Forms of Magic

According to an article that I read in the Weekly Gulf Times published in 2007, there are several forms of Magic. Some are all illusions and trickery, while others are real, occurring with the help of the Devil. Muslim scholars generally define Magic as any phenomenon that has invisible causes or that is seen or imagined differently from its reality due to disguise or trickery. Other scholars define Magic as the art of producing in nature, with the help of the demons, things beyond the power of men. Below are the excerpts / summary written in the article ….

Astrology

(Excerpt from Weekly Gulf Times dated 30th March 2007)

The roots of astrology go back to the Babylonians who worshiped the stars. Nowadays, magicians who use talismans based on astrology, fall into three categories:

1. Those who worship the heavenly bodies, offer prayers to them and ask them favours.
2. Those who use special calculations and allocate to each word a number that they pretend is related to the positions of the stars. They then perform calculations taking into account the name of the person, his date and place of birth, and claim that this allows them to know his future.
3. Those who study the movements of the heavenly bodies, and their conjunctions, believing that this has an influence on the natural phenomena such as rain, wind , volcanoes or earthquakes.

Anybody who is dealing in these practices is dealing in Magic, for the Prophet s.a.w. said:

”Whoever acquires knowledge about astrology, has acquired knowledge about magic.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari)

Illusions, the Magic of Imagination
(Source: Weekly Gulf Times dated 30th March 2007)

In Illusions, the magician may influence the imagination of the bewitched, to the point of making him believe that what he has imagined is true. In such cases, the magician may rely on hypnotic, or other powers of suggestions often used by some mediums to invoke the spirit of a dead person. The bewitched may think that he sees or hears the dead person but in reality, it is all in his imagination. During the time of Prophet Musa a.s., the Pharaoh's sorcerers used Optic Illusions to bewitch the eyes of people by giving the illusion that the sticks looked like moving snakes. This was a great magic as described by the Qur’an:

”So when they threw, they bewitched the eyes of the people, and struck terror into them and they displayed a great magic.” (Surah Al-A’raf, 7:116)

Trickery, the Magic of Tricks
(Source: Weekly Gulf Times dated 30th March 2007)

Trickery relies on tricks that the magician has learned, usually performed in circus and on television for the purpose of entertainment. However, sometimes it is used by charlatans for evil purposes. Learning sleight of hand, using the properties of special metal, and chemistry, along with a good amount of lies are all part of the trade of this magician.

Sorcery, the Real Magic of witchcraft
(Source: Weekly Gulf Times dated 30th March 2007)

Sorcery has a concrete physical reality. It is the craft of the sorcerer who gets help from the devil, either by direct influence to inflict harm on the victims or by way of talismans to harm others in their health or property. The power of the sorcerer is drawn from his union with the devil, enabling him to have the power to fly in the air, walk on water, inflict disease or even death in others, and other extraordinary things. The more united and close his relationship is, the more powerful he becomes. However, most scholars agree that the power of a sorcerer has limitation; he cannot induce rain or other natural phenomena, nor can he resurrect the dead, nor can he turn a human into an animal, nor can he make an animal talk, and most of all a sorcerer’s spell is only realised by the will of Allah, and he can never change the destiny of a person.

Baweanese and Black Magic

Black Magic has always been associated with the Baweanese. Mentioned the word ''Boyanese'' the next words will be ''Be careful! They are good at Black Magic!''. Even though the notion of practicing Black Magic directed to the Baweanese still exist today, it is not as bad as in the past where they are being labeled as powerful sorcerers.

I remember during my childhood days in the early 1970s when I was alienated by my classmates due to my race. I was in primary four, when a group of Muslim friends in school suddenly distanced themselves from me after knowing about my racial background through the school register. They told the rest of the class that I came from a very bad race – ''A race that practices Black Magic''. I overheard in their conversations that their parents had warned them not to befriend with the Baweanese so as to avoid black magic being performed on them. From that day onwards I kept to myself and not bothered with what they thought of my people. During this incident, I came to realise that I was not Malay by race, as I used to think, but a Baweanese, speaking Malay language, living in the Singapore Malay community like the other Indonesian Muslim descents from different ethnic group such as the Javanese, Bugis, and Banjar.

My Muslim classmates continued to say hurtful things. I felt sad but angry - angry for being accused of something that I had not done and no knowledge of. Never in my life during the period living in Pondok Kelompang Gubuk, that I came across the pondok residents practicing Black Magic. Instead what I saw were a group of devout Muslims, trying to please Almighty Allah. I saw them performing Sholat, fasting in the month of Ramadhan, giving out Zakat and most of them, especially the elderly ones, had performed Haj.

It was not long ago that I befriended a Muslim woman who was judgmental towards the Baweanese. Without knowing my racial background, she criticized my people and told me to be extra careful with them. When I asked for her reasons, she answered that the 'Boyanese' practiced Black Magic, performing it to harm others. After she had finished with her little story, I politely highlighted to her that those who practiced black magic, inflicting harm to others were evil and this group of people existed in every race. I disclosed my racial background and related to her my near death experience being a victim of black magic performed by a Non-Baweanese. Feeling embarrassed, she immediately appologised to me.

Today, the Baweanese are still being feared by others for possessing Black Magic. It seems to me most people in the society that I am living in, failed to accept the fact that Black Magic comes from evil people existed in every races. However recently, I received a pleasant comment from a Non-Baweanese who visited the Bawean Island organised by PBS (Baweanese Association of Singapore) in mid June, this year. She said, "Oh, rupanya orang-orang Boyan ini banyak yang alim-alim" which means ''Oh, in reality the majority of the Bawean people are devout Muslims". In Singapore itself, there are several Baweanese religious educators. There are also many others with tertiary Islamic education who either work or active with MUIS (The Muslim Council of Singapore), Madrasah, Mosque and other Muslim bodies.

Facing trials in Ramadhan

Alhamdulillah, Ramadhan is here again! Ramadhan Kareem to all Muslims. May this year Ramadhan is better than the last time. The most meaningful Ramadhan I had was in December 2000 spending the last two weeks in the holy land of Makkah and Madinah. The most challenging Ramadhan I encountered was in 1998, the time I knew deep in my heart, I was a victim of Black Magic.

During Ramadhan 1418H in late 1998, I was able to fast for only five days. The rest of the days were disastrous. I was lying in my bed most of the time groaning in pain, feeling being squeezed with tremendous force. Strangely, the pain only occurred during a specific time frame. It was always during Asar that my right eardrum started to hurt tremendously due to the buzzing, distressing noise blowing into it. The pain stopped abruptly as soon as the azan Maghrib was heard. Suspected that black magic was performed on me, I sought Allah's protection. Through mid-night prayers, I prayed for Allah's guidance in handling the situation.


Then one night, I had a dream about the person who did the unspeakable act on me. In my vision, I saw her sitting in my room in front of my bed performing her witchcraft. I could see her face clearly chanting and holding some leaves with lots of smoke all over the place. I woke up, coughing uncontrollably. With Almighty Allah's guidance and mercy, I got through with the black magic performed on me.


Ramadhan is a blessed month in which true Muslims are chasing to earn rewarding deeds. However, the woman who put a spell on me chose to earn abundance of sins practicing Black Magic, making a pact with the Devils. All this while, she was hiding her evil intentions behind her Hijab mask, projecting herself as a true servant of Almighty Allah. According to Islam, practicing, believing and relying on Black Magic are Shirk - Magic has no place in Islam and learning it is Kufr.

Holding firmly to the Singapore Pledge

Today, Singapore celebrates the 44th year of Independence. Happy Birthday Singapore! Happy National Day Singaporeans! It is time to say the Singapore Pledge – ''Say what you mean. Mean what you say''.

The Singapore Pledge

We, the citizens of Singapore,
Pledge ourselves as one united people,
Regardless of race, language or religion,
To build a democratic society,
Based on justice and equality,
So as to achieve happiness,
Prosperity and progress for our nation.

The Singapore Pledge was written in 1966 by the late S.Rajaratnam. From that year onwards, students in primary, secondary and post-secondary recite the Singapore pledge after singing the National Anthem during flag ceremony at the beginning of every school day. Every year during the National Day Celebration, Singaporeans say the pledge at the National Day Parade.

Today, after more than four decades, the words in the pledge are still strong holding Singaporeans together as one united nation, continuing to work for prosperity and progress so as to keep on achieving peace, stability and happiness. The words need not be updated for they still speak strongly to the Singaporeans. Indeed, the Singapore pledge is the Singaporeans' National identity in which the ideas, sentiment and spirit in it speaks to the Singaporeans through the years.

Present days Singapore is greatly different from it's past. Singapore had progressed so much through the years; from a trading port into a city-state with strong reserves; from having a very small defense force, relying on the British during the early years, to having robust defense force that is one of the most modern and cohesive in the world. Indeed, Singaporeans had gone through hard times and good times together, moving beyond the three Ps; Peace, Prosperity and Progress to the five Cs; Cash, Credit Card, Career, Car, and Condo.

Singaporeans have been staying united since the early days of independence, building the country, fighting together as one nation against poverty in the 1960s, working hard for developments in 1970s, coping with economic recessions in the 1980s, combating the currency crisis in 1997, battling against SARs in 2003 and now continuing working together, staying vigilant against H1N1 while at the same time, together they are coping up with the economic recession.

Personally, the pledge had worked well for me. I am truly thankful to Almighty Allah for giving me the chance to be part of Singapore’s transformation into one of a World-Class city. I was born in Singapore during the 1960s when Singapore was struggling to rise up to build an independent country. I was there in the 1970s as a student with an aspiration to make a difference when Singapore was progressing and developing rapidly, moving forward leaving the other Third World countries. I was there in the 1980s and 1990s joining the work force in full swing contributing to the economy of Singapore. And now here I am, truly transformed and all grown-up as mature as my Singapore, living in it peacefully in total happiness enjoying the fruits of success.

Truly, Singapore is my homeland. I am proud to be called Singaporean. I am proud to hold a pink NRIC with ''Race: Boyanese" printed on it. I feel blessed to have forefathers, the immigrants from Bawean Island, who were brave to undertake the chances of many uncertainties against all odds in an attempt to make a difference, choosing Singapore as the homeland of their future generations. If these pioneer immigrants did not take the chances, Singaporeans of Baweanese descent, will not be what they are today! I will not be what I am today!

... my Singapore

This is home truly
Where I know I must be
Where my dreams wait for me
Where the river always flows

This is home surely
As my senses tell me
This is where I won't be alone
For this is where I know it's home

(Extracted from Singapore National Day Song – 'Home' by Kit Chan)

My Memories of Sungai Rokam

Jalan Sungai Rokam and Jalan Dato' Keramat are the two places in Malaysia that I am familiar with, in connection to my Baweanese roots. These are the two places where the early generation of my ancestors used to settle when they first came to the Malay Peninsula. Flashes of memories I had with my relatives still remain lingering in my mind. Memories of my visits to their homes during childhood keep coming back as I refreshes them by looking back at the pictures in my dad's photo album.

(Aunt Nuri and Aunt Yati - Sungai Rokam1970s)

I remember basking under the hot afternoon sun of Ipoh, playing with the other Baweanese kids in the playground until I got myself tanned. They spoke the Baweanese language fluently. The kindness showed by my Grand-uncle Hodri, husband of Grand-aunt Moya, cannot be forgotten. He gave me a bar of chocolate with a big smile on his face as he stood at the doorway after returning home from his work place. Back then I was a little girl not more than seven years old.

(Nenek Moya at my home)

I was very much curious with the things in the home of my dear Grand-aunt Moya. They were very much different from those used by Grandma Ramlah at Pondok Kelompang Gubuk. I was particularly fascinated with the stool-like grater and was always the first to volunteer grating the coconuts! I remember Aunt Yati teaching me the correct method of using it as Aunt Nuri and Uncle Taqim watched with lots of smiling on their faces. With my small little hands, it was not an easy task for me to perform. However, I was happy to be of great assistance in the house. Back then I was their faithful apprentice who was willing to do as told. Appreciated I was, they taught me lots of 'kampong' stuff which could not be found in my hometown, the Town of Little India, the area in which Pondok Kelampong Gubuk was situated.

(Uncle Tapa and Dyan - Orchard Road 1987)

It has been more than twenty years since the last time I met my relatives in Ipoh and yearning to meet them again. I regretted very much for not able to attend the wedding held by Aunt Yati in the occasion of her daughter's marriage. It was the period when I was living in the middle-east. I miss my relatives in Ipoh greatly and hope very much to visit them in the future, Insha'Allah. Below are photographs of Nenek Moya's visit to Singapore with her family in late 1960s. We were having picnic at Changi Beach.

(This post is dedicated to my relatives in Ipoh, especially to Aunt Yati, Aunt Nuri and Uncle Taqim. To Aunt Nuri: I never forgotten the warmth that you gave me during my visits to your home in 1960s. To Aunt Yati: Your kind assistance in the preparation of my wedding as well as my sisters are always in my mind.)

My Memories of Jalan Dato' Keramat

During my early teenage, I used to spend my school holidays at Aunt Fatimah's home in Petaling Jaya. The weekends were family outing days. Uncle Zain would normally bring his family out for leisure to parks, museum, exhibitions, window shopping or dinning at A&W restaurant. Sometimes he would visit his cousin at Jalan Dato' Keramat. Her name was Hannah. She was my maternal grandmother's younger sister. I used to call her Nenek Hannah.

(Uncle Wahid's wedding - Keramat 1988)

Grand-aunt Hannah was a very kind and generous person. Every time I visited her, it was hard for me to leave her home. She welcomed her guests with open arms and would not allow them to leave with empty stomach. There were always homemade cookies and chips to bring back home. I loved her as much as I loved grand-aunt Moya. My only regret, I was unable to pay my last respect during their funeral. Both had passed away during the time I was suffering from an illness in which doctors were unable to diagnose and determine the cause.

( Visiting Nenek Hannah - Keramat 1990)

(With Nenek Hannah in the Kitchen)

(At the living area)

Among the several children of grand-aunt Hannah, it is aunt Halifah that I am very close. We are about the same age. During my early teens, I used to spend the year-end school holidays in Kuala Lumpur, staying over at her home. Aunt Halifah and I used to have fun together, playing all sorts of ''kampong'' games at the house compound. When we were far apart, we used to write to each other. Till this day we always keep in touch, continuing the family ties.

(Visiting Nenek Hannah - Keramat 1976)

The last time I met aunt Halifah was August 2008 at my cousin's wedding. Aunt Halifah came to Singapore with her family and siblings, Aunt Pia and Uncle Wahid. It was a splendid reunion and we had an enjoyable time chatting, catching up for the lost time. We discussed about going holiday together in Trengganu to visit her sister, Aunt Makma. I was very excited about the idea and looking forward for the holiday with her even though I knew time would be a problem. However, I am confident that the day will come for me and aunt Halifah to be on a holiday with our family together! Insha'Allah.

(This post is dedicated to Aunt Halifah, Aunt Pia, Uncle Wahid as well as my other uncles and aunties who used to live at Keramat - the home of my beloved Nenek Hannah. Spending the time with her and family in that home often lingers in my memory…. it was beautiful.. remain precious... always in my mind...)

Uncle Zain, My Ipoh Connection

The marriage between Aunt Fatimah and Uncle Zain is a blessing for the entire members of the extended family that generated from the family of my Great-great-grandpa Jusop. This union in matrimony had brought closer two nuclear families in an extended family. Uncle Zain is the cousin of my late maternal grandmother, Hajah Ramlah. Grandma Ramlah's mother is the older sister of Uncle Zain's father whom my mum used to call Grand-uncle Jesin. He followed his father, my Great-great-grandpa Jusop, to Malaysia from Bawean Island during the British colonization in the Malay Peninsula. They used to live at Sungai Rokam in Ipoh, Perak.

(Hari Raya Eid-ul-Fitr 1995)

According to Aunt Fatimah, my Great-great-grandpa Jusop had another marriage, having another set of children from his other wife. And through her (descendent), he had produced the first batch of several well-educated Malaysian Baweanese descendents in his family; a banker, two engineers, an accountant, a doctor and a lawyer by profession – the well-known six brothers in Ipoh that became successful through educations. One of them is Hj.Asmuni bin Awi, the well-known lawyer turned Politician in the State of Perak.

(A proud Grandfather)

Uncle Zain is himself among the successful one in this family. He is an ex-army officer who received the title Dato', given to him by the Sultan of Pahang due to his bravery, serving the Malaysia Military. During his army life, he was always working overseas. I remember during my childhood he used to bring goodies for me and my sister every time he came back home to Singapore at Pondok Kelompang Gubuk. The children of the Pondok loved him as he used to entertain with the stories from his army adventure working in Congo.

(Nenek Moya's first and last visit to my home - January 1996)

Uncle Zain was born and raised in Ipoh, Perak. His older and only sister, my late dear Grand-aunt whom I used to call Nenek Moya, loved him very much. She took great care of him since he was a little boy. My mum told me that Nenek Moya used to give up her portion of food to her little brother during their difficult period living as orphans. I always remember Nenek Moya as a wonderful and lovable person. During my childhood, I used to accompany my grandparents everytime they visited Nenek Moya and other relatives in Ipoh.

Like Nenek Moya, Uncle Zain treats me and my siblings with kindness. Spending my time with Uncle Zain and his family makes me happy. Often I forgotten that he is only my uncle. He makes me feel as though I am his daughter – a daughter he wishes to have. Uncle Zain is like a father to me. He is a generous and kind-hearted person; free from black spots covering the heart - the disease of a bad-hearted soul.

(Aunt Nuri and Aunt Yati, the daugthers of Nenek Moya - visted Singapore in April 1986)

The relationships between Uncle Zain and my father were more than brother-in-laws. They were good friends who always helped each other. Uncle Zain was always there for my father in good and bad times. My father too was always there every time Uncle Zain needed a helping hand. I remember during the time living in a HDB flat, my father offered Uncle Zain and his family to live together with us while waiting for their home in Johor to be ready. Aunt Fatimah and her two sons lived with my family for about six months while Uncle Zain was out-stationed in Congo. During that period, as the oldest among the little ones, I used to bring my little cousins to the playground and watched over them as they played happily with the other kids living around the area.

Until today my cousins and I are very close. To them, I am more than a cousin – an older sister living in Singapore. Indeed Uncle Zain's family members are my next-of-kin in Malaysia. Through marriage, Uncle Zain and Aunt Fatimah had made the blood-ties stronger between my Singaporean relatives and the relatives in Malaysia.

(This post is dedicated to my dear Uncle Zain and his family. According to me, Uncle Zain and Aunt Fatimah is a perfect match made in heaven. Their children are my blood-ties and always be my dear little brothers even though they are now adults. To my Malaysian cousins - indeed we are in a family of different Nationality, living in two different countries linked by a causeway ....yet... We are one big family and will always be...)