Singapore's Footsteps Admire Indonesian Ulama

The Sultan Mosque in the Kampong Glam area, Singapore, which was built during the Governor-General Sir Stamford Raffles in 1824 for Sultan Hussein Shah, the first sultan of Singapore. (visitsingapore.com)

JAKARTA - The existence of Islam in Singapore cannot be underestimated. Singapore, which at that time was named Tumasik, had been visited by many Muslim traders. The spice trade was the estuary. His arrival had a big impact. Many Malays converted to Islam. Over time Singapore was so open. The owner of the state often welcomes the arrival of scholars from remote parts of the country. Indonesia, for example. But not all scholars are accepted. Good teachings are adopted, while radicals are rejected. Even banned.

The entry of Islam to mainland Asia is inseparable from the euphoria of the spice trade. The Asian narrative as the gateway to the sale of quality spices is an attraction. Various ethnic groups in remote parts of the world then flocked to come, including to Singapore.

Among the many traders, there are also Muslim traders. It is strongly suspected that Muslim traders came from various ethnic groups at the same time as Malacca was active as a spice paradise in the world. Those who have sailed long from their hometowns often stop by to Singapore. The sojourn inspired cultural exchanges between ethnic Malays and the Muslim world.

Mohamedan Temple or Nagore Durgha Shrine, a temple worshiping Goddess Durga built by the Singaporean Muslim community of South India origin in 1828. (Wikimedia Commons)

In Singapore, there are Muslim geeks who just stop by and then leave. There were also Muslim traders who came and chose to stay. Those who choose to stay are then merged with the daily activities of the Malay community. They also married local residents.

The marriage activity indirectly became the main provision of Islam spread in Singapore. The spread was strengthened by the Muslim traders who settled and began to build madrasas. They also actively participate as religious teachers who hold recitations and learn to read the Koran. The spell was successful. Many Malays are interested in Islam.

“Muslims in Singapore are mostly ethnic Malays, the rest from the Indian and Pakistani communities and a small number from Chinese, Arabs and Eurasians. The daily life behavior of Malay Muslim families in Singapore is a very strong reflection of the influence of religious teachers and mosque imams.”

“The majority of them are of the Shafi'iyah sect and a few are Shi'ites. They are used to collective religious and social rituals. Muslim life in Singapore is also mostly influenced by the life of Sufism with its various tarekat patterns," said Tobroni in the book Discussing Islamic Education Thoughts (2018).

Indonesian Ulama Dawah to Singapore

Over time, Singapore developed into an open country. aka multiethnic. Many ethnic groups came. Adherents of the Islamic religion are well aware that they are not the majority in Singapore. Because, Muslims are under the followers of Buddhism and Taoism.

This minority status has actually become a strength for adherents of Islam in Singapore. Singapore's Muslims are considered state assets for diplomacy. The only difference is that Muslims choose to be absent from political activities. They are more focused on perpetuating religious preaching activities.

It is this da'wah activity that makes Singaporean Muslims often invite scholars from various parts of the country: Indonesia, Brunei, and Malaysia. Ulama from Indonesia have often been asked to preach in Singapore since the 1950s. The presence of a well-known cleric from Betawi, Kiai Haji Abdullah Syafi'i, for example.

Masjid Jamae or Great Mosque of Singapore, founded by the Tamil Muslim community in 1826. (Wikimedia Commons)

His arrival is always awaited by all Malay Muslim citizens in Singapore. The same goes for his lectures. This enthusiasm was what his son, Tuty Alawiyah, tried to record (later known as: Minister of State for Women's Empowerment during the Soeharto era).

He was curious to see firsthand the enthusiasm of local residents when his father preached to Singapore. Moreover, his father had become a Muslim cleric in the land of the white lion. Tuty also wanted to come. His father made a condition. Tuty had to raise money for her own ticket. And the challenge was agreed by Tuty.

“Around July 1959, I saw that my savings had reached around Rp. 1900 rupiah. It's enough to buy a plane ticket from Jakarta to Singapore back and forth which costs Rp. 1900 to Rp. 2000 for the current price. When I handed over all my savings to my father, he was shocked. Didn't expect that I'd been secretly saving for nearly six years. The time is not short, of course."

"Finally, my father took my brother and I Rasyid to preach in Singapore and Malaysia in 1959. I remember very well on September 17, 1959 we departed from Jakarta to Singapore from Halim Perdanakusuma Airport. Directly to Singapore and land at the Airport or Payalebar Airport. This trip to Singapore is also my first trip abroad,” said Tuty Alawiyah as written by Beydra Yendi Yarman in the book Kak Tuty (2021).

Hotel Raffles, an iconic hotel that became one of Singapore's landmarks. (Wikimedia Commons)

Every scholar who comes is always respected by Singaporeans. However, not all Muslims there are able to accept the contents of the lectures. Especially when the content of the lecture begins to narrate negatively and exaggerate.

They immediately voiced their rejection, as happened to the cleric from Surabaya, Abdullah Segaf bin Mahdi in the mid-1980s. His lectures were considered controversial. The owner of the state then banned him.

Even so, the Indonesian ulema whose lectures were soothing were no less numerous. In fact, Singaporeans are more dominant in favor of Indonesian clerics, compared to ulemas from Brunei or Malaysia. Singaporeans from the 1970s to the 1980s would agree on one name: Kiai Haji Zainnudin MZ The well-known Indonesian cleric has a huge following in Singapore. Even each of the cassettes is always selling well in the White Lion Country.

"It seems that Allah has granted His servant's request. The first grace was the birth of Zainuddin MZ's fourth son whom he named Ahmad Syaugi, and the second grace was that he received an offer to record. He's signed for five albums at Virgo Records."

“The recordings then spread to all corners of the archipelago and various Asian countries. The tape was later requested by Angel Records Singapore. Seven recorded albums have been widely circulated in Asia when Mohammad Zaki, his fifth son was born,” wrote the book Way of Life of Dai Sejuta Ummah (2016).