“Have you been to Keramat Habib Noh, the one next to the ECP fly-over?” A friend asked.

“The house-like stone structure at the top of a long stairs on a hill, right?”

“Yes. Did you know it’s one of the few keramat left in Singapore?”

Malay culture that is inherited today is a combination of pagan, Hindu and Islamic practices and beliefs. Although many Muslims in Singapore tried to avoid elements of pre-Islamic beliefs in their everyday life, they found common belief in spirit and the afterlife.

The term keramat is derived from the Arabic word ‘karamah’ meaning acts of generosity. It could also mean ‘gifts or powers acquired by a saint’. Thus, the blessing derived from a saint is referred to as ‘barakah’ or ‘berkat’ in Malay. Malays in the olden days partook in keramat worship to obtain these berkat in their life.

Keramat worship could be classified into two categories – worship at the graves of persons who are said to attain sainthood and worship at the graves of kings and founders of settlements. However, the act of keramat worship is considered negatively as ‘syirik’ (association) as it transgresses the fundamental element in Islam, which doesn’t recognise another power than God itself.

The most famous mausoleum in Singapore is Keramat Habib Noh. Habib Noh came to Singapore in 1819 and stayed in Kampong Kaji next to the Sultan Mosque. He came into prominence because he did things out of the ordinary. Children loved to accompany him everywhere he went.

The honourable Habib Noh was said to possess special powers of which he used to perform good deeds. There were numerous stories about his miracles that were still talked about until today. Habib Noh died peacefully in 1866 and was buried on the present site at his own prior request. As with great saints, his spirit lives on, many people visiting his keramat to ask God for help (for whatever problems they face) with the blessings of Habib Noh.

The remaining keramat that can be found in Singapore are:

• Keramat Sultan Iskandar Shah (the grave of a Hindu King) at Ford Canning
• Keramat Radin Mas (a Javanese princess who shielded her father from being killed) at the foot of Mount Faber
• Keramat Kubor Lasam, an isolated twin grave surrounded by terrace houses at Jalan Sempadan, Siglap
• Keramat Keramat Kusi (a grave of a pious man named Syed Abdul Rahman on Kusu Island)

So what do visitors to the keramat normally do?

Some come bearing flowers to put on the grave, some offer prayers or read the Quran. Others wait for the caretaker to supplicate on their behalf. Some brought bottles of water and place them at the corner of the grave for berkat. Some brought offerings of bananas and yellow glutinous rice to the votary of the keramat to thank him for taking care of the keramat or simply as a kind gesture towards another person (especially when their prayers had been answered by God). Half of the gifts offered would be taken back by the votary while the remaining half would be kept by the caretaker of the keramat as donation.

Modernisation and urbanisation are responsible for the demise of keramat in Singapore. Keramat Bismilla-wali at Changi Road was demolished to make way for housing projects.

It’s interesting to note that the removal of the keramat didn’t face objections from the Malay community. Perhaps, there are some segments of the community that supported the removal of remnants of perceived paganism. Chinese and Indians too visited the keramat, often praying alongside the Malay visitors, albeit in their own unique way.

I suppose all keramat visitors regardless of religious beliefs have a similar intention – to seek blessings.

Main picture courtesy of  http://hassan1663.blogspot.com/2009/03/menziarahi-makam-habib-noh.html

Hidayah Amin | 27 October 2011