“Water with blessings?” I overheard someone ask. Right here we are at the Makam Mbah Priok. This is the resting place of Habib Hasan bin Muhammad Al Haddad. He is also known as Mbah Priok. It is a revered religious site in Jakarta Utara.
Makam Mbah Priok is more than just a tomb. It’s a testament to faith and history. Mbah Priok was a Palembang scholar. He aimed to spread Islam to Java. He is believed to be a descendant of Prophet Muhammad. Mbah Priok tragically died before reaching Java.
Makam Mbah Priok is closely linked to the naming of Tanjung Priok. Mbah Priok’s journey wasn’t easy. Legend says his ship faced many challenges. In 1756, Mbah Priok sailed with his brother Habib Ali Al Haddad. They faced storms and even attacks from Dutch ships. It is said that cannons fired upon their ship. But none hit.
One story tells of a time their food ran out. Mbah Priok miraculously produced cooked rice from a pot. Because of this miracle he was nicknamed “Mbah Priok”. “Priok” means pot in Indonesian. Mbah Priok was buried on a cape along with his pot. Tanjung is the Indonesian word for cape. The area had many Tanjung flowers. So the place became known as Tanjung Priok.
This area became a cultural heritage site in 2017. It is located in Koja, Tanjung Priok. The Makam Mbah Priok area is quite large. It offers a prayer area and the tomb itself. Upon entering, you’ll find a blessed water area. The water source is near Mbah Priok’s tomb. Visitors can drink or take this water home for free.
The tomb of Mbah Priok is within a room. Only certain people can enter. Outside are Islamic ornaments and prayers. Visitors can pray in this area. Once, Dutch authorities planned to build a port here. This was about 23 years after Mbah Priok’s burial. Strange incidents plagued the construction. Workers and officers suffered accidents. The Dutch halted the project in confusion.
The Dutch tried building from across the bay. They saw a man in white robes at the tomb holding prayer beads. The Dutch sought someone to communicate with him. They found a wise man to mediate. It was decided that if the land was needed for a port, the tomb must be moved.
Habib Zein Bin Muhamad Al Haddad was Mbah Priok’s brother. He lived in Ulu, Palembang. The Dutch sent envoys to find him. Habib Zein confirmed it was his brother’s tomb. After 15 days, he agreed to move the tomb to Jalan Dobo. During the move, Mbah Priok’s body was intact and fragrant. His shroud was perfect. His eyelids trembled as if he were alive.
Habib Zein requested the Dutch to fence the tomb. He also asked them to hire workers to care for it. The Dutch agreed. Many witnessed the tomb’s relocation. After the relocation many people came to visit Makam Mbah Priok. Today, Makam Mbah Priok remains a significant place. It attracts pilgrims from Jakarta and beyond. It honors a respected figure in Jakarta’s Islamic history.