Habib Nuh al-Habsyi ق , the Grand Saint of Singapore (D.1866)

Habib Nuh al-Habsyi is known to be Singapore’s grand saint. Thousands of Muslims attend the yearly haul of Habib Nuh till this very date. Habib Nuh al-Habshi ق the saint of Singapore practiced the dala'ilul khayrat of Imam al-Jazuli ash-Shadhili ق daily.

𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲

Habib Nuh bin Muhammad Al-Habsyi came from a family of four brothers: Habib Nuh, Habib Ariffin and Habib Zain (both of whom 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 Nuh 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 accounts, Habib Nuh arrived in Singapore shortly after Sir Stamford Raffles landed on the island. He was then in his thirties. Although he spent the rest of his life in Singapore, and died there, he travelled around, mostly to Johor Bahru and to other states of peninsular Malaysia, preaching Islam.

𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿

He was a very pious man and 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.

𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝗠𝗶𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗹𝗲𝘀

Many people recounted many of his miracles. 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 would meet in Mecca. When the person arrived there, it was Habib Nuh himself who greeted him.

Habib Nuh was also well known as a great healer, especially for children whom he loved very much. There was one occasion 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 Nuh, who in turn gave the money away to the needy. Habib Nuh would brave even thunderstorms 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 Nuh was not drenched at all.

In another incident, Habib Nuh was awakened by the continuous 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 Nuh 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 Nuh is also remembered for his powerful and accurate premonitions. He seemed to know if people were in need, or were sick or had intentions meant for him. Once there was an Indian Muslim man who travelled back by sea to India to visit his family. He made a sacred pact with God that if he were to return to Singapore safely, he would present Habib Nuh with a gift. Upon returning, he was shocked when Habib Nuh was already waiting for him at the shore.

𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴

After 78 years of life devoted to Islam, Habib Nuh passed away peacefully on Friday, 27 July 1866 corresponding to 14 Rabiul Awal 1283. A few days before died, he gave a great deal of advice 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 Nuh 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 Nuh, and those from the neighbouring islands came to pay their last respects. 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 Nuh 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 could 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 Nuh’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 Nuh was safely buried at Mount Palmer.

𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱

During World War II, bombs were dropped around the shrine of Habib Nuh but it came out without any damage. With rising sea levels, fears of the shrine of Habib Nuh being washed away by the sea were allayed during land reclamation in 1962. In 1980s, plans for the East Coast Parkway expressway to cut across the area threatened the shrine of Habib Nuh. However, bulldozers on the brink of demolishing the shrine could not operate. The expressway was required to go round the shrine as seen on google maps. Even after the change of plans, the foundations of the expressway proved difficult to lay. It was reported that the construction company requested for prayers from the trustees of the maqam and water from the shrine to be poured over the foundation grounds. Construction works proceeded smoothly thereafter. The building of the highway almost resulted in the shrine of Habib Nuh ق being demolished but instead it served as a covering for those who visit the Awliya of Allah years later.

The elevated highway with its the height almost on the same level as Habib Noh’s maqam resulted it being almost impossible for any driver not to notice it. Now everyone can visit him without going up the 49 steps to the top of the hill that houses his grave. Next time, when you drive around that curve towards the end of the highway bridge at Tanjung Pagar towards Changi Airport, do not forget to recite Al-Fatihah for this great saint.

You may learn more about the grand saint of Singapore, Habib Nuh al-Habsyi from the Book:
Grand Saint of Singapore: The Life of Habib Nuh bin Muhammad Al-Habshi

May Allah bless his soul.

(Source: Sout Ilahi and Sheikh Hassan Abdullah Al-Khatib, caretaker of Habib Noh’s maqam)