Brief remarks by Deputy Mufti, Ustaz Dr Izal Mustafa Kamar at the event to mark the the completion of Maqam Habib Noh's rejuvenation works

Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs, Assoc Professor Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, 

Member of Parliament for Jalan Besar GRC, Dr. Wan Rizal, 

President of MUIS, Mr Mohammed Sa’at Abdul Rahman,

Chief Executive of MUIS, Mr Kadir Maideen, 

Deputy Chief Executive, Mr Azree Rahim,

Senior Director of One Mosque Sector, Mr Zalman Ali, 

The Chairman and Respected Members of Haji Muhammad Salleh Mosque Management Board, 

Distinguished guests, 

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,

1. As I look around at the faces gathered here, I am reminded that what we celebrate today transcends the mere restoration of a sacred site. Rather, it is a timely reflection on the life of Habib Sayyid Noh bin Sayyid Mohamad bin Sayyid Ahmad Al-Habshi, and our way of honouring him through our collective dedication to preserving not just his resting place, but to try and embody the values he championed throughout his life. 

The life of service

2. Throughout Malaya, Habib Nuh travelled, not as a distant scholar preaching from the mimbar, but as a compassionate teacher who walked among the people. His dakwah was lived, not merely spoken. Every interaction became an opportunity to demonstrate Islamic values – whether he was comforting a grieving family, teaching children the Quran, or simply sharing a meal with the poor. 

Dakwah through compassion

3. What made Habib Nuh's dakwah so effective was his understanding that Islam's beauty is best revealed through acts of mercy and kindness. He was renowned for his boundless compassion, particularly towards children and orphans, whom he would delight with sweets and small gifts. But these gestures were never mere charity – they were dakwah in action, showing the community that Islam teaches us to care for the most vulnerable among us. 

4. On his regular counsel and guidance to the community, people would seek him out not just for religious instruction, but for his wisdom in resolving disputes, his comfort in times of sorrow, and his guidance in matters both spiritual and worldly. Through these interactions, he demonstrated that Islam is not confined to the mosque, but is a complete way of life that addresses every human need. 

Dakwah through unity, never division

5. Habib Nuh's dakwah was characterised by its unifying nature. In an era when communities often faced external pressures and internal disagreements, he chose the path of reconciliation and understanding. His approach to dakwah was never divisive, even during the most challenging and turbulent times. 

6. This inclusive approach to dakwah made him beloved across all segments of society. Shopkeepers welcomed his presence. The community embraced his teachings because they saw in him a living example of Islamic principles – generosity, humility, compassion, and justice. 

7. Among his most treasured words were these: "Do not be greedy for worldly materials, nor harbour ill-feelings towards anyone throughout your life." 

Reflections on mortality and purpose

8. The passing of such a righteous soul reminds us of fundamental truths about our existence. As believers, we understand that death is not an end but an awakening to a different realm of existence. Saidina Ali (r.a.) once said: when people pass away, they truly wake up to reality. 

9. This awareness of mortality is infact wisdom. It focuses our attention on what truly matters in this fleeting life.  

10. The great scholar Sahl ibn Abdillah was once asked when we can truly rest from one’s ego. His reply was: When an individual understands that he possesses only the present moment in which he exists. 

11. Allah tells us in the Quran: "Verily, the awliya’ of Allah shall have no fear, nor shall they grieve."

12. They have no fear because they are certain of their present state and trust completely in Allah's plan for them.

13. Ibn Ata'illah As-Sakandari captured this beautifully when he said: "The heedless person wakes up in the morning asking, 'What shall I do today?' But the wise person asks, 'What will Allah do with me today?'" 

14. الغافل إذا أصبح ينظر ماذا يفعل ، والعاقل ينظر ماذا يفعل اللّه به 

15. In Habib Nuh, we see the living embodiment of this wisdom – a man who never asked "What can I achieve today?" but rather "How can I serve Allah's purpose today?" This mindset shaped every aspect of his dakwah and community service.

Conclusion

16. As we honour Habib Nuh today through the completion of this restoration, we must remember that the greatest tribute we can pay to his memory is to continue his mission of dakwah. Not through grand gestures or speeches alone, but through the same gentle, inclusive, and unifying approach that made his dakwah so effective. May his legacy continue to inspire us towards righteousness and service to others. 

17. Rabbana aslih lana dinana alladhi huwa 'ismatu amrina, wa aslih lana dunyaana allati fiha ma'ashuna, wa aslih lana akhiratana allati ilayha ma'aduna. 

18. Our Lord, make righteous for us our religion which is the safeguard of our affairs, make righteous for us our worldly life in which is our livelihood, and make righteous for us our Hereafter to which is our return.