Sheikh Karimul Makhdum

Sheikh Karimul Makhdum was a Syrian Arab and Sufi Muslim as well as an early missionary who traveled to Maritime Southeast Asia.[1] Karimul Makhdum was born in Makdonia, a village near Damascus in Syria.[2] Him and the Wali Sanga were affiliated with the Kubrawi Hamadani missionaries in the late 14th century.[3] He was a Sufi who brought Islam to the Philippines in 1380, 141 years before Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan arrived in the country. He established a mosque in Simunul Island, Tawi-Tawi, Philippines, known as Sheikh Karimul Makhdum Mosque which is the oldest mosque in the country.[4]

Commemoration

In his honor and to commemorate the introduction of Islam, Sheikh Karim'ul Makhdum Day has been observed throughout the Bangsamoro region as a special public holiday, every November 7 annually.[5] It was first declared by the government of the now-defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in 1991 through Muslim Mindanao Act No. 17 and Executive Order No. 40 (dated November 4).[6] On July 9, 2025, President Bongbong Marcos signed Republic Act No. 12228, designating the same date a special national working holiday.[7]

References

  1. ^ SHIM QUILING, MUCHA. "Tawi-tawi celebrates Karim'ul Makhdum Day". MindaNews. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  2. ^ Sunyoto, Agus (2003). Suluk Abdul Jalil : perjalanan ruhani Syeikh Siti Jenar. Lembaga Kajian Islam dan Sosial (LKIS). ISBN 979-9492-75-0. OCLC 773525395.
  3. ^ Aljunied, S. M. K. (2019). Islam in Malaysia: An Entwined History. Kiribati: Oxford University Press.
  4. ^ Jacinto, Al. "Filipino Muslims Remember Arrival of Arab Missionary". Arab News. Retrieved 5 November 2005.
  5. ^ "Nov. 7 is Sheikh Karimul Makhdum Day in the ARMM; declared a holiday". MindaNews. 6 November 2007. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
  6. ^ Mendoza, John Eric (4 November 2022). "Bangsamoro gov't declares Nov. 7 a special holiday in BARMM". Inquirer.net. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
  7. ^ Unite, Betheena (17 July 2025). "Marcos declares November 7 yearly as Sheikh Karim'ul Makhdum Day". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved 17 July 2025.


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