Haji Abdul Rahman Limbong: 2013

Sunday 20 October 2013

THE BLACK WHITE WARRIOR

Last 2 month, our country has celebrated Independence Day and in remembering the devotions of Malayan Warriors towards the nation and the country, we have assigned to do a research on any Malayan Warriors. Basically I am a native of Terengganu and I have decided to do a research on Terengganu warrior, Haji Abdul Rahman Limbong, the Black White Warrior.

The emergence of Haji Abdul Rahman Limbong, a putative influential British Adviser, with the idea of opposition to the administration system presented by the government, has opened a new chapter in the political development among scholars in the state. Political protests supported by him have made him a unique religious leader as there is never exist the tradition of resistance before.

Monument that symbolizes the battle fought by Malay warriors before the Independence

Terengganu flag

Haji Abdul Rahman Limbong’s full name was Haji Abdul Rahman bin Haji Abdul Hamid bin Haji Abdul Kadir. The title ‘Limbong’ that was given to him was from his involvement as a teacher at Kampung Limbong, Chukai. It is believed that his mother, Tun Teja binti Tun Takut was a descendants of Tun Zain Indera while his father, Haji Abdul Hamid was said from Patani, Thailand. Haji Abdul Rahman Limbong was born at Telemong, Kuala Terengganu on 1868 and died at Mecca on 1929.

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EDUCATION BACKGROUND OF HAJI ABDUL RAHMAN LIMBONG

He was raised in a family that very consider and sensitive about religion education. Since he was a boy, he already left to Mecca with his uncle, Haji Tun Muhammad Zain. When he reached adulthood, he returned to Terengganu with his head full with understanding and knowledge. His interest and passion towards theology or religious knowledge was never fading away.

Mecca where Haji Abdul Rahman seek knowledge since he was a kid

Religious books Haji used during his study in Mecca.

During his study in Mecca, he never waste his time playing around instead, he spent most of his time with learning and studying all the new things taught for him. Although he didn’t receive the education formally there but he started to receive Islam education seriously and strictly when he returned home and studied with his master, Haji Yaakob Paya Bunga. In two month period, he managed and successfully mastered his study. Then, he continued by seeking knowledge from Haji Wan Musa. Finally, when he fruitfully mastering few knowledge and skills from few masters, he chose to learn from a parson, Tokku Paloh which led him to the close relationship between a student and a teacher.

Haji Abdul Rahman Limbong was once a servant of Tokku paloh before he was taken to be one of Tokku Paloh’s students. He was very committed to his job as a servant. He clean the house yard, prepared the firewoods, filled up the well with water and so on. Sometimes, when he was busy completing his job, he took a chance sitting beside the well to listen to Tokku Paloh’s teachings. When the learning period was over, he kept his book under the roofing sheets, trying to act as if he didn’t follow up the class.

This behavior of Haji Abdul Rahman Limbong received attention from Tokku Paloh himself and Tokku saw that there was a big determination and commitment to study inside Haji Abdul Rahman Limbong and he decided to take Haji as one of his students. From that moment, he became Tokku Paloh’s number one favorite student because of his high determination and interest in learning.

The education he received from his father and all his teachers have made him to become a pious, calm and well-mannered but strict when someone refuse or underestimate about Islam. The personality of Haji Abdul Rahman Limbong has bring the people to judge about him of his admirable individuality. An English Officer (British) also gave a compliment about him.

“… he was an extremely good man… he was absolutely unique in his dealings with the rayat, in doing things for them without getting any profit from them.”

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FACTORS OF THE REBELLIONS: BRITISH COLONIZATION & INTERVENTION.

Haji Abdul Rahman Limbong was known as someone who has stable economic. He owned several pieces of land where he planted coconut at Pasir Tebakang and Beladau. He also has banana groves at Pulau Tunggul, several large rubber estate at Bukit Gelugor, Sarawak, and Kemaman. Not only that, he also owned coffee plantations at Telemong and paddy fields at Kemaman. Indeed, he was very hardworking and diligent in cultivating natural resources.

Example of coconut estate

Example of coffee plantation

Example of banana groves

Example of rubber estate

Example of paddy field

In other words, Haji Abdul Rahman Limbong was not only contributing to the nation in terms of education but with all his properties, he had helped many Malay people in terms of foods, economy and financial.

However, when the British Colonizers came to Malay Land, they robbed everything what was rightful belong to Haji and Malay nation. In the 1920s, the British begun to wise in interfering with the Land Administration in Kuala Telemong. Each of acres of open land by citizens is taxed by the British colonial.

For that, they feel there should be a resistance against the British colonialists with the main aim which is to destroy and get rid of Islam. Colonial authorities were gradually incited the feelings of hatred to the upper classes and the nation towards religious people. This had been done by bringing their luxurious way of life and education form blatantly that is contrary to the religious way of life.

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THE RISE OF HAJI ABDUL RAHMAN LIMBONG AGAINST BRITISH COLONIZERS

The influence and leadership of Haji Abdul Rahman with the Islamic based religion has strengthening the unity and cohesion among Malay people just like during the Crusades War, they can get rid of their feelings of regionalism that can be suppressed during development, and has established a strong solidarity and enthusiastic to the point where their spirit has become their own leaders.

Haji Abdul Rahman Limbong’s leadership had sparked the fighting spirit among the Terengganu people

In other words, the presence of Haji Abdul Rahman has aroused the fighting spirit. This attitude causes Haji Abdul Rahman was accused of being responsible for triggering a war at Ulu Terengganu in 1928's. British Officer, J.L. Humphreys stated that;

“…..that the ultimate cause of the trouble is the tactless incompetence and probably the corruption of the Malay Land Officers. The Kelantan uprising had a similar origin and in both cause the paradox followed – an outbreak of anti-foreign feeling, when the source of the trouble was in point of fact, the lack of an European Officer.”

One British officer, HW Thompson who reported on the chaos Ulu Terengganu 1928, , concluded that the disturbances were entirely planned by Haji Abdul Rahman Limbong. J.L. Humphreys, the British Adviser, also conclude that the resistance by the followers of the scholars was described as treason to the state of Terengganu.

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RESISTANCE OF 21'st MAY 1928

Finally, a violent incident started to take over at Terengganu which is a resistance against the colonial power. The climax of the uprising against the government was on May 21, 1928. The rise of 1928’s involved bloody conflict, when grouping and progression farmers were opposed by the government in Ulu Telemong.

Rebellion against the British intervention led by Tok Limbong

In this situation, Haji Abdul Rahman Limbong was blamed as the person who responsible for this rise of rebellion and resistance. Therefore, the colonial authorities issued threats to arrest him. In order to relieve the stressed situation in the state of rebellion, Haji Abdul Rahman Limbong surrendered at Istana Maziah. No one dared to approach him while he was in the palace. He denied all the allegations that accused him as the cause of the people's resistance against the colonial power.

Due to the charges, Haji Abdul Rahman Limbong was brought to trial court. The trial was conducted at the field and witnessed by British officials and the public. Coincidently, the chair he sit on was facing the Qiblah, then he prayed continuously throughout the trial.

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EXILED TO MECCA

As the result of the trial, the British decided that Haji Abdul Rahman Limbong will be exiled to Mecca. Before that, there were parties recommended that Haji should be deported to China. But in the end, it was decided that Mecca was the right place. Besides, Haji Abdul Rahman Limbong himself planned to spend the rest of his life at Mecca.

Declaration of Banishment to Mecca

Terengganu Muslims await the arrival of Tuan Guru Haji Abdul Rahman Limbong who surrendered to the Sultan Sulaiman to be sentenced to banishment to Mecca.

Haji Abdul Rahman’s letter to his disciples

Although he was sent to Mecca, but the struggles and the teaching that he developed still remains intact. He still teaches even in Mecca. Many of his disciples resume his studies in Mecca or met him while performing the hajj.

During his in Makkah, he did asked for permission to return to Terengganu. But unfortunately his request was rejected with the reason that he would later give rise to the spirit of the people of Terengganu. In the end, after all this time he was teaching varieties of knowledge about religion, he passed away on 14 Muharram 1348 (1929) due to the disease in the belly. That was the end of the battle of an influential scholars and a warrior which we can still see his good influences in this present life of the Muslim community in Terengganu.

Masjid Telemong : the history of Haji Abdul Rahman Limbong remains here

The placement of several tomb of warriors that fought together with Haji ABdul Rahman Limbong against the British

The warriors’ tomb

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