Syrian Artist Designed, Thai Muslims Carved and Plated with Gold
IFa Bachelor’s degree from Al-Azhar University was Professor Abdullah Naknawa’s greatest achievement, a Master’s degree from the same university became one of the most painful failures in his life.
“At Al-Azhar, they used the English system. For example, if you take exams for eight subjects, you have to pass all of them.
“If you fail, you have to study all over again. It’s not like the American system where if you fail a subject, you only retake that subject. I failed one subject.
“Coincidentally, my father said he was not well at that time. So I returned to Thailand. I didn’t continue my studies,” he said in a mix of Malay, English, and Thai.
Although he failed to obtain a Master’s degree from Al-Azhar University, he was not discouraged and received it from another renowned university in Cairo, allowing him to teach theology.
“Professor Imran Makudi, an Egyptian graduate, accepted me as a teacher. And, I returned to work as an Arabic language teacher in Bangkok. But after teaching for two years, I felt my income was not enough to support my life.
“Professor Imran himself did not have a large income. One day he stated that he would not mind if I went to work elsewhere,” said Professor Abdullah.
Becoming an Arab Tour Guide
With those words, the young teacher applied for a job at S.I. Tour Co Ltd – a travel agency near Silom Road – in 1996.
The company was owned by a Muslim from Southern Thailand. There, his knowledge of Arabic transformed from teaching on the blackboard to leading foreign tourists to see the beauty of Thailand.
“He made me an Arab tour guide. The tour schedule brochures had to be written and sent to various travel companies in Arab countries. I was the only Arabic-speaking tour guide and had to do everything myself.
“I worked at that company for two months, and I managed the arrival of a large group of guests. They were princes and princesses from Kuwait.
“Staying at the Dusit Thani Hotel. On the day the group left, I received 12,000 baht from them as a tip. When I was a teacher, I only earned 1,200 baht a month,” Professor Abdullah smiled, recounting the large sum of money he received from the tour group.
Not long after, Professor Abdullah met a tour group that he would remember for the rest of his life.
Meeting the Sheikh
“At that time, I received a certificate from the Tourism Authority of Thailand. Being the only Arabic-speaking tour guide in the country. Because there were no other Arabic-speaking tour guides.” Professor Abdullah speculated on why he was assigned to serve Prince Majid bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
Prince Majid was a royal family member and the governor of Makkah from 1980 to 1999, when Prince Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al Saud was the King of Saudi Arabia. He was also a businessman.
“This prince was like the governor of Bangkok. He was the governor of Makkah. He came to Thailand and brought his entourage, renting the entire floor of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Bangkok. I took care of this group every day, from morning till dark.”
One day, as Professor Abdullah was about to have breakfast at the hotel, he saw two Arab guests who worked for Prince Majid come out of the elevator, speaking only Arabic.
“If in Thai it is said like this, coincidentally not knowing him, not knowing us, in Arabic it’s called ‘Takdir’, meaning Allah ordained the meeting without an appointment,” Professor Abdullah continued his story to apakhabartv.
One of them was Sheikh Ahmad Ibrahim Badr, a famous gold merchant tasked with managing the Kaabah. Both were siblings to Dr. Faiz Ibrahim Badr, the Governor of Jeddah Port.
“They asked who I was. So, I introduced myself as Abdullah. He, on the other hand, was the person taking care of Prince Majid.
“Sheikh Ahmad told me that he was no longer at the hotel. So I moved them to the Montien Hotel on Surawong Road. In the car, he asked me to find Thai craftsmen to build the Kaabah Door.
“Of course, I was surprised. I went home and told my boss, my father, my mother. Everyone said it was impossible. Because if you go to build the Kaabah Door, the first thing is to have the skill.
“The second is to be a Muslim… only then can you go to Makkah. Everyone shook their heads, saying it was impossible for him to come and look for skilled Muslim craftsmen around Bangkok.
“Moreover, Thailand at that time had only 10 percent Muslims, not more than this. The rest were Buddhists. If you are looking for craftsmen, you can find them around Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, they are all Muslims. Why come from Thailand? Everyone said it was a fantasy.”
Makhamong Wood from Thailand
The young guide was trapped in confusion for a month. About a month later, both Sheikhs returned to Thailand, along with news that the governor of Jeddah Port had ordered wood from the trading company of Narong Wongwan, a Member of Parliament for Phrae Province at that time, and the wood had arrived in Saudi Arabia. It was confirmed by Narong’s own secretary.
“Sheikh Ahmad told me that it was true… eight large and thick pieces of wood ordered had arrived, and Abdullah needed to find three carpenters and three goldsmiths to make the new Kaabah Door.”
Then Sheikh Ahmad asked Abdullah to be the interpreter to convey the task of carving the Kaabah Door.
“When I returned and told the company and family about it, everyone said I had to go. This is an important opportunity in life. So I quit my job at the company and followed Sheikh Ahmad to work in Makkah,” he continued.
The first task that Professor Abdullah had to complete at Sheikh Ahmad’s request was to find suitable Thai Muslim craftsmen for this noble task.
“I have a grandson named Yusuf. He lives in Khlong 19, Chachoengsao. There was a craftsman in that area who specialized in building Thai-style houses without using nails. Yusuf went and met that carpenter.”
Eventually, Professor Abdullah obtained six Thai carpenters and goldsmiths, consisting of Sulaiman Sanwang, Isa Kasurong, and Hussain as carpenters, while Ali Mulsap, Qassem Chanachai, and Hussaini Areepong as goldsmiths.
All the craftsmen were devout Muslims. Adhering to Islam since birth, but not knowing Arabic to a communicative level. Only Professor Abdullah had lived with Arabs before.
“We didn’t know each other before. I had just met them when we were about to leave for Makkah,” Professor Abdullah said about his colleagues in the important project.
“But everyone obeyed me. Whatever task was instructed by the Arab employer, I told them. Believe it or not, the work of building and carving the Kaabah Door could not go wrong… working earnestly… no task was left unfinished.
“My employer entrusted me with his work. But we never made a single mistake in our work.”
Professor Abdullah stayed in Makkah, no longer as a refugee as before. Especially now, he became the supervisor and interpreter for the craftsmen building and carving one of the most important doors in the Islamic world.
Professor Abdullah Naknawa shows photos taken during the construction of the Second Kaabah Door:
Syrian Artist Carved the Second Kaabah Door
The Thai worker group, including Professor Abdullah, made Sheikh Ahmad Ibrahim’s house their residence and the workshop where the door was made.
The carpenters started first. They had to carve the door according to the design of a Syrian artist named Munir Yundi.
On many occasions, many dignitaries came to regularly inspect the work at this temporary workshop. From Dr. Faiz Ibrahim Badr, who ordered Makhamong wood from Thailand, to the Minister of Public Health and the Minister of Hajj and Waqf.
Crown Prince Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, who later became the fifth King of Saudi Arabia a few years later (June 13, 1982 – August 1, 2005), also inspected the construction of the Second Kaabah Door.
“Flew and stayed in Makkah for two years, from 1978 to 1979, and never returned home. The carpenters completed their task first.
“Waiting for the goldsmiths to continue working, I worked with Sheikh Ahmad at a gold shop. Living in a different place from the six craftsmen. In the morning, I gave them tasks. Then they went to carry out their duties.
“We didn’t meet each other during the day. Unless there was something to be communicated, like receiving orders,” said Professor Abdullah.
The craftsmen were paid. Calculated in Thai currency, it was as much as 15,000 baht per person. The team leader received 25,000 baht, with a day off per week, which was Friday.
Professor Abdullah stated that the six technicians trusted him… from the amount of gold that had to be removed to plate the door to the salaries everyone received.
Two years in Makkah, many stories occurred in the lives of the craftsmen building the Kaabah Door. All the technicians were given the opportunity to perform Hajj. This led to the prefix ‘Haji’ in their names, meaning someone who has performed Hajj.
“I got married in Makkah. My wife was originally a Thai Buddhist who converted to Islam. She flew there to marry me. Sheikh Ahmad Ibrahim arranged a very grand wedding for me. My first child, Asma Naknawa, was born there.”
The door was fully completed and was to be installed on the Kaabah…
To find out more, follow the story in “Meeting the Maker of the Second Kaabah Door – Part V” 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
MALAY VERSION:
Siri bertemu pembuat Pintu Kaabah Kedua – Bahagian I
[Gambar-gambar] Bahagian akhir siri bertemu pembuat Pintu Kaabah – 10 hari solat dalam Kaabah
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