Dato' Shahbudin bin Haji Mohd Amin (asal Cirebon, Java)

Masjid An nur
Banda Hilir Melaka
Dibina pada tahun 1820
Pengasas
Dato' Shahbudin bin Mohd Amin
Berasal dari Cheribon
Tanah Jawa

Masjid Banda Hilir founder's plaque

(٠‎ - ١‎ - ٢‎ - ٣‎ - ٤‎ - ٥‎ - ٦‎ - ٧‎ - ٨‎ - ٩‎)

I'm writing again on a famous old masjid in Melaka which Dato' Shahbudin laid down as a madrasah in 1820.

The details of Masjid Banda Hilir founder and his tomb are from a man named Mahadhir Mohamad (cicit Hj Mohd Nordin, who was the middle brother of 3 brothers of Hj Mohd Sharif). I don't know Mahadhir Mohamad but he has knowledge of my family and ascendants.

The links of Masjid Banda Hilir founder to my father was narrated to me and the location of the founder's tomb were shown to me by my second eldest cousin, Abdul Muin (Abang Moin anak Pak Ji Usop and Mak Lah Semabok) when I visited Semabok on 4 June 2016, where I met him, and he took me around to see Melaka. We have not met for more than 42 years. Abang Moin is 9 years my senior. I left Melaka in 1973 after Form 3, when I was 15 years old.

However, I do not think that Dato' Shahbudin (founder of Masjid Banda Hilir) was linked to my father because Dato' Shahbudin was a bachelor. There must be another man from Tengkera by a similar name who was linked to my father. He was Sheikh Mohd Sahabudin (his surname is unknown).

-------------
From Mahadhir Mohamad and Abang Moin

Here is the story pieced together from 2 accounts - Mahadhir Mohamad and Abang Moin:

Masjid An-Nur Banda Hilir, Melaka was founded by a Javanese man named Dato' Shahbudin bin Haji Mohd Amin. He was from Cheribon, Tanah Jawa, that's as much as the plaque says. The masjid was built in 1820, much later than Masjid Tengkera (1728) and Masjid Jamek Batu Uban, Penang (1734) which were built by Haji Muhammad Salleh (Nakhoda Nan Intan ibni Tuanku Patis Nan Sebatang). Masjid Banda Hilir was built 92 years after Masjid Tengkera. Masjid Tengkera was built during Dutch Malacca while Masjid Banda Hilir was built during British Malacca.

Note: Cheribon (English) is now Cirebon (Indonesian).

(٠‎ - ١‎ - ٢‎ - ٣‎ - ٤‎ - ٥‎ - ٦‎ - ٧‎ - ٨‎ - ٩‎)

THE GROUNDS OF MASJID BANDA HILIR, MELAKA

PERKARANGAN MASJID BANDA HILIR, MELAKA

1820

There were initially 2 main structures on the grounds of Masjid Banda Hilir -

1. a madrasah, which later became a masjid and
2. an old wooden Malay house, which was later replaced by a stronger Malay house 

The masjid was first a madrasah (a Quran learning centre). Activities and space needs then led the madrasah to become a masjid. The original masjid resembled the Indonesian masjid at Tanah Jawa (Java). The original masjid had 4 big columns, windows, doors, one main stairs in front, an ablution pool (kolam) beside the main stairs, a toilet by the main gate, and a front brick wall. Qiblat faced the direction of Melaka town and the old Portuguese fort (A Famosa).

From even before I was born, meals accompanying masjid activities were held at the adjacent house, at the front portion of Rumah Banda Hilir - at the part called sengkuap rumah (1897-1958). But I wonder, where was food served after the masjid was built and before the house was built (1820) and re-built (1896)?

1883

Md Sharif and his youngest brother, Zainal Abidin (Zenal) were seen at Masjid Kg Rawa, Java Street in Kuala Lumpur. They were probably unmarried yet and had not gone for Hajj. All 3 brothers were adults in 1883. So I tried working out their date of birth and age at death.

1. Hj Md Sharif bin Ismail Al-Yamani 1860-1911, Banda Hilir, married in 1895 at age 35, died at age 51 before First World War.
2. Hj Noordin bin Ismail Al-Yamani 1862-1951, Banda HIlir/Ujong Pasir, died at age 89, 6 years after the Second World War.
3. Hj Zainal Abidin bin Ismail Al-Yamani 1864-1945, Klang, died at age 81 after the Second World War.

1896

Md Sharif, his middle brother (Noordin), and a family friend (Khalil Husin), went for Hall pilgrimage in late 1895-early 1896. Hj Md Sharif's eldest and only son was born on 11 February 1896 while he was away in Makkah to perform the Hajj. His youngest brother (Zenal) stayed behind and took care of registering his nephew's birth. Thus, Mohamed Usuf @ Mohd Yusope's birth certificate bore the name signed as Zenal. The other 4 children were born between 1896 and 1904 (approximately, 1890, 1895, 1900, and 1904). 

1904

Hj Md Sharif wrote his Wasiat in 1904. Wasiat Hj Md Sharif should mention the names of all 5 of his children. The probate was dated 1912.

1911

Hj Md Sharif could have died before 1912. He could have died in 1911, before the probate was released in 1912. His estate was therefore attended to by his middle brother, Hj Noordin in 1912. His remaining lands are still being cared for (rental) by his grandnephew, Hj Mazlan bin Hj Abdul Rahim bin Hj Noordin.

1912

Probate of Wasiat Hj Md Sharif was released. Many of his lands were sold and his debts were paid. There were still few pieces of land which were not sold and rented out to pay cukai pintau/cukai banda and miscellaneous.

1912-1951

After Hj Md Sharif died (exact date unknown), his middle brother Hj Noordin became Imam Masjid Banda Hilir till he too died in 1951. His son Hj Abdul Rahim probably took over (1951-?), followed by other relatives.

1931
My father (Bapak) was born on 28 November 1931 at home at the Government quarters at 1092 Jalan Imbi in Kuala Lumpur. He was the 8th child of 15 siblings. Bapak and his family came to live at Banda Hilir house since the early 1940s when Kuala Lumpur was bombed during WWII; this could be between 1942 and 1944 when he was 11-13 years old. The family continued to live in Banda Hilir during and after the war. Bapak narrated stories of the Japanese army in Melaka during the war. All my father's siblings were born in Kuala Lumpur except those born during the Second World War (check date of birth for Bik Wa, Mak Bedah, Pak Din and Pak Saleh).

1948

There is a group photo after the war in 1948, of my father's family and relatives at Pulau Besar, Melaka.

1951

Hj Noordin died in Melaka and is laid to rest at Kubur Jalan Panjang (lorong panjang). Since his date of birth is unknown, it is difficult to tell his age at death. My guess is that he probably died about age 89.That means he was born in 1862. 

Late 1950s
Even after I was born, meals continued to be served for the masjid people at the same house where my family lived. We used huge serving trays (dulang besar) for serving food. There were bronze (dulang tembaga) and enamel trays (dulang ayan). The trays were heavy for me as a 5-year-old girl. The bronze trays had to be scrubbed with tamarind and salt (gosok dengan asam jawa dan garam) and washed under running tap water at the tap beside the bathroom. They were flat-bottom bronze trays. My aunt second eldest aunt, Che Nah, and I helped to scrub the bronze trays. The bronze trays shone after that (berkilat). They were dried by placing them against the white-washed brick wall where we washed them. The enamel trays were washed with coconut husk (sabut kelapa), coconut soap (sabun minyak kelapa) and running water. The enamel trays had flower motifs on white background. The enamel trays had a flat bottom and sides that curved up and outward. As a child, I was fascinated by these large serving trays.

Early 1960s
The original masjid built in 1820 did not have a surrounding corridor.  The surrounding corridor was built later when my family lived at rumah Banda Hilir in the late 1950s to the early 1960s. The corridor was built between 1960 and 1963. My paternal grandmother Nek Inchek went to pray at the new corridor that was nearer our house, which was an area reserved for female worshippers. I could see her praying there when I peered through the wooden louvres of the windows at anjung rumah, which was the closest portion of the house to the masjid.

1955
My parents were married in Melaka in November-December 1955 and their bersanding ceremony was held at 262 Rumah Banda Hilir on 25 December 1955. We lived at Rumah Banda Hilir till my youngest brother Amin was born in 1962 and was about a year old. We then left Melaka in 1963, after my father returned from England. We moved to Alor Star, Kedah. I waited a year (1964) before I started primary school in Standard 1 at Sultanah Asma Primary School, Alor Star in 1965.

2007 PERZIM
Rumah Banda Hilir was demolished under the supervision of Melaka Museum, Perbadanan Muzium Melaka (PERZIM) circa 2007. Masjid renovations were extended and covered the original house site and were completed in 2007, which led to a different and more modern masjid, with better ablution facilities and toilets. Both the old and new masjid portions are attached, and shared a new ablution pool (kolah for wudhu'), but re-built at a different location. The initial masjid had the kolah adjacent to the main stairs (tangga utama masjid). The renovated new masjid has a kolah, but in front of the old tangga utama masjid, thus blocking access to the old main staircase.

Rumah Banda Hilir 1897-2007

The house referred to as Rumah Banda Hilir, was built in stages. It was our family's temporary home in Banda Hilir. It belonged to the "Hj Mohd Sharif clan" but nobody owned the house as it was made into a clan home for all, called Rumah Abu. The rear part of the house was the older part of the house (older than 1896/ 1897/ 1898/ 1899). The front part of the house (bahagian depan Rumah Banda Hilir) was of much sturdier built. This front portion of the house was rebuilt in 1897/1898/1899 by Hj Mohd Sharif bin Ismail after he returned from the Hajj in late 1896/1897/1898/1899. The house had a long roof (bumbung panjang). The house supported the activities of the masjid and meals were served at the house instead of the masjid. No food was allowed in the masjid. The jemaah masjid (people of the mosque) would come to the house to have meals at the anjung - a long living-room in the front part of the house and nearest facing the masjid. It was for entertaining guests and to serve them food.

(٠‎ - ١‎ - ٢‎ - ٣‎ - ٤‎ - ٥‎ - ٦‎ - ٧‎ - ٨‎ - ٩‎)

QARIAH MASJID BANDA HILIR, MELAKA

Dato' Shahbudin passed away and is interred (buried; dikebumikan) at Makam Dato' Shahbudin, Tanah Perkuburan Islam, Jalan Panjang 7500 Melaka, Qariah Banda Hilir. The road or place is also referred to Lorong Panjang in Melaka and in Google Maps. There is a long lane that leads from the main road entrance to Makam Dato' Shahbudin and other graves of Qariah Masjid Banda Hilir, which are at the end of a long straight lane. That is why the graveyard is referred to as Lorong Panjang (long lane) or Jalan Panjang (long road).

(٠‎ - ١‎ - ٢‎ - ٣‎ - ٤‎ - ٥‎ - ٦‎ - ٧‎ - ٨‎ - ٩‎)

Tanah Perkuburan Islam, Jalan Panjang

Update 4 June 2016

Tanah Perkuburan Islam, Jalan Panjang 7500 Melaka, Qariah Banda Hilir

Abdul Muin bin Haji Yusuf (Abang Moin)
Contact: +6-013-779-1949

• anak arwah Pak Ji Usop, Imam Masjid Semabok in the 1960s, 1970s till his demise
• anak sulung arwah Mak Lah/Melah/Ramlah bt Hj Mohd Yusope bin Hj Mohd Sharif bin Ismail
• abang kepada arwah Kak Bibah and Kak Salmah

We visited the cemetery at Tanah Perkuburan Islam, Jalan Panjang, Melaka on 4 June 2016. We followed Abang Moin who drove his white MyVi, along with his wife Kak Rosalina (Kak Ros) and their 5-year old son Mohd Nur Hidayat (he sat in the car as he was unwell that day).

The cemetery is some distance from Masjid Banda Hilir. Abang Moin opened the gate for our cars to enter the grounds of the cemetery. We parked near the wakaf (shed) just after the main entrance.

There were many graves here. The front graves were scattered, but were laid down as normal ... all graves faced Qiblat. There were some graves to the right, within a crumbled square brick wall enclosure (to the left if I stood inside Makam Datuk Shahbudin enclosure). I did not count how many graves there were inside the enclosure and outside the enclosure. I walked around the crumbled brick walls of the enclosure that contained many graves. Abang Moin said they were the graves of our relatives. We don't know them individually nor do we have their names.

Makam Dato' Shahbudin is in a separate smaller brick wall enclosure against the backdrop of overgrown bamboo trees, at the foot of a hill (hidden by bamboo thickets). His grave and grave post are painted yellow. His grave is quite long, longer than the usual graves we see today. The grave post has a blue metal plate that reads:

Makam Datuk Shahbudin bin Hj Mohd Amin

Pengasas Masjid Annur Bandar Hilir Melaka

Makam Dato' Shahbudin at Tanah Perkuburan Islam, Jalan Panjang, Malacca. Photo from Mahadhir Mohamad (cicit Hj Nordin).

Map of Kubur Jalan Panjang: https://goo.gl/maps/sqKGPFUWkrp

There was another smaller grave within the enclosure of Makam Shahbudin. Whose grave is this? 

(٠‎ - ١‎ - ٢‎ - ٣‎ - ٤‎ - ٥‎ - ٦‎ - ٧‎ - ٨‎ - ٩‎)

TANAH PERKUBURAN MASJID AL-ABRAR, SEMABOK
Kubur Masjid Semabok

Pahmah @ Fatimah bt Mohamad bin Salem Alyamani, wife of Hj Mohd Sharif bin Ismail Al-Yamani, is interred at Tanah Perkuburan Masjid Semabok, adjacent to her husband, and their son - Mohd Yusope bin Hj Mohd Sharif. These 3 of 4 graves lie to the left of the Mimbar at Masjid Semabok (on the left when standing inside masjid and facing Qiblat). The 4th grave is empty (liang lahad kosong) as it was meant for Nek Inchek, but she died in Kuala Lumpur and is interred at Kg Cangkat, Gombak (her grave was near an empty building among old rubber trees).

Bapak brought my sibs and me once to visit these graves when we were small. We walked from Rumah Pak Ji Usop to the graves. It was some distance from the house. I remember walking through high overgrown grass (lalang) and coming through an opening (gate) of a perimeter wall (that of a makam), of a white high brick enclosure and we arrived at the 3 graves. I must have been at least 5 years old. I remember the extraordinary large tombstone of Hj Mohd Sharif. I remember asking my father why his tombstone was so large (as large as my face or head). My father replied but I cannot recall what he said. The large tombstone has left an imprint and lingered in my mind till my old age. If I am right, it resembled the Batu Nisan Acheh - it was big and bulky. The present tombstones were not what I saw as a child when we visited the graves with my father. The locations of the 3 graves are the same. However, the masjid was enlarged and now has encroached on the nearby graves. Now the graves are just outside the Mihrab, close to the masjid wall. When I visited the 3 graves with my sibs and father in the early 1960s, the masjid was some distance from the 3 graves. I did not see the masjid when we were at the 3 graves.

The graves here are on a steep hillside. Over the years, the earth on the hillside moved and also moved the tombstones. Some low brick walls collapsed in several places. I did not notice this steep hillslope when I came here as a little girl. I only came inside the makam which had high white walls.

Tok moyang Hj Mohd Sharif's family members are buried in a brick wall enclosure near a tree. The tree is now overgrown. The roots have knocked down the brick wall, which then collapsed onto my grandfather's grave (Mohd Yusope), covering it altogether. When I visited the graves, I could only see the gravestones of Hj Mohd Sharif and that of his wife Pahmah, and not of their son. The 4th liang lahad site did not contain any human remains and had no tombstones. 

(٠‎ - ١‎ - ٢‎ - ٣‎ - ٤‎ - ٥‎ - ٦‎ - ٧‎ - ٨‎ - ٩‎)

YEMEN (YAMAN)

I mentioned to Abang Moin that Bapak's Syed relative in Singapore informed me of a place named Sayhoun/Sayhoon in the Hadramut region of Yemen - now the united Republic of Yemen. A Sumatran relative (who spoke Arabic) had returned to Sayhoun, lived there, passed away and is buried there.

(٠‎ - ١‎ - ٢‎ - ٣‎ - ٤‎ - ٥‎ - ٦‎ - ٧‎ - ٨‎ - ٩‎)

IDENTITIES OF SHAHBUDIN, SAHABUDIN & FATIMAH

According to my notes from what Bapak narrated to me and from Wasiat Hj Mohd Sharif bin Ismail, my great-great-grandfather named Ismail married a Melaka lady by the name of Inchek Nyonya bt Mohd Sahabudin. Inchek Nyonya was the daughter of Sheikh Mohd Sahabudin. However, my Bapak said Makam Shahbudin is in Tengkera. Bapak did not mention kubur Jalan Panjang at all. 

As far as I know, Pahmah @ Fatimah married to Hj Mohd Sharif. Fatimah's surname is not stated on her son's birth certificate, but just as Pahmah. Fatimah's son is Mohd Yusope bin Hj Mohd Sharif. Mohd Yusope's son is Hj Abdul Rashid bin Hj Mohd Yusope. Hj Abdul Rashid is my father (Bapak).

Hj Mohd Sharif's mother is Inchek Nyonya bte Mohd Sahabudin. 

Bapak mentioned that there is Makam Shahbudin (of an Indian man) at Tengkera. Bapak did not mention Makam Dato' Shahbudin or the graves at Jalan Panjang at all. 

I will still need the birth and death dates of these people Dato' Shahbudin bin Haji Mohd Amin, Tuan Sheikh Mohd Sahabudin, and Fathimah bt Mohamad bin Salem Alyamani.

(٠‎ - ١‎ - ٢‎ - ٣‎ - ٤‎ - ٥‎ - ٦‎ - ٧‎ - ٨‎ - ٩‎)

WALI SONGO

How is Imam Masjid Banda Hilir connected to Wali Songo?

There were 9 Muslim scholars termed as Wali Songo. They were closely related as father-and-son or first degree relatives (cousins). They were related to Islamic teaching and learning in Saudi Arabia (Hijaz/Nejad) and this region (Nusantara).

According to Abang Moin, Dato' Shahbudin bin Hj Mohd Amin was from Cirebon in Java (asal Cirebon, Jawa). He was from Kadilangu in Central Java, Indonesia. He was related to Sunan Gunong Jati, but we don't have his family tree. Our Indonesian counterparts/relatives may have that information. Abang Moin went to Java to search for information about our ascendants and their descendants. However, he did not get much information. Maybe he met the wrong people or asked the wrong questions.

(٠‎ - ١‎ - ٢‎ - ٣‎ - ٤‎ - ٥‎ - ٦‎ - ٧‎ - ٨‎ - ٩‎)

KADILANGU

Kadilangu is a sub-district of Demak in Central Java (Jawa Tengah). It is a Malay residential area/village. There are many houses around Masjid & Makam Sunan Kalijaga (Raden Said/Raden Syahid). There are boarding houses and toilets in the area.

• Kadilangu is in Central Java

• Kadilangu is in Demak, and near Masjid Agung Demak.

• Masjid & Makam Sunan Kalijaga, Kadilangu is 4 km from Masjid Agung Demak. 

• https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kadilangu,_Demak,_Demak

• https://visitjawatengah2016.blogspot.my/2016/10/ziarah-makam-sunan-kalijaga-kadilangu.html 

• http://kangbabas.blogspot.my/2015/06/ziarah-ke-makam-sunan-kalijaga.html

• https://www.thearoengbinangproject.com/en/masjid-sunan-kalijaga-kadilangu-demak/

(٠‎ - ١‎ - ٢‎ - ٣‎ - ٤‎ - ٥‎ - ٦‎ - ٧‎ - ٨‎ - ٩‎)

SUNAN KALIJAGA
(Raden Said/Raden Syahid)

Abang Moin also mentioned Sunan Kalijogo (Demak), but I can't recall the full story. I couldn't hear properly because of loud street noise. I will need to ask him again when I meet him in Melaka. In sya Allah.

(٠‎ - ١‎ - ٢‎ - ٣‎ - ٤‎ - ٥‎ - ٦‎ - ٧‎ - ٨‎ - ٩‎)

SUNAN GUNONG JATI
(Sharif Hidayatullah bin Sharif Abdullah)

I have written a post in this blog before about Sunan Gunong Jati. Sunan Gunong Jati was his nickname. His full name was Sharif Hidayatullah bin Sharif Abdullah. Here, Sharif is used as a title and name prefix. What does it denote?  A revered person?

Abang Moin also named his son Mohd Nur Hidayat, after Sunan Gunong Jati.

(٠‎ - ١‎ - ٢‎ - ٣‎ - ٤‎ - ٥‎ - ٦‎ - ٧‎ - ٨‎ - ٩‎)

JAVANESE / ORANG JAWA

Orang Jawa
Of Javanese men

According to Abang Moin, orang Jawa are quiet and do not fool around or joke around. They are serious people. They will pull out their keris if attacked.

(٠‎ - ١‎ - ٢‎ - ٣‎ - ٤‎ - ٥‎ - ٦‎ - ٧‎ - ٨‎ - ٩‎)

DATO' SHAHBUDIN'S KERIS
Keris Dato' Shahbudin

Dato' Shahbudin was a man of small frame or body build, neither fat nor thin. He was Javanese and carried his keris at his rear waistline. A keris is a small dagger, a weapon used for self defense in Malay fights or battles. It is a deadly weapon and must not be left lying around unattended by its owner. For goodness sake, don't touch or handle someone else's keris. Don't mess around with any keris. You can take a look at keris at any museum or see them in photographs of Malay weddings.

If anyone attacked a Javanese male, they would pull out their keris from behind over their shoulder to defend themselves. Non Javanese men carry their keris on the front waistline, but with the handle turned inward. That is how to tell a Javanese man from a non-Javanese man. The keris handle is never turned towards the front or facing another person. In royal ceremonies held on palace grounds too, the keris handle is turned inward. Turning the handle forward means that the next move is to kill! Always look at the position of the keris handle and be careful. If the owner turns his keris forward .... run for your life before he pulls out his keris!

Dato' Shahbudin's keris had special powers (karomah). If he waved his keris (layur keris) in front of people, they would all fall or pass out (faint).

I wonder whether it was keris Dato' Shahbudin that my father had returned to the Indonesian authorities in Indonesia. Abang Sharif said Bapak had returned a keris but did not specify whose keris. So there was a keris indeed.

(٠‎ - ١‎ - ٢‎ - ٣‎ - ٤‎ - ٥‎ - ٦‎ - ٧‎ - ٨‎ - ٩‎)

BRITISH MALACCA
Melaka Pada Zaman British

Anti-British sentiments

The founding of Melaka by a Sumatran Indian prince named Parameswara along Malacca river - Sungai Melaka at Duyong. The Melaka Sultanate was Hindu in the beginning and Islam towards the end. As Parameswara was Hindu, he had no grave since in Hinduism, the corpses are cremated. However, there are many versions of narrations about what was his real name as a Hindu and as a Muslim. Who was Parameswara and what happened to Parameswara?

1511

The Portuguese attacked and ousted the last Sultan of Melaka. They burnt down the Sultan's mosque and palace and built a red laterite brick fort instead and called it A Famosa. They lived within the fort and kept the Malays out - the original people who lived harmoniously in ancient Melaka and traded with the world. So the Malays resented the Portuguese who attacked and conquered them.

1641

The Dutch fought the Portuguese in Melaka and won. The Dutch ruled Melaka by dividing and setting up ethnic communities, each with its leader/captain/kapitan. The Baba and Nyonya lived in Banda Hilir city centre, at Bukit Cina, along Sg Melaka, at Jonker St and at Tengkera. The Indians lived in Kg Hulu, Kg Pali, Limbongan (an ancient dock or wharf), Klebang and Tanjong Keling. The Arabs and Malays lived in Kg Bandar Hilir, and towards Ujong Pasir and Umbai towards Muar in the south, in Semabok and nearer Singapore.

1720s
The Dutch ruled Melaka and allowed other religions to flourish.

Kapitan Cina Samsudin bin Arom (Haron) came from mainland China and settled in Tengkera. He converted to Islam and built Masjid Kg Hulu circa before 1720s, in Central Melaka district.

1728

Samsudin bin Arom passed away. He could have met and known Haji Muhammad Salleh (Nakhoda Nan Intan), who built Masjid Tengkera in Central Melaka district. Nakhoda Nan Intan then travelled/sailed north to Penang.

1734 Masjid Batu Uban

Haji Muhammad Salleh (Nakhoda Nan Intan) opened Kg Melayu Batu Uban in Penang. He built Masjid Batu Uban by the sea in 1734. The village is at the foothills by the sea. Masjid Batu Uban exists till today (2023).

After 1734

Haji Muhammad Salleh passed away and is interred at Makam Haji Muhammad Saleh at Tanah Perkuburan Masjid Jamek Batu Uban, Penang, at his own masjid.

1771 British EIC

The British first became involved with Malay politics when Great Britain tried to set up trading posts in Penang, formerly a part of Kedah. They first tried Pulau Jerejak, but the island was inhospitable and infested with mosquitoes (banyak nyamuk). Then they tried Pulau Pinang, a bigger island with a deep harbour at the southern tip, near to the mainland of the Malay Peninsula.

1779 Dato Jenaton

Dato Jenaton came much later to Penang compared to Nakhoda Nan Intan, who opened Kg Batu Uban - the first Malay settlement in Penang.

Bukit Jenaton

Bukit Jenaton was owned by a warrior cousin, Datuk Jenan/Jenaton/Jannatun, who married a sister of Dato Setia, a loyal follower of Datuk Jenaton. Dato Jenaton and Dato Setia graves lie side by side at a grave plot at Minden Heights, Jalan 1. Minden Heights was re-designed by Dr Hj Che Lah bin Md Joonos, an early Penang Malay doctor (1903-1986).

1797 Nakhoda Kecil Ismail

Haji Muhammad Salleh's comrade and stevedore, Ismail (Nakhoda Kecil Ismail), opened his village at Jelutong and cultivated lands at Tanjong Penaga. He grew paddy at Penaga. He was in Penang before the arrival of Captain Francis Light on the island of Penang. He was the youngest brother of Nakhoda Nan Intan.

Welcoming Captain Francis Light to land at Tanjong Penaga

When the British tried to land in Penang, Nakhoda Kecil and his people welcomed him ashore and provided them shelter. Captain Francis Light occupied a place at the shore front. That initial place expanded and later became a British stronghold when Fort Cornwallis was build from the ruins of A Famosa in Banda Hilir, Melaka.

Tanjong Penaga vs. George Town

Tanjong Penaga, the place where the British EIC settled was renamed George Town after King George VI of Great Britain. Tanjong Penaga became George Town when the British EIC interfered with Pulau Pinang (betel nut island) which was renamed Penang and made famous as Pearl of the Orient. But till today, 2023 (after 244 years), the Malay people have always used the words Tanjong and Pulau Pinang in their conversations. Some used the word Town instead of George Town. Even though the British ruled Penang for very long, the local Penang Malays spoke and still speak Penang Malay accent, and not English.

1819 Betrayal

The British colonised Singapore in 1819 and was in complete control of the state at that time. Singapore was traded off and the last Sultan of Singapore fled to Banda Hilir, Melaka, where Dato' Shahbudin lived and had a madrasah in Bandar Hilir in 1820.

Munshi Abdullah

Munshi Abdullah was working/teaching in Malacca at the time. Thomas Stamford Raffles requested him to work for him in Singapore, which he did. He helped to translate British documents into Malay, which started in Melaka.

Bible. It was said that even the Bible was given to him by the priests to be translated into Malay at the time. Thus, to the Malays, Munshi Abdullah was considered a traitor. But I was informed by a Dutch Burgher researcher that Munshi Abdullah did not translate the Bible into Malay. The person who did the translation was a non Muslim lady. The Bible was translated into Malay and written in Jawi.

British EIC vs. Munshi Abdullah

Even though Munshi Abdullah knew the British wanted Singapore island, he only arrived to work for Raffles in Singapore, after Raffles took Singapore for the British EIC. He was not involved with the ploy. Even though he was not present at the takeover of Singapore, the Malays still continued to blame Munshi Abdullah for supposedly assisting Raffles to seize Singapore for the British EIC, which he was not involved with as he was actually working in Melaka when Singapore was taken. To the Malays, that was how Singapore was lost forever. This is of course untrue. 

Taking Singapore

Munshi Abdullah knew that the British were after taking Singapore from the natives (locals), but there was nothing much he could do alone as he was working in Melaka. As a result of misunderstanding and forgetting to investigate the matter, the Malays at large quickly jumped to conclusion and labelled Munshi Abdullah as traitor (tali barut) and blamed him partly for the loss of Singapore to the British EIC. This is fitnah. He is hardly talked about or studied in Malay Literature. The Malays do not want to hear about this famous Indian Muslim man from Kg Pali, Melaka.

1965 Betrayal

Singapore was again lost, but to the Chinese in 1965, when Tunku Abdul Rahman ceded it to the Chinese and the island became the Republic of Singapore on 9 August 1965. To the Malays, Tunku had betrayed the Malay people. He was not talked about or studied in Malay Political History. The new generations today do not even know him as part of Malaysia's history and as Bapa Kemerdekaan. The old Malay people do not want to hear of Tunku for they remembered he gave (lost) Singapore to the Chinese.

Genealogy of Munshi Abdullah

Regardless of the general unhappiness about Munshi Abdullah bin Abdul Kadir, he could be a relative. He may be Indian Muslim and may have roots in Hadramaut, Yemen. Need to research this topic.

Sultan Hussain ran away

According to Abang Moin, Sultan Hussain rented a Chinese house behind Rumah Banda Hilir. As far as I know, the houses behind Rumah Banda Hilir and right up to the sea shore of Selat Melaka, had belonged to Dato' Shahbudin bin Hj Mohd Amin, and laer, Hj Mohd Sharif bin Ismail. 

Why did Sultan Hussain seek refuge in Banda Hilir? Did he know Dato' Shahbudin or my great-grandfather Hj Mohd Sharif bin Ismail Al-Yamani? 

Sultan Hussain then left Banda Hilir and rented a shop-house in the city at Jonker Street, near Masjid Kg Keling. His son Raja Ali was in Umbai, Melaka. The unhappy Sultan Hussain died and is interred at Makam Sultan Hussain at Masjid Tengkera. His makam (shrine) is at a corner of the burial ground of Masjid Tengkera.

Ismail Al-Yamani

According to my eldest brother (Abang Sharif), Abang Moin (my second eldest cousin) and Pak Cik Haji Mazlan bin Abfdul Rahim (uncle), Ismail Al-Yamani came from Yemen. He was a Yemeni Arab (Arab Yaman). His descendants carry the Al-Yamani/Alyamani/Alyamany suffix in their names. My father also sometimes used the Alyamani suffix in this full name.

Ismail Al-Yamani probably had dark complexion. Prof Datuk Zuraina Majeed said Yemenis have dark complexion.

Haji Mazlan said Ismail Al-Yamani was a trader.

Ismail Alyamani may have been a ship's engineer with an ocean liner that docked in Banda Hilir in British Malacca. His name appeared in the international directories -- The Directory and Chronicles of the Straits Settlements 1889 & 1909 editions. He probably died in Melaka before 1906 or sailed away elsewhere. Did he sail to Penang? How many people were named Ismail Al-Yamani in British Malacca?

British Rule in Melaka
The British colonial masters ruled Malaya, taking over from the Dutch.

The British Administration in Melaka bombed the Portuguese fort (A Famosa), thinking that in doing so, there was no point of the Dutch taking back Melaka. Only the fort entrance facing the Strait of Melaka remained. It is known today as Porta de Santiago (port of Santiago). This fort gate faces the Strait of Malacca (Selat Melaka).

British Rule in Penang

In Penang, the British feared revenge/ counter attacks/ resistance/ retaliation from the Malays as they lost Melaka to the Dutch and then to the British, and then the British EIC under Captain Francis Light, took on the whole island of Penang by force/cheating the Kedah Sultan/etc, ... and taking everything for Great Britain. The British residents in Penang decided to make a brick fort for their own safety, and to protect themselves from the local Malays (natives or locals) who inhabited the island before the arrival of the British EIC.

Fort Cornwallis vs. A Famosa

The brick fort in Penang, Fort Cornwallis, was built from the ruins of the Portuguese fort (A Famosa) in Banda Hilir, Melaka. Even canons found in the depth of the Strait of Malacca were transported to the fort in Penang and kept there on public display. One gigantic Javanese canon, known as Meriam Rambai, originated from Batavia and had Jawi inscriptions. Meriam Rambai was displayed at the fort when I last visited the British fort.

(٠‎ - ١‎ - ٢‎ - ٣‎ - ٤‎ - ٥‎ - ٦‎ - ٧‎ - ٨‎ - ٩‎)

MASJID BANDA HILIR 1820
Jalan Banda Hilir (old street name)
Jalan Parameswara (new street name)

Masjid Banda Hilir was built by Dato' Shahbudin bin Haji Mohd Amin (asal Ceribon, Java) in 1820.

(٠‎ - ١‎ - ٢‎ - ٣‎ - ٤‎ - ٥‎ - ٦‎ - ٧‎ - ٨‎ - ٩‎)

EXTRAORDINARY POWERS OF DATO' SHAHBUDIN
Karomah Datuk Shahbudin

Abang Moin narrated that Dato' Shahbudin had extraordinary powers. He was locked up by the British Administration at Rumah Pasong (penjara/jel/jail/lockup) in Banda Hilir, Melaka, but he escaped and appeared on the grounds of Masjid Banda Hilir, his masjid, for prayers.

In another unrelated trial to test his powers, he was tied up and dumped into the sea, but he escaped alive.

(٠‎ - ١‎ - ٢‎ - ٣‎ - ٤‎ - ٥‎ - ٦‎ - ٧‎ - ٨‎ - ٩‎)

NAQSHBANDIYYAH SUFI PATH
Tarekat Naqsbandiyyah

In Sufi teachings, tariqat is the path to reach four spiritual stations: sharia, tariqa, haqiqa. The fourth station, marifa, which is considered "unseen", is actually the centre of the haqiqa region.

According to Abang Moin, Dato' Shahbudin was a tariqat leader. He taught the Naqshbandiyyah tariqat. 

Maheran Ahmad and her family also followed the Naqshbandiyyah tariqat. 

Naqshbandi (Persian: نقشبندی‎‎, Arabic: نقشبندي‎‎ naqshbandī) also written Naqshibandi, an-Naqshbandiyyah, Nakşibendi, or Naksibendi, is a major Sunni spiritual order of Sufism. It traces its spiritual lineage to the Islamic prophet Muhammad SAW, through Abu Bakr, the first Caliph and Prophet Muhammad SAW's companion.

(٠‎ - ١‎ - ٢‎ - ٣‎ - ٤‎ - ٥‎ - ٦‎ - ٧‎ - ٨‎ - ٩‎)

1942-1945

Second World War/World War II (WWII)

Malayan Union

The British disappeared during the Second World War (WWII) when Japan attacked Malaya. The British colonial masters escaped temporarily to India for safety. After the Japanese surrendered and Japanese soldiers were repatriated, the British returned to re-occupy Malaya. However, the Malays refused to allow the British to re-occupy Malaya and resisted and fought back. They opposed the Malayan Union. Hence, there were many unhappy incidents. 

Masjid Banda Hilir was bombed during WWII. However, only a portion of the front brick fence crumbled. It was rebuilt by the masjid people. It is not known who bombed Masjid Banda Hilir - either the British or Japanese war planes. Access to the WWII records on Melaka may be able to tell us who bombed Masjid Banda Hilir in Melaka during WWII.

1945-1948 Post-war State of Lawlessness

My father said that the immediate post-war period was a state of lawlessness. There was widespread looting as the people were hungry and food was scarce. Bapak said his granduncle (Hj Mohd Nordin) and himself took a wheel-barrow and went to obtain a few bags of wheat flour (gandum) from the city as they had no food to eat at home. The Japanese soldiers confiscated all home-grown food and foodstuff of the people and left them hungry (starving).

1948-1960 Malayan Union vs. Malayan Emergency

The communists condemned the British when they returned to re-occupy Malaya (British re-occupation). The Malay people resented the proposed Malayan Union under the Union Jack and wanted to rule their own land. The Emergency Period ensued in Malaya between 1948 and 1960 when the British officers returned and installed a new administration called the Malayan Union. There were many gtherings to prevent the Malayan Union in Malaya in the post-war.

Sir Henry Gurney

The British offcer in charge of installing the Malayan union was Sir Henry Gurney. He was shot dead by the 'communists' while on his way to Fraser's Hill, a hill resort. His wife, children and driver escaped unhurt. According to elderly locals, his assassination was planned as he was the main person pushing for the Malayan Union. He was gunned down by Malay soldiers who were against the Malayan Union. None of his killers were ever made known. 

Henry Gurney School vs. Rumah Pasong 

The Rumah Pasong at Ujong Pasir is now the Henry Gurney School for delinquents, named after Sir Henry Gurney. Another small house at Tanjong Mas, was the detention centre, also named after him.

Negotiations ensued and Malaya became 'free' of British reign. 

1957 Merdeka and FoM

British Malaya became the Federation of Malaya (FoM) on 31 August 1957. However, Malaya continued to use the British system for everything - education system, judiciary, hospital, commerce, banking, etc. And that was how many Malay families in early Malaya, copied the British way of life and spoke British English as well as Malay at home.