Prophet Muhammad and a Blind Jewish Beggar

Prophet Muhammmad PBUH was a compassionate person. He had never hurt anyone, even to those who treated him cruelly.

During his life, lived a blind Jewish beggar at the corner of Medina marketplace. Every day he used to mock The Messenger of Allah. He kept telling people not to get close to Muhammad since Muhammad was a mad liar magician. If anyone got close to him, he or she would surely be influenced.

Prophet Muhammad did know about what this blind Jewish beggar did to him, but he never cared  about  it. Every morning, The Messenger of God would always come to him by bringing some food to feed him without saying any word. He had been doing this until the end of his life.

One day, after the death of the Prophet, his best companion Abu Bakr visited his daughter who was the Prophet's wife, Aishah. He asked her, "Is there any sunnah (tradition) of my beloved one (Rasulullah) that I haven't done?"

Aishah replied, "O my father, you are a man of sunnah. As long as I'm concerned, no prophet's tradition you haven't done, except one."

“What is that?” Abu Bakr was getting curious.

“Rasulullah used to visit a blind Jewish beggar at the corner of Medina marketplace bringing him some food and feeding him." Aishah replied.

The following day, Abu Bakr went to the market by bringing food to feed the beggar. He did what Rasulullah had done. When Abu Bakr began to feed him, the blind Jewish beggar was outraged and shouting “Who are you?”

“I am the one who usually came here,” Abu Bakr calmly repllied.

“NO! you're not the man who comes to me,” the Jewish beggar protested, “If that man came to me, it would not be this difficult to chew the food. The man always fed me, but before that, he would surely refine the food for me. I would never feel so difficult to eat.”.

Hearing the words of the blind beggar, Abu Bakr couldn't hold his tears drop. He cried and said to the beggar, “Yes, I am not the man who used to come to you. That man has already died. I am only his friend. That noble man was Muhammad The Messenger of Allah.”

The blind Jewish beggar was completely shocked hearing Abu Bakar's words. He cried eyes out. “Is that true? I've been mocking him and slandering him, while he never got angry at all. He fed me instead. How noble he was....”

The blind Jewish beggar was emotionally touched and moved by Rasulullah's act. Soon, he declared shahadat. He bore witness there is no God but Allah and Muhammad is His servant and messenger. The blind Jewish beggar finally became a muslim, not by any harmful action, but by a compassionate caring behaviour.

A Miraculous Incident When Muhammad Was Nurtured by His Uncle

There was a day when Mecca was suffering a long period of drought which made the people miserable. No rains ever dropped and poverty was going widespread. The community of Quraish was distressed and anxious about the situation. Then they shouted calling Abu THalib.

“O Abu Thalib! The water in the valleys have gone dry and poverty is out of control! Let’s pray to ask for rains!”

Abu Thalib went out of his house together with his nephew, Muhammad. He held Muhammad and attach his back onto the wall of Ka’bah. The sky was so clean that no hank of clouds was there at all. Not so long afterwards, all of a sudden clouds appeared and then it rained! All the valleys now got so much water and all fields were now fertilised.

The other miracle of Muhammad when he was still an adolescent was the blessing of his presence. Eating together with Muhammad would be completely different from that without him. Whenever his uncle and his uncle’s children ate together with Muhammad, they would feel satisfied after the eating finished. However, whenever Muhammad was absent from eating with them, they would still feel hungry although the foods already ran out.

When Muhammad and Abu Thalib’s children woke up from their sleep, their faces would look very different. His brothers would look dirty and tousled, while Muhammad’s face would always look as though he got eye shadow on his eyes so that he always looked fresh and bright. This is one of the reasons why Abu  Thalib loved Muhammad more than his own children. He even felt closer to Muhammad rather than to his own children. Abu Thalib struggled for him, defended him, supported him, and sacrificed everything for him even until the prophethood era. Abu Thalib kept looking after Muhammad until the end of his life.

Muhammad under The Nurture of His Uncle - Trading to Sham

Abu Thalib did his best to look after Muhammad. He nurtured Muhammmad along with his other children. He even gave Muhammad more attention than his own children. For about forty years Abu Thalib looked after Muhammad and defended him with all his efforts. He fought and made peace with people only for the sake of Muhammad.

Abu Thalib taught Muhammad about trading as a tradition amongst Quraish. Quraish tribe has been well-known for its skill of trading. Muhammad followed his uncle to trade to Syam (Syria) when he was 12. In the middle of the journey, they reached a place called Bushra (in one of the areas of Syam) and the capital city of Hauran which was at that time under the rule of The Roman Empire.

Ahmad Hatta et al in The Great Story of Muhammad reveals that when the trading party came closer to a monastery where a monk named Buhaira lived in, Buhaira greeted them and provided them with various foods. He invited them to have lunch together. During the treatment, Buhaira tried to find Muhammad but he didn’t succeed. Then he asked them, “Is there anyone who is not present in this lunch?”

“O, Buhaira. There is no one absent in this lunch except one kid,” one of them answered.

“Bring him in!” Buhaira ordered.

“By Lata and Uzza, I never expected I would be blamed for Muhammad’s absence,” one of the members of the party complained. He soon took Muhammad inside and had him sit together with the others.

Buhaira stared at Muhammad and observed him thoroughly. At the end, he found the signs of prophethood in Muhammad. Furthermore, when everyone had left their seats, Buhaira proposed some questions to Muhammad about his identity, family, how he was, and how he slept. Muhammad responded all questions fairly and honestly. No information is added nor reduced. Weirdly, Buhaira always confirmed whatever answer Muhammad gave.

Finally, Buhaira saw Muhammad’s back. He was shocked when he found a prophethood sign between his shoulder bones. Ibn Hisyam narrated that this sign was like a trace of cupping medication on the skin surface.

After investigating Muhammad, Buhaira asked Abu Thalib everything related to Muhammad’s history and once again he confirmed Abu Thalib’s answers.

“You’re right. Take your nephew home and beware of the Jews. Wallahi, if only they knew what I know, they would surely kill him. Just go back to your country as this kid will soon become a great man.”

In the book of Ar-Rahiq al Makhtoom Syaikh Shafiyrrahman al Mubarakfuri claims there was a well-known monk named Buhaira. He was originally named Jirjis. When Muhammad’s trading party came approaching, Buhaira walked out of his place (he had never been out of his place except at this time) and greeted them. Firstly, he mingled with the trading party, then approached the 12 year-old Muhammad and held his hand. He said, “This is the leader of God’s Messengers. This is the Messenger of God of universe. This is a man sent by Allah as a blessing for universe.”

Hearing the words of Buhaira, Abu Thalib and some leaders of Quraish asked, “How do you know that?”

“Indeed, when you were approaching Aqabah, all stones and trees prostrated. They bowed whereas stones and trees will never bow and prostrate except there is a prophet around them. I recognise him from the prophethood ring between his two shoulder bones. The shape is like an apple. We know this sign from our Holy Book (Bible).”

Buhaira then asked Abu Thalib to take Muhammad home since he worried that the Romans and the Jews would capture him even kill him if they really came to Syam.

Abdul Muthallib's Regret

This story tells us about the love and compassion shared between a grandfather and a grandchild. Yes, exactly. It is between Abdul Muthalib and Muhammad who was still kid. We all know that Muhammad was nurtured by his grandfather Abdul Muthalib after her mother Aminah passed away. He was looked after by his grandfather for two years until he was 8 years old. During this phase of caring, there is a good story that is worth to share. So, it will be better to assure that you will read this with your heart and involve your emotion. I am sure it’s a good one.

One day, Abdul Muthallib asked little Muhammad to look for one of his camels which was just lost. The little Muhammmad instantly went to look for the camel. Muhammad went looking for the camel in every area he could possibly reach. After some period of time, Muhammad still kept looking for his grandfather’s camel. Abdul Muthalib kept waiting for his grandchild, and he began to worry about Muhammad.

Realising that Muhammad hadn’t returned for a long time, Abdul Muthalib got anxious about Muhammad’s safety, worrying that something might or could happen to his beloved grandchild, little Muhammad. If that really happened, he would surely bear long-life regret. He would be sorry and feeling so much guilty for his whole life. In a meantime Abdul Muthalib got tormented by this sort of bad feeling.

Not long afterwards, Muhammmad suddenly appeared. The little boy came along with the camel he had been looking for. Abdul Muthallib’s face went brighter seeing his grandchild’s coming. He immediately ran to welcome Muhammad and hugged him tight as if he would not have been able to lose him again. Since then, Abdul Muthalib promised himself that he would never ask Muhammad to go anymore. Besides, he also promised himself that he would never leave his grandson alone.

(Majma’ az-Zawa’id)

Muhammad Under The Nurture of His Grandfather

Little Muhammad was now nurtured by his grandfather Abdul Muthallib in Mecca. Abdul Muthallib loved Muhammad so much. He never hesitated to kiss him in public, carry him on his back, and bring him back and fro like a flower. Moreover, he really admired his grandson.

There was one day when Muhammad tried to sit down on Abdul Muthallib’s throne. This throne was bestowed by the Quraish for Abdul Muthallib as an honour for his nobility.  We all know that Abdul Muthallib was a respectable leader of Quraish that everyone who saw him would surely be amazed by his authority and his beauty as well as – especially – his noble personality. All in all, Abdul Muthallib was fully respected by everyone and no one would ever, ever dare to get any closer to his thrown.

But this young boy, Muhammad, with his simplicity and plainness, not only got closer to his grandfather’s throne but he even did more than that. He sat there! This act made most people of surrounding the throne mad. They thought this young kid would get scolded by his noble grandfather, or even would be punished.

Their prediction in fact missed. Muhammad was neither scolded nor punished. Abdul Muthallib wasn’t angry at all. Instead he smiled when he saw the incident. He rubbed Muhammad’s back, and said, “Let him be. By Allah, he will be a great man!”

Abdul Muthallib nurtured Muhammad for only 2 years. When Muhammad reached 8 years 2 months and 10 days, his beloved grandfather passed away. He was then nurtured by his father’s brother (uncle) named Abu Thalib, as said by Abdul Muthallib’s final testament.

Muhammad was lucky since love and compassion given by Abu Thalib was not less than what had been given by Abdul Muthallib. Abu Thalib even gave more love and compassion to Muhammad, even protected him during his dakwah period later.

Aminah's Death

Aminah was extremely glad with the homecoming of Muhammad. She kept herself busy  looking after and playing with Muhammad day after day.

Whenever seeing her son’s face, Aminah remembered Abdullah who died before her child was born. Aminah couldn’t forget her late husband.

One day, Aminah went along with Muhammad to Yatsrib (Madinah) to visit the tomb of Abdullah. Muhammad was still six years old at that time. Aminah was accompanied by Abdul Muthallib and her maid Ummu Aiman. It took 400 km distant to go through. Aminah didn’t care. She only wanted to visit Abdullah’s tomb.

After a long and tiring journey, Aminah and her party arrived at Yatsrib. She took Muhammad to the tomb of his father. Aminah felt warm-hearted and touched when she saw Muhammad approaching Abdullah’s tomb. Muhammad only saw his father’s tomb, not his father’s face. Aminah’s tears dropped because of sadness. She imagined that her husband was still alive so that Muhammad could see him.

After one month Aminah and her family stayed in Yatsrib, she decided that they should go home. However, in the middle of the journey, Aminah fell sick. Her sickness got severe and Abdul Muthallib got really worried. Finally, after accomplishing her mission of visiting her husband’s tomb with her son, Aminah inevitably died. She was buried at a place called Abwa.

Sadly the six year-old little Muhammad was now an orphan. The caring and nurturing of him then was turned to Abdul Muthallib.

HIKMAH – Philosophy behind Muhammad's Chest Dissection

According to Dr Ramdhan al Buthi, the incident of Muhammad’s chest dissection has some philosophies as follows.

1. It reveals the existence of Muhammad as a Messenger of Allah who was maksum (being pure from any sin) and it prepared him to take the responsibility as a God Messenger.
2. It is for human to more easily believe and accept his teachings.
3. It is a process of soul purification with a way that human being sense can grasp.
4. It is to form the character and personality which is tough, firm, wise, and gallant.

Muhammad's Chest Dissection

Little Muhammad was already four years old when he was playing with his friends at Bani Saad village. While Muhammad was playing, Angel Jibril alaihissalam came to him. Muhammad’s little hands were held by Jibril. Muhammad was surprised. Jibril immediately pulled at him until Muhammad fainted.

Jibril moved rapidly. He took off Muhammad’s shirt and dissected his chest. He took out Muhammad’s heart. A clod of congealed blood was found by Jibril from Muhammad’s heart.

“This is the part of Shaitan within yourself!” Jibril said.

Jibril washed the clod of congealed in a golden vessel with zamzam water. After it was clean, Jibril put it back into Muhammad’s body. (HR Muslim)

This event made Muhammad’s friends scared and run away. They looked for Halimah and shouted, “Muhammad has been killed! Muhammad has been killed!”

Halimah was shocked hearing the news. She came to Muhammad with other fellow Bani Saad. Muhammad stood up and looked healthy. His face looked brighter than before and it shone the light of nobility.

This incident made Halimah worry about Muhammad’s safety. She decided to return Muhammad to his mother Aminah.

According to Dr Ramdhan al Buthi, the incident of Muhammad’s chest dissection has some philosophies as follows.

1. It reveals the existence of Muhammad as a Messenger of Allah who was maksum (being pure from any sin) and it prepared him to take the responsibility as a God Messenger.
2. It is for human to more easily believe and accept his teachings.
3. It is a process of soul purification with a way that human being sense can grasp.
4. It is to form the character and personality which is tough, firm, wise, and gallant.

HIKMAH – The Philosophy behind WHY Muhammad was nurtured and breastfed by Bani Saad

The growth quality of a man in the environment which is still natural, which has fresh air, and perfect lighting will make a child tender and soft in his  character, develop his senses fast, purify his mind, and soften their feelings. (Syaikh Muhammad al-Ghazali)

Muhammad Nurtured by Halimah and its Blessings to Bani Sa'ad Family

It had been the tradition of The Arabs that a baby born should be taken care of another woman who can breastfeed him or her. It was done to improve his immune system, strengthen the muscles and keep him fluent in speaking like their mothers since the breastfeeding family should teach Arabic to the babies they take care of.

The lucky woman was Halimah binti Abi Dzuaib from the tribe of Bani Saad bin Bakar. She was not from a rich family. She came to Mecca in the midst of famine period riding a white donkey slowly because it was so weak and thin. She also took with ther a camel that couldn’t anymore produce milk. She never realised that she would bring Muhammmad home and breastfeed him. Financially, Halimah and her family were not as prosperous as the others. However, Allah had chosen this blessed family.

During her trip back home, her milk suddenly increased to full so that she could breastfeed the little Muhammad. Her other baby she breastfed could then also receive sufficient amount of milk from her until it fell asleep.

When Halimah’s father came to the camel, suddenly the camel could produce milk. He squeezed it to get the milk afterwards. When returning to the village of Bani Saad, Halimah rode the camel with little Muhammad and suddenly the camel could run so fast that no other camels could catch up.

Arriving at the village, Halimah and her husband found out that despite the famine period, their flock of sheep which had been initially thin now became fat and full of milk whereas no one could squeeze milk from their sheep at that time.

Muhammad Nurtured by Halimah and its Blessings to Bani Sa'ad Family

The Birth of Muhammad

Monday,12 Rabiul Awal, or 22 April 571 M, right 50 days after the invasion of elephant troops to attack the Ka'bah, Aminah's womb already reached its 9th month period. She began to feel something moving in her womb. Gradually, the movement got faster in her tummy. She couldn't bear any more pain.

Not so long afterwards, a baby came out of her womb. There is a narrative that the baby's navel was already cut and he was already circumcised by his grandfater Abdul Muthalib.

"When I was giving his birth, from my womb came out a light that shone lighting the palaces of Syria," Aminah said.

When Muhammad was born, idols fell down, Kisra palaces shook, and the Persian oblation fires went out. This narration is popular enough although it does not reach valid level.

Aminah immediately sent messengers to report the birth of Muhammad to Abdul Muthallib. Hearing the good news Abdul Muthallib visited Aminah. He saw an amazing scenery there. The ceramics where Muhammad was put on suddenly split into two parts.

Abdul Muthallib rocked Muhammad slowly  in his arm. He was sure that Muhammad would become a great person according to the news from the King of Yemen Saif bin Dzi Yasn as well as Umayyah bin Abi Shalt and those who understood Torah and Gospel (Bible). Abdul Muthallib directly brought little Muhammad to get into the Ka'bah, prayed and expressed gratitude to God. He was the one who gave the name Muhammad, meaning "the praised one".

See also the Names of Muhammad

THE DIALOGUE BETWEEN ABRAHAH AND ABDUL MUTHALLIB

Before arriving at the city, Abrahah’s troops ripped off the citizens of Mecca. Amongst them were 200 camels owned by Abdul Muthallib. Both leaders of each group.

“I came to destroy Mecca. Don’t stop me so that no blood will be shed today,” Abrahah boasted, “What do you want?”

“Your troops have taken my 200 camels. I want their return.”

“I thought you ordered me to stop destroying the Kabah, but you only cared about your camels,” Abrahah was surprised. Hearing Abdul Muthallib’s answer, Abrahah felt like he had a reason to ridicule him.

“Now I just realize what kind of person you are. I already overestimated you as a leader of Mecca.” Abrahah said.

“I am the owner of the camels, thus I am obliged to protect them, while Kabah belongs to Allah. He is the One to protect it,” Abdul Muthallib replied.

Abrahah was outraged. “He can never protect it from me!”

“Let’s see.”

Abrahah then returned the camels of Abdul Muthallib, while Abdul Muthallib then ordered his citizens to flee up to the mountains and hills to see what would be happening.

The Elephant Troops and Their Invasion of Kabah, A Momentous Incident before Muhammad's Birth

Before Muhammad was born, there was a momentous incident.

At the end of February 571 AD, six thousand troops came to destroy Mecca.  This army was led by Abrahah ibn Ash-Shabbah al Habasyi one of the rulers of Yemen. Abrahah was eager to tear down the Ka’bah. Why would he do that?

Abrahah was a Christian. He was annoyed since many people came to Ka’bah to do worshipping (although the practice had already been astray from the actual sharia of Prophet Abraham – people worship the idols surrounding the Ka’bah). Abrahah hated this fact. To attract people’s attention he tried to build a big tall gold-layered church at Shan’a to challenge the popularity of Ka’bah. However, it didn’t work as he planned.

Abrahah got more outraged after one night he found out a man from Bani Kinanah broke into his church and put camel’s manure on the walls at the central orientation of the church. He thus initiated to destroy Ka’bah with his elephant troops. Equipped with six thousand troops and 9 to 13 elephants, Abrahah was extremely assured of being able to tear down the Ka’bah. With his arrogance, he led his troops.

The citizens of Mecca heard the news. They anticipated the danger by escaping to the hills and mountains to avoid the attack. Mecca was like a dead town at that time. Not a single citizen stayed.

The elephant troops got nearer to Mecca. However, at the place between Muzdalifah and Mina, a strange thing happened. The 13 elephants suddenly stopped. They sat on the sand instead. These elephants would not walk to Kabah. Every time they are commanded to go to the south, north, and east, they got up and go. However, when ordered to go to Kabah, they wouldn’t do it.

Abrahah and his troops wondered this incidence. All of sudden, a flock of birds appeared on the sky. These birds (called birds of 'Ababil' - sent down by Allah) sounded so loudly that made Abrahah and his troops shut their ears. Without any prediction before, the birds dropped burning stones onto them. The stones were originally from the hell-fire. You can imagine that. They were scattered and tried their best to escape from the situation.

Every bird dropped three stones: one from their beaks and two from their legs. If the stones touch a man, the man’s will surely get holes like leaves eaten by caterpillars. Not everyone was stoned to death; some of them tried to escape but due to the great number of the troops, they squeezed each other and fell down. They were then stepped by their own friends who were also trying to run away.

Abrahah made it to escape to Shan’a. However, at the end, he suffered a strange disease. He felt his body joints were falling apart. He was just like a bird whose chest got split and his heart stood out and he finally died.

A Romatic Love Story - Ali ibn Abi Thalib and Fathimah bint Muhammad Rasulullah PBUH

source: eramuslim

There was a deep secret within Ali's heart that he would never speak to anyone. It was Fathimah; his childhood fellow, Prophet Muhammad's beloved daughter. Day after day, she looked more astonishing. Her piousness, her worship to Allah, her handiness, her looks, everything. When Rasulullah came home with wounds on his body and head full with camel's waste, she cleaned them up and wiped them carefully with her love. She burnt cloth and put it on the wounds to stop her father's blood.

Seeing what Fatimah had done, Ali couldn't understand what he felt. He felt amazed and astonished and he didn't know the name of the feeling; what he really knew was he got shocked when he heard Fatimah was being proposed by one of the best friends of Rasulullah, Abu Bakr Ash-Shiddiq. Ali realised the meaning of Abu Bakr for Rasulullah's struggle for da'wah. Some great people like Utsman, ‘Abdurrahman ibn ‘Auf, Thalhah, Zubair, Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqash, and Mush’ab became Islam because of him. It was something that was hardly done by a kid like Ali.

Look how many slaves were set free by Abu Bakr;Bilal, Khabbab, Yassir's Family, ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud. Financially, he felt he was nothing compared to Abu Bakr who was a successful businessman. Abu Bakr certainly could make Fathimah happier than he would.

Ali could do nothing but let her proposed and married by Abu Bakr for the sake of Fathimah's happiness.

Love never asks for any longing. It takes a chance or leaves it. It is a bravery or sacrifice.

Abu Bakr's proposal was in fact rejected. Having heard this news Ali's motivation was just burnt to prepare himself to marry Fathimah. However, his struggle was then in vain after he heard another man, a strong heroic dauntless man, with the coming of whom into Islam made the struggle of da'wah easier and made Islam much stronger than ever: Umar ibn Khattab. Al Faruq, a man of division between the truth and falsehood. He came to Islam 3 years after Abu Bakr and Ali, but who can underestimate his sincerity and totality in defending Islam? who can argue about the position of Umar in the eyes of Rasul? He was just another best friend of the Prophet. Ali once again realised his position and let Fathimah proposed and married by Umar. Umar deserved this.

Ali once again got shocked. Abu Bakr and Umar were rejected. What could he possibly do then? What kind of person was actually wanted by Rasulullah to marry his daughter?

Was it in the calibre of the billionaire Utsman? He had totally lost his confidence. All at once.

"Why don't you try, my friend?" his Anshar friend asked, "I have a sort of feeling that you are the person Rasullah is actually waiting for."

"Me?" Ali was unsure.

"Yes."

"You know I'm just a poor young man. What could I probably do?" Ali said.

"We are after you with full support, fellow. May Allah help you."

Ali determined to meet Rasulullah to ask for permission and blessing to marry Fathimah. He only had one armour and certain amount of wheat. Yes only those were what he had and he determined to marry Fathimah. Should he ask Fathimah to wait for him any longer? For about 2 or 3 years while he tried to prepare everything? Of course not! Ali was a true gentleman. Impossible he did that.

When he came to meet Rasulullah, he was welcomed by an answer of "Ahlan wa Sahlan".

Ali was confused by this answer. He didn't know whether he was accepted or refused. He decided to ask his friends.

"How did Rasulullah answer you, Ali? Were you accepted?"

"I don't know."

"What do you mean?"

"Do you think 'Ahlan wa Sahlan' means any answer?"

"How fool! Stupid!" they said. "Ups.. sorry. We meant that one answer is just enough. And you got two! Ahlan is enough and you got Sahlan too. Both of them mean YES!"

Ali married Fathimah with armour as the dowry.

With his bravery and sincerity, Ali was a true young man of integrity. 

Rasulullah said: “Indeed, Allah Azza wa Jalla ordered me to marry Fatimah daughter of Khadijah with Ali bin Abi Thalib, so bear witness that I have married them with four hundred Fidhdhah (in the value of silver), and Ali has accepted this.”

Rasulullah saw. prayed for both Ali and Fathimah:

“May Allah gather the perfections of you both, please you both, and bless you both and take out of you both much goodness.” (kitab Ar-Riyadh An-Nadhrah 2:183, chapter 4).

Hindu Temple-Like Muslim Minaret and the Rareness of Beefs in Kudus, Central Java, Indonesia: A STORY BEHIND A HIGH INTERFAITH TOLERANCE

By: Sigit Mukti Nugroho

Majority of people in the west see Islam as a religion with threat to unity. Islam is mostly viewed as a religion identical with terrorism due to most media reports. Majority of people in the world see Muslims as orthodox religious believers who are so strict, militant, extreme, often have no respect to the country they live. Islam is viewed to be spread by sword, sometimes they are also claimed to always condemn those who are different from them. The worst is of course by violent actions.

The very different fact about the way of preaching Islam can be found in Indonesia. People of Indonesia, especially in Java Island at old times, were firstly dominated by beliefs of animism and dynamism. Most of people believed in spiritual power beyond and within materials which can be seen. 
Beginning from the 13th century, Islam came to Indonesia brought by Muslim traders and scholars from the middle east. What is unique and interesting about the way Islam was spread, which will be the focus of this article, happened in Kudus, Central Java. The spread of Islam in Kudus was initiated mainly by Kiai Telingsing and followed by Sunan Kudus, a Muslim scholar originally named Ja’far Shadiq in 16th century. Ja'far Shadiq was one of scholars amongst several Muslim scholars sent by the Ottoman caliphate.

Figure 1 Map of Central Java

Figure 2 Kudus People in Traditional Cultural Outfits

Initially, most of the people in Kudus were Hindus and Buddhists. To spread Islam in this sort of community was never an easy task to do. It demanded a smart, creative, grounded, and humanistic solution. Islam surely always has solutions for every problem in human life. Persuasive style of Da'wah (spreading Islamic teaching) was often carried out.

To do this, Sunan Kudus decided to import a cow from India and tied it which he named ‘Kebo Gumarang’ in front of his mosque (some other sources say it was in front of his house yard) to attract the people’s attention. This easily attracted the Hindus people who highly respected and worshiped cows. Both Hindu and Buddhist peoples soon gathered in front of the mosque to see their glorified mammal being tied by Sunan Kudus and anticipated what he would probably do with the cow. Remember that they believed the animal was the vehicle ridden by God Wisnu, one of the Gods in Hinduism.

Figure 3 Picture Depicting the Figure of Sunan Kudus

With early anxiety that Ja’far Shadiq would probably kill or slaughter the cow in front of their eyes, the people listened to Ja’far Sadiq explanation. He elaborated his intention, "Ladies and Gentlemen, my beloved fellows. I forbid you all to hurt or even slaughter cows. It is because when I was still kid, I was about to die due to severe dehydration. Fortunately, a cow came to me and breastfed me.”

Hearing Ja’far’s story, Hindu people were amazed, astonished. They thought Ja’far Sadiq was an incarnation of Visnu, one of Gods in Hinduism. Thus, they got really curious to listen to his sermon.
“For what has ever happened to me with a cow, I forbid all the people of Kudus to hurt or slaughter cows!”

While Ja’far Sadiq continued his message, "One of the surahs in Quran, the second one, is called Surah of Cows, or in Arabic, it is called Al Baqarah,” the people were getting more amazed and curious. They were interested to know more  about Quran. They thought, 'how could a holy book of a religion talked about cow? how would it probably talk of it?'
The people felt that they really had to come to Sunan Kudus regularly to listen to his sermon.

In a soft and very delicate way, Sunan Kudus preached the messages of Islam. He also built a temple-like minaret right beside the mosque of Al Aqsha, Kudus. If we notice the architecture, it obviously seems that the temple is very identical to Hindu building. So, this building stands side by side with the mosque. With this kind of Hindu-typical-architectured minaret, people of Kudus at old times who firstly embraced Hindu felt comfortable to join Sunan Kudus’ sermons. As the time flew, more and more people converted to Islam with their own personal intentions. That is how Sunan Kudus preached. Through acculturation, without forcing or even condemning the people of the society, Islam is now a religion of the majority people, especially in Kudus.

After a big number of Hindu people converted to Islam just because of high degree of tolerance presented by Sunan Kudus’ attitudes as well as the attraction of the Hindu-architectured building, Sunan Kudus now turned the spread of Islam to the Buddhist people.

Figure 4: Hindu-temple like minaret of Kudus, decorated in Hindu architecture style, stands side by side with Al Aqsha Mosque

Sunan Kudus then built a place for ritual ablution with eight faucets, each of which had a symbolic relief of cow’s head. One again, this style was used to attract attention from the people. Now why would Sunan Kudus create eight faucets, not five or else? This number was decided to accommodate one of the Buddhist teachings called Sanghika Marga (eight-folded ways) which include:
1.       righteous knowledge

2.       righteous decision

3.       righteous speech

4.       righteous deeds

5.       righteous way of working

6.       righteous way of holding power
7.       righteous way of attention 

8. righteous way of appreciating religion.

This effort made its way to attract Buddhist people to come. They came to join Sunan Kudus’ sermons. And again, as the time went by, Islam became the religion of majority in Kudus. Many Muslim scholars were born, live, and teach there. We can say that the approach chosen by Sunan Kudus in preaching Islam is extremely tolerating. With this very high degree of tolerance, we see the positive impacts nowadays. Islamic teaching has been understood well and accepted fully by the majority of population.
More Interfaith Tolerance by Saladin

Figure 5 Pace for ritual ablution at Al Aqsha Mosque, Kudus, Indonesia

Another very clear impact on the society of Kudus which still employs today is the rareness (or even absence) of beef sellers. People of Kudus are more familiar with buffalo meats instead of beef due to Sunan Kudus’ past doctrine whose intention was to respect other religion, although Islam is now religion of the majority, and there is no prohibition of slaughtering breed animal like cows in Islam. So, in Idul Adha (Muslim fiest day beside Idul Fitri), instead of slaughtering cows as the common Muslim tradition of worshipping God, the majority of Kudus Muslim people will slaughter buffaloes. The preference on buffalo meats has made Kudus famous for its buffalo satay as well as its Soto Kerbau (Buffalo Soto). Soto itself is a typical Indonesian food made of broth and vegetables. The most popular meat for making broth is beef and chicken. In Kudus, however, it is chicken or buffalo to be the alternatives for making  the broth for Soto.

Figure 6 Soto Kudus

If you ever come to Indonesia, visiting Kudus will be a very exciting journey ever. The culinary, the religious atmosphere, as well as the high tolerance always become temptation that will invite you to come and visit again and again.

(from various sources)

Written by:

Sigit Mukti Nugroho

Mlati Kidul RT 5 RW 1

Gang Nyai Dasimah No 6

Kudus, Central Java 59319

Indonesia

seagate.balaboners@gmail.com

Inspiring Story during The Third Crusade War between Saladin and Richard

Richard (left) and Saladin (right)

During the third crusade war against Muslims, King of England, Richard (The Lionheart) put on all efforts to keep Jerusalem to remain under his grip. The Muslims were led by one of the finest generals of the world’s history named Shalahuddin Al Ayyubi (Saladin), who was really eager to set Jerusalem free from the grip of crusaders. Saladin was one of the finest generals in the world’s history.

This war took a very long time, and in the midst of the period, after so many tough battles against Muslims, Richard The Lionheart fell sick. To cure his sickness, so many physicians tried their best. However, no one had ever succeeded to help Richard recover from his sickness until one day, one physician who was unfamiliar to everyone came to try to help cure him. For a few days, Richard was under the care of this unfamiliar strange physician.

Not so long after the period of treatment, Richard gradually recovered and was ready to continue fighting. Richard felt blessed and grateful to the physician and offered him some retains as the price of his treatment. Surprisingly, the physician refused it.

Richard was astonished by that fact and curious about the strange physician. He began to investigate him about his identity. The physician finally uncovered his disguise and confessed who he actually was.

“My name is Shalahuddin, your great enemy in this crusade war. I heard you suffered illness then I came to help you as my humanity task. I am so glad to see you recovered from your sickness. I look forward to you in the battle field and we are ready to fight each other again,” Saladin ended the conversation.

source: 60 Kisah Teladan Sepanjang Masa (60 Long-life Best-Example Stories)

You can watch films about Saladin and Crusade War
one of which is KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

Grab The Film Home

You can also READ MORE DETAILED STORIES about Saladin-Richard and Jerussalem in THE THIRD CRUSADE 1191