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Makam Ajaib

by Micha F. Lindemans
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A mysterious grave in the small village of Padang Matsirat (Langkawi, Malaysia). It is rumored to be the grave of Tun Jana Khatib who was executed by Paduka Seri Maharaja, the king of Temasik in the year 1200 CE.

Tun Jana Khatib was a magician from Pasai in Sumatra and was of Arabian descent. He had heard of the wealth and abundant opportunities in Temasik (the early name of Singapura, now Singapore) and set out with two other merchants to start a business there. Soon after their arrival they explored the place and wandered unknowingly unto the palace grounds. Tun Jana Khatib spotted in one of the windows a beautiful lady looking in their direction. In a boisterous way he tried to show of his magic skill to impress her. Unknown to them, it was the queen of the land herself who was looking at them.

His two friends, sensing they were in a strange place, urged him to walk out of there but he refused. So they left, leaving Tun Jana behind. He then commenced his act, among which was the splitting an areca nut tree in two by a penetrating glaze. However, the king was watching him too and thought that the magician was flirting with his wife. He ordered the guards to seize Tun Jana and execute him at once.

The guards quickly arrested Tun Jana Khatib and took the surprised magician to the place of execution. They tied him to a pole and stabbed him with their spears a number of times. The magician's blood started to flow but to the amazement of all present, the body suddenly disappeared before their eyes, leaving only a pool of blood behind. The blood quickly hardened and became a piece of red stone.

Legend has it that the body of Tun Jana Khatib magically appeared in Langkawi and was buried there in the village of Padang Matsirat.

 
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Article created on 15 April 2005; last modified on 15 April 2005.
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