following statements. I welcome other readers’ views pertaining to the topic in discussion.
To' Kerani Muhammad Arshad was the To' Kerani Rahsia Raja al-Marhum Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin Mukarram Syah 1853 – 1879. Buried at Masjid Akar Peluru, Sungai Korok, Kedah at the distal end of To’ Penghulu Muhammad Elias’s grave (Penghulu Pekan Alor Setar).
His son, Muhammad Hassan, (1868-1942) was To’ Kerani Rahsia al-Marhum Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah (1882 – 1943) and the writer of a histography at-Tarikh Salasilah Negeri Kedah. Another of his son, Muhammad Ariffin was the Secretary to the Sultan and subsequently appointed as Kedah’s first State Secretary (1905 – 1922).
The documented lineage of both Muhammad Hassan and Muhammad Ariffin is as follows and can be view at the Kedah State Museum, old manuscripts section, and you can read for some write-up about him from this link

http://www.mykedah2.com/10heritage/106_2_p2.htm
.. b Haji Abu Bakar Qadhi b Syeikh Wan Abdul Qadir al-Mahdani b Syeikh Abdul Jalil al-Mahdani b Syeikh Abdul Wahab b Syeikh Ahmad al-Mahdani, Sa’ana, Yemen.
One of the granddaughter of Wan Abdullah, a sibling to Syeikh Wan Abdul Qadir al-Mahdani, and very likely fathered by To’ Kerani Idris (his other siblings, To’ Kerani Abbas, To’ Kerani Isa and To’ Kerani Ahmad) married To’ Penghulu Muhammad Elias. Subsequently, through another wife To’ Kerani Muhammad Arshad had a son who married one of To’ Penghulu Muhammad Elias’s daughter which gave the bulk of his traceable descendants.
Wan Zainab was the mother of Syeikh Wan Abdul Qadir al-Mahdani and Wan Abdullah. While their half-brother Abdus Shamad al-Falimbuni was from a different mother, Raden Ranti from Palembang.
A bit of history of To’ Penghulu Muhammad Elias can be found here: "KEDAH Alor Setar 250 Tahun, 1735-1985, Alor Setar, Kedah: Kerajaan Negeri Kedah Darulaman, 1990, Paperback. Short notation front endpaper whited out.; 22 x 29 cm.; pg. iv, 257; Bibliography, illustrations. "History of Alor Setar, 1735-1985, state capital of Kedah; collection of articles.” In Malay with some articles in English. ISBN 983996661X.
Wallahuallam.
Regards,
Ahmad Fuad

Islam In Us said...

wa'alaikumussalam,
Its nice to know there're still people who take effort to preserve their silsilah. As for me I know names up to my great-grandfather only.

I have some interest in history, but what I learned in school + stories from old folks + stories from malay ulama leave some mystery on what actually had happened. There're so much that our minds can't comprehend, and I think we shouldn't jump into conculsions merely after gobbling up on some hearsay.

I'm just ranting... nothing bad intended for you :)

Anonymous said...

I've suspected that my paternal grandfather has something to do with Sheikh Abdul Jalil al-Mahdani (al-Mahdali). I only know my paternal grandfather father name and they said my grandfather always entering Anak Bukit area, which is considered as Royal area, he also was reported as having lands and horse which is the symbol of nobility. I don't have any concern about those nobility things, I just want to know my silsilah, that's all. Does anyone know about the status of Kampung Pulau Timbul? Some people say it is the village of Mamaks, but when I see the blogs about the village, they said with Arab descents and several place say only Arab descents. Might be Arabs being mistaken by Mamak??? My grandfather family had strict rules of endogamy, marrying among family, but my grandfather had married outsider. He has 3 wives I think. Our family history especially my father's family is shrouded in mystery before, but I managed to trace their first village, ALhamdulillah. If anyone could help, I would bbe grateful, may Allah bless you.

Ahmad Fuad Haji Morad said...

Salam,

The mausoleum at Tg Pauh, Jitra should provide you with some lead.

There are in fact two graves and have been claimed that of Sheikh Abdul Jalil and his loyal follower, Hafiz Sab (an Indian). The locals simply called the place 'Keramat Tok Keling'.

Intermarriages among their offsprings could be one the factors for the darker skin texture. The Sheikh, though originally claimed from Sana', could be from the darker-skinned Arabs from Eden or Hadramaut and almost similar to the Indian outlooks. Just as a note here to mention that many fairer-skinned Arab-as if sharp features or mix with the offspring of Hafiz Sab still, exist amongst his descendants – a melting pot of sort between the descendants of the Sheikh, Hafiz Sab, Malays, Achenese etc. and even Siamese.

Kg Pulau Timbul, Titi Gajah, Anak Bukit and Alor Merah are the few places they initially congregate.

Wassallam.

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