From Tour Guide to Team Leader of the Second Kaaba Door Builders
THERE may be hundreds or thousands of things in this world that remind us of Islam. And one thing that often comes to mind first for every Muslim – a cube-shaped building located in the holiest mosque on earth, the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
Draped in a black cloth embroidered with gold thread, the Kaaba stands prominently amidst waves of millions of Muslims gathering around it in a valley area for thousands of years.
It is the center of the second-largest religion in the world (according to Wikipedia) with nearly two billion Muslims worldwide facing this building daily, making it their qibla (direction) for prayers.
The Kaaba and the Masjid al-Haram are also places that all Muslims dream of visiting to perform the Fifth Pillar of Islam – Hajj – at least once in their lifetime. Moreover, even until the end of life, the deceased are shrouded in white cloth, laid on their side facing the Kaaba (qibla).
All this demonstrates the importance of the Kaaba – the qibla of Muslims – besides being a crucial destination for performing Hajj during the month of Zulhijjah in the Islamic calendar. Besides Hajj, it is also the center for performing Umrah.
However, there is one thing many people do not know. The Kaaba has a large wooden door plated with gold and locked, allowing only certain individuals to enter and exit it, and it is opened only a few times a year.
According to records, it is the second door during the Al-Saud dynasty that founded the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The first door in the Saudi era was installed during the reign of King Abdul Aziz Al-Saud, made of aluminum, reinforced with iron grills, and covered with gold-plated silver plates, but its key had been used since 1891.
When King Khalid bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud ruled, he ordered a goldsmith, Ahmed bin Ibrahim Badr, to prepare a new door for the Kaaba.
The amount of gold used in the door was about 280 kilograms with a quality of 99.99. The total cost was 13.420 million riyals, not including the gold.
This door was installed on October 13, 1979, and still exists today. The door, introduced by the late King Khalid bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud, is considered one of the largest masses of gold in the world because it contains 280 kilograms of pure gold.
The Second Kaaba Door of the Saudi Arabian Era, which still exists today, is made of wood from Thailand. This door remains until now. Who was responsible for carving and plating it with gold? This is what Apa Khabar TV discovered.
And what many people do not know is that the door seen by Muslims worldwide today, whether from pictures or their own eyes, was built by six Thai carpenters and goldsmiths in 1978 and 1979.
Perhaps history should write something new and different.
It was destined that a Saudi Arabian delegation met a Thai Muslim tour guide named Abdullah Naknawa – who has now retired from his career, including as a professor – fluent in Arabic.
Proud to Supervise the Construction of the Second Kaaba Door
“I was the interpreter, responsible for bringing six Thai workers who went to build the current Kaaba Door. At the same time, I became their supervisor.
“This is the proudest job of my life,” said the 75-year-old man with a broad smile reflecting his pride in his old job.
Professor Abdullah now lives a simple Islamic life in a hilly area in Kaoyai, Pak Chong, Nakhon Ratchasima, about a three-hour bus ride from Bangkok.
Apa Khabar TV traveled more than 4,000 kilometers to hear firsthand about his involvement as a supervisor and the individual who brought six carpenters and goldsmiths in the construction of the Second Kaaba Door during the Saudi Arabian Kingdom era, about 45 years ago.
In a conversation interspersed with Malay (10 percent), English (30 percent), and Thai (60 percent), the writer was assisted by Rohana Ma – a Thai-Malay interpreter – who also joined the effort to find Professor Abdullah.
Rohana helped a lot in finding information related to Professor Abdullah, including contacting several parties who could only speak Thai, before successfully speaking with Professor Abdullah.
We then made an appointment to visit his residence in Kaoyai.
Departing from Narathiwat to Bangkok by bus, taking nearly 20 hours, we arrived in the Thai capital, before continuing our journey by van that could accommodate about 15 passengers, heading to Saraburi province.
The journey took about three hours as the van occasionally stopped to drop off and pick up passengers along the way.
Looking slightly frail at the age of 75, Professor Abdullah himself greeted the writer and Rohana around 1 p.m. in Muak Lek town in Saraburi province, bordering Korat (Nakon Ratchasima).
After greeting and introducing ourselves, we boarded a four-wheel-drive vehicle driven by him. He took us straight to his residence in a hilly area that also houses the Darulsunnah Kaoyai Mosque.
“My family and I are the only Muslims living in this area. Since many Muslim tourists and students often come here, I built a mosque.
“But there are no Friday prayers here. Not enough congregation,” he said in English and Thai. Professor Abdullah is also an Imam at a mosque located about 17 kilometers from his residence.
Who is Professor Abdullah and where is he from? Why was he given the honor to supervise such an important construction project in the Islamic world? Is it true that he is Malay and originally from Pattani in Southern Thailand?
“I am a Thai Muslim,” he said.
But….
To find out, follow the story in “Meeting the Maker of the Second Kaabah Door – Part III” coming soon…
As usual, thanks to several individuals who provided assistance, including financially, to make this series “Meeting the Maker of the Second Kaabah Door” successful.
Follow current developments and scholarly information on apakhabartv.com, including the continuation of my journey to Korat, in the upcoming part.
READ MORE:
A journey to Thailand to meet the professor behind the Kaaba Doors – Part 1
Siri bertemu pembuat Pintu Kaabah Kedua – Bahagian I
Siri bertemu pembuat Pintu Kaabah Kedua – Bahagian II
Siri bertemu pembuat Pintu Kaabah Kedua – Bahagian III
[Gambar-gambar] Bahagian akhir siri bertemu pembuat Pintu Kaabah – 10 hari solat dalam Kaabah
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