Sunday, June 27, 2010

V. EN ROUTE TO MAKKAH: PILGRIMS' VOICES THROUGHOUT THE CENTURIES (SIKANDAR, THE BEGUM OF BHOPAL)

HER HIGHNESS SIKANDAR,
THE BEGUM OF BHOPAL
INDIA
HAJJ 1864 AD / 1280 AH

Bhopal, a Muslim state in pre-independence India was governed by four women rulers between the years 1819 AD/ 1234 AH and 1926 AD/ 1344 AH. Nawab Sikandar Begum’s pilgrimage to Mecca in 1864 AD/ 1280 AH is acknowledged as the first Hajj account recorded by a regent. Sikandar Begum set sail for Mecca in late 1863 AD/ 1279 AH, with her mother, Qudsia Begum, her uncle and an entourage of hundreds. She reached the port of Jeddah in January 1864 AD/ 1280 AH and stayed there for a week. Then she instructed her agent, Abd al-Rahim to hire a camel caravan for the journey to Mecca. Sikandar Begum described performing her religious duty in Mecca:

“The hour of my arrival at Mecca was the ‘isha (first watch of the night), and the call to evening prayers was sounding from the different mosques. I entered within the holy precincts by the Gate of Peace, and, arriving at he House of Abraham, I stood and read the prescribed prayers. After that, I performed the ceremonies of the Arrival Tawaf, and of running at Safa and Marwa.”

Receiving considerable attention from others, Sikandar Begum felt uncomfortable about performing her duty. At one point in her accounts, she mentions how she was completely mobbed by faqirs during her tawaf. This problem was only resolved after her request to the Sharif of Mecca to provide four bodyguards to accompany her during tawaf was approved. Besides, as a precaution, she decided to wear the veil to avoid being recognized.

DULI YANG TERAMAT MULIA SIKANDAR,
BEGUM DARI BHOPAL
INDIA
IBADAH HAJI 1864 M / 1280 H

Bhopal, sebuah kerajaan Islam yang wujud sebelum kemerdekaan India. Ia diperintah oleh empat orang pemerintah wanita di antara tahun 1819 M/ 1234 H dan 1926 M/ 1344 H. Pengalaman perjalanan Nawab Sikandar Begum menunaikan haji ke Makkah pada tahun 1864 M/ 1280 H di akui sebagai catatan haji yang pertama direkodkan oleh pemangku raja. Sikandar Begum memulakan pelayaran ke Makkah pada akhir 1863 M/ 1279 H bersama-sama dengan ibunya Qudsia Begum, bapa saudara dan ratusan pengiringnya. Begum tiba di pelabuhan Jeddah pada bulan Januari 1864 M/ 1280 H dan menetap di sana selama satu minggu. Kemudian baginda mengarahkan orang suruhannya, Abd al-Rahim untuk mengupah karavan unta untuk perjalanan ke Makkah. Sikandar Begum memperincikan ibadah haji yang dilakukan di sana:

“sewaktu beta tiba di kota Makkah, kedengaran suara azan berkumandang dari beberapa buah masjid yang menandakan masuknya waktu Isyak. Beta masuk ke kawasan haram melalui pintu as-Salam, dan setelah sampai di Makam Ibrahim, beta berdiri dan mengerjakan solat seperti yang telah ditetapkan. Selepas itu, beta mengerjakan tawaf selamat datang, dan mengerjakan saie di Safa dan Marwa.”

Sikandar Begum merasa tidak selesa menunaikan ibadah haji kerana baginda menerima perhatian yang keterlaluan daripada orang ramai. Dalam salah satu daripada catatannya baginda menceritakan bagaimana dirinya telah di kerumuni oleh golongan fakir miskin ketika melakukan tawaf. Masalah ini hanya dapat di selesaikan setelah pemohonan beliau kepada Sharif Makkah bagi mendapatkan empat orang pengawal peribadi untuk mengawal baginda ketika tawaf diluluskan. Selain daripada itu, sebagai langkah berjaga-jaga, Begum juga memutuskan untuk memakai purdah bagi menggelakkan dirinya daripada di kenali.

SOURCE: Teks ini adalah hak milik Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia (IAMM). Teks adalah panel pameran 'En Route to Mecca: Pilgrims' Voices throughout the Centuries' IAMM. Writer and researcher: Mr. Zulkifli Ishak/ English editor: Mr. Lucien de Guise/ Malay editor: Mrs. Ros Mahwati Ahmad Zakaria.

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