BUKIT TAGAR - THE LONELY STRETCH

 

Bukit Tagar is that dark, empty stretch on the PLUS Highway at Exit 119 – between Bukit Beruntung and Lembah Beringin.

It's not a kampung. It's mostly plantation and former mining land, with the huge Bukit Tagar Sanitary Landfill next to it. Officially:

Bukit Tagar is an area in Hulu Selangor District, Selangor, Malaysia. The Bukit Tagar Landfill is located here.

"Apart from nearby population centres, Bukit Tagar does not have any other housing areas and villages within the vicinity of the landfill."

That isolation is why the ghost stories started.

Why people say it's haunted

1. It's REALLY dark and empty. The toll plaza itself has no petrol station, no food, and no R&R. The nearest services are Rawang RSA at km 440 and km 436, a good way south. The road after it - Jalan Bukit Tagar / Federal Route 228 - is a 2-lane rural road through oil palm and FELDA estates. No street lights after 11pm.
2. The landfill factor. In Malay folklore, areas where a lot is "buried" and where the ground is considered dirty / panas are magnets for stories. The landfill is 700 acres with another 1,000-acre buffer, so drivers feel like they're passing a massive, silent wasteland.
3. It's where the PLUS stops feeling like a city highway. This is where the expressway stops being a commuter road and the towns thin out. Long distance between exits, heavy rain, fog heading towards Tanjung Malim – perfect setup for highway horror lore like Karak Highway.

Common stories you'll hear locally

There are no official Jabatan records; it's all driver lore / TikTok paranormal LIVE, but the pattern is always the same:

• Pontianak / woman in white at the FT228 junction and at the old mining lakes – especially near the Sungai Tengi turn. Drivers say they see her on the divider, then she appears in the rearview mirror.
• Passenger missing – a taxi/lorry driver picks up a passenger at Bukit Tagar toll late at night; the passenger asks to go to Bestari Jaya / UNISEL, and then the van disappears mid-ride.
• Landfill ghost / sudden foul stench – sudden foul smell inside car with air conditioning closed, followed by whispers or child crying, even though landfill is sealed.
• Breakdown horror – cars that break down near Exit 119 at 2-3am and phones that have no line. This stretch is known for no coverage + no passing cars for 20 minutes.

It's very similar to Karak Highway's legend - Karak is reported as one of the most haunted highways because of fatal accidents, and Bukit Tagar inherited the same template but for the northern PLUS route.

Reality check

I've driven it many times. It's creepy because it's isolated, and you shouldn't stop there alone, not because it's confirmed haunted. Most "encounters" are fatigue, heavy fog from the plantations, and the psychological effect of passing a landfill at night.

If you want to check it out: 

• Don't stop on FT228 after midnight alone.
• Fill fuel at Rawang or Behrang – there really is nothing at the plaza.
• If you like paranormal exploring, go in daylight first – the Eco-Park lakes are actually nice for birdwatching in the daytime

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

23 October 2026: 4:53 p.m.

ISLAMIC HISTORY: BATTLE OF CHAINS - DHAT AL-SALASIL

April 633 AD, Kazima — modern-day Kuwait

The Battle of Chains was the first collision between the young Rashidun Caliphate and the Sasanian Persian Empire and the opening shot of the Arab conquest of Iraq. It set the pattern for everything Khalid ibn al-Walid would do in Persia: speed against weight, desert mobility against imperial heavy infantry.

Background

After the Ridda Wars, Caliph Abu Bakr had reunited Arabia. On the northeastern frontier, a tribal chief named Muthana ibn Haritha al-Shaybani had been raiding Persian towns in Mesopotamia with light cavalry — hit the town, disappear into the desert. The raids brought back booty and intelligence.

Muthana went to Medina to report. Abu Bakr saw the opportunity and made two decisions: the army would be entirely volunteers, and it would be commanded by his best general, Khalid ibn al-Walid, who had just finished defeating Musailima at Yamama.

In the third week of March 633 AD, Khalid set out from Yamama with 10,000 men. On the way, tribal chiefs — Muthana, Mazhur bin Adi, Harmala and Sulma — joined him with 2,000 each, bringing his force to 18,000.

Before moving, Khalid wrote to Hormozd, the Persian governor of Dast Meisan, the frontier district:

"Submit to Islam and be safe. Or agree to the payment of the Jizya, and you and your people will be under our protection, or else you will have only yourself to blame for the consequences, for I bring the men who desire death as ardently as you desire life.

Hormozd informed Ctesiphon and gathered a force at Uballa — the important Sasanian port near modern Basra — consisting of Sasanian regulars and Christian Arab auxiliaries. Modern estimates put it at 15,000-20,000; early Islamic sources say 80,000.

Khalid's Strategy

The Sasanian army was one of the most powerful and best-equipped armies of the time, ideal for a set-piece, head-on confrontation. Its weakness was mobility — heavily armed, slow, easily exhausted by marches.

Khalid's troops were the opposite: mounted on camels with war-horses ready for cavalry attacks. His plan was to force the Persians to march and counter-march until they were worn out, then strike.

Geography helped. There were two routes to Uballa: via Kazima or via Hufair. Khalid let Hormozd know he was coming via Kazima, the direct route from Yamama.

The Manoeuvre Before the Battle

Expecting Khalid at Kazima, Hormozd marched from Uballa to Kazima. No Muslims there. Scouts then reported Khalid was moving toward Hufair — only 21 miles from Uballa, threatening his base.

Hormozd ordered an immediate forced march to Hufair, 50 miles away. Khalid waited at Hufair until his scouts reported Hormozd's hurried approach, then slipped through the desert back toward Kazima.

On arrival at Hufair, Hormozd learned Khalid was now marching to Kazima. He could not leave the Kazima route uncovered, so he ordered his exhausted, heavily armed army to turn around again for Kazima.

The Persians arrived at Kazima in a state of exhaustion.

Why Chains?

At Kazima, Hormozd deployed in the standard Sasanian formation — centre and two wings under generals Qubaz and Anoshagan.

To prevent a breakthrough, his men linked themselves together with chains.

"This lessened the danger of a breakthrough by enemy cavalry, as with the men linked together in chains it was not easy for cavalry groups to knock down a few men and create a gap for penetration. Since the Sassanid army was organised and trained for the set-piece battle, this tactic enabled it to stand like a rock in the face of an enemy assault. But the chains had one major drawback: in case of defeat, the men were incapable of withdrawal, for then the chains acted as fetters. It was the use of chains that gave this battle its name."

It was both a tactical anchor and a vow: we will not run.

Khalid deployed with the desert behind his army — a deliberate choice so they could retreat into the desert if defeated, where Persian heavy cavalry could not follow.

The Battle

The exhausted Persian army could not stand long. The Muslims penetrated the Persian front in many places. Sensing defeat, Qubaz and Anoshagan ordered their wings to withdraw, causing a general retreat.

"Most of the Persians who were not chained managed to escape, but those who were chained together were unable to move fast, and thousands of them were slain."

Hormozd himself was killed in the fighting — tradition says Khalid duelled him before the main engagement and killed him.

Casualties were low for the Muslims and high for the Persians.

Aftermath

Kazima opened Iraq.

In the next four months, Khalid defeated Persian armies in three more battles — the Battle of River, Battle of Walaja, and Battle of Ullais — and captured Al-Hirah, the main Sasanian stronghold west of the Euphrates and gateway to inner Iraq.

Abu Bakr did not initially authorise a deeper push into the Sasanian heartland; he ordered Khalid to consolidate Hira and win over its population. After nine months in Iraq, Khalid was then sent west to command the conquest of Syria.

Significance: 

1. First outward battle: It was the first battle where the Caliphate deliberately extended its frontiers beyond Arabia.
2. Proof of concept: Light, tribal, mobile forces could defeat a superpower's set-piece army if they controlled the tempo.
3. Psychological: The image of chains became a warning — Sasanian rigidity vs. Muslim mobility. The Persians never used the chain tactic again.

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

23 October 2026: 1:37 a.m.

ROOM 48 MAJESTIC HOTEL KL

This is Hotel Majestic Kuala Lumpur - 5, Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin, right opposite KL Railway Station. The photo you uploaded is from its abandoned period.

It's one of Malaysia's most famous "haunted heritage" buildings. Here are the facts vs. the folklore:

The Real Facts

1. Built for glamour, not ghosts

Opened in 1932, it was commissioned by the Trustees of the Estate of Loke Wan Tho (son of Loke Yew). Designed by Keys & Dowdeswell in a Neoclassical + Art Deco hybrid. It had 51 rooms, all with hot & cold water - luxury at the time. Silverware and furniture imported from England, and a famous roof garden dance floor for 350 people. It was THE hotel for colonial elites, film stars, and politicians.

2. It survived WWII.

During the Japanese occupation of Malaya (1942-1945), the hotel was taken over as a transit camp and administrative base by the Japanese army. That's where the ghost stories start.

3. A political landmark

On September 17, 1951, Onn Jaafar held the inaugural meeting to form the Independence of Malaya Party (IMP) here, presided over by Tan Cheng Lock. Tunku Abdul Rahman and other independence figures were regulars.

4. Closed for 29 years

By the 1970s, newer hotels in Bukit Bintang (Hilton, Merlin, and Federal) killed its business. It was gazetted under the Antiquities Act and closed in 1983. From 1984 to 1998 it became the National Art Gallery. Then it was mothballed completely for 10 years - that's the era your photo is from, with broken windows, overgrown trees, and vintage 60s cars in the car park.

YTL Corporation restored it from 2008, and it reopened on December 8, 2012, as The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Autograph Collection. Today: 47 heritage suites in the original Majestic Wing + 253 rooms in the new 15-storey Tower Wing.

The Haunted Stories

This hotel is always on Malaysia's top 5 most haunted hotels list.

Room 48 - The Japanese Officer:

The most repeated legend: When Japan surrendered in 1945, a Japanese officer committed suicide in Room 48. Guests and staff later claimed to see his ghost marching, hear boots, and feel cold spots. The story is noted even on Wikipedia: "When Japan surrendered, it was reported that a Japanese soldier committed suicide in Room 48."

However, researchers who checked archives found no reliable archival evidence confirming it, so it should be treated as hotel folklore rather than verified history.

Other stories you hear from staff and guests:

• The Art Gallery period: When it was the National Art Gallery, guards reported hearing ballroom music and dancing from the old roof garden at night and children's laughter in empty corridors.
• Majestic Wing: After reopening, some guests in the heritage wing report a woman in a 1930s cheongsam or colonial dress in the hallways, lights flickering in the Orchid Conservatory, and suitcases moving by themselves.
• The Staircase: The grand wooden staircase is said to be a hotspot - staff avoid being alone there after midnight.

The hotel itself doesn't market the haunting; it markets the colonial charm – afternoon tea, Colonial Cafe, and Smoke House. But because it was abandoned for so long, overgrown on a hill, and has that WWII history, the ghost story stuck.

Today it's fully 5-star and not scary at all, but if you book, everyone will still ask you: "Did you stay in Room 48?"

Other readings:

1. Travlar.com: The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur - and all that jazz.
2. Wild n Free Diary: The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur History: From 1932 to its Revival.

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

23 October 2026: 1:19 a.m.

MALAYSIAN HERITAGE: 1926 HERITAGE HOTEL PENANG

1926 Heritage Hotel Penang - A Century-Old Story Reborn on Jalan Burma

The Quick Facts

1926 Heritage Hotel is not a new build. It was originally built in 1926 on a 2-acre site along Jalan Imigresen / Jalan Burma in George Town to provide quarters for British colonial officers and immigration officers.

It occupies 24 beautifully restored two-storey link houses in white with red clay roofs — the transitional Anglo-Malay colonial style you see in your photo, with tall louvred windows, colonnaded verandas and those palm motifs.

After decades of use, it was vacant under Penang Development Corporation (PDC), briefly ran as a 96-room budget hotel from 1999, and then was left empty again when the lease ended in 2020.

In 2023, PDC called for proposals. Penang-based developer Jetblue helmed by Datuk Koay Shao Sheong (Frank) won the tender. 15-year lease + 15-year extension, less than 24 months and RM20 million to restore it in time for its centennial.

“Heritage buildings can only survive if they remain relevant and commercially sustainable.”

The damage was severe — termite infestation, collapsed timber floors, and couldn't even walk upstairs before works started in 2024.

The Rebirth - April 2026

It officially reopened in April 2026 as the 1926 Heritage Hotel Penang by The Unlimited Collection—the first Unlimited Collection in Malaysia by Singapore-based Ascott Limited, marking its 100-year anniversary.

Design lead: Office of (Brian Khoo & Ng Sze Wee). The approach was "not changing the story, but writing its next chapter" — keep the exterior soul, make the interior contemporary and liveable.

What It's Like Now

It's positioned as an urban resort — a quiet sanctuary despite Jalan Burma traffic. 78 rooms and suites now, not 96: 

• Heritage Room, Colonial Twin / King, Residency Suite, Straits Suite — with separate living areas and study in the suites.
• Heritage Garden Patio Rooms – 52 sqm with private garden access to the pool area.

Facilities: Outdoor pool in tropical landscaping, central courtyard garden, daylight gym, Sensorium spa, and Burma Room & Heritage Hall for MICE.

Food - Big Part of The Experience:

1. Root House by Gēn — Chef Johnson Wong, contemporary Chinese bistro tracing Malaysian-Chinese diaspora flavours. Local ingredients—Salted Fish Curry with Doughstick, Jungle Garlic Black Chicken Soup
2. U-Bar — curated cocktails in warm lighting
3. The Heritage Collection by Daily Coffee—all-day Penang-inspired fusion: Tuna Tataki, Smoked Duck Curry Fettuccine, Seafood Asam Pedas Risotto
4. U-Shop — artisanal souvenirs from local makers

Plus art — over 50 watercolour works by Penang artist Koay Shao Peng (the owner's brother) lining the corridors — heritage buildings, streets and everyday scenes.

Why Blog About It?

For my readers: 

• Location: Walkable heritage enclave. Nagore Square, Lorong Burma temples, Hin Bus Depot, and George Town street art — all walkable. 35 mins from Penang Airport.
• Architecture angle: One of the few Penang boutique hotels that leans into British colonial, not Peranakan, aesthetics.
• Heritage tourism angle: A perfect case study of adaptive reuse in a UNESCO World Heritage Site — how a decaying government quarters becomes a living heritage destination.

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

22 October 2026: 10:17 p.m.

CRAG HOTEL IN PENANG

The Crag Hotel is Penang Hill's most famous haunted hotel - not because of a documented tragedy, but because it's been empty so long, in thick jungle mist, that everyone projects ghosts onto it.

The real history

• 1895 - Originally opened as The Crag Hotel by the Sarkies Brothers - the Armenian brothers who also built Raffles Hotel Singapore and Eastern & Oriental Penang.
• It started out as a hotel but has also been a private residence, school and even a film set for a popular BBC television show.
• During WWII the Japanese used it, and then after the war it became the boarding quarters for Uplands International School from 1955 until the school moved down to sea level in 1977.
• Empty since 1977 - the place has been unused and empty since 1977, when the Uplands School moved. It was used sparingly as a guesthouse until 1999, then fully abandoned.
• Surrounded by walls of viridian forest and often blanketed by thick mist, the decrepit empty building oozes a timeless old-world charm that makes it a perfect setting for a “haunted hotel” or a film location.

That's why it was used for BBC's "Indian Summers" (2015) as a club in Shimla and for the Malaysian Tamil found-footage horror "Irul: Ghost Hotel" (2021).

The haunted reputation really started after that: The haunted hotel reputation unleashed upon the Crag after it stayed empty since 1977. In Malaysia - anything abandoned is believed to be haunted.

The ghost stories people tell now

On TikTok/Instagram, Crag is a staple of urbex horror reels:

• The most viral legend: A night guard hears a school bell ringing at 3am inside the empty building. He follows it upstairs and finds a classroom with a blackboard saying "KELAS BELUM TAMAT" (Class Not Finished) and a line of ghostly students in old uniforms facing the wall. When he checks an old attendance book the next morning, his own name is already written in it.
• Other versions: a woman in white on the balcony, lights flickering in upper windows when you photograph it from the Heritage Trail, children's laughter in corridors that were once dormitories.
• Explorers also love pointing out a dark silhouette that appears around 1:53 in some walkthrough videos - which is why comments are always "I saw the black figure at the grass!"

None of this is officially documented – it's all urban legend storytelling built on the building's past as a school, the Japanese occupation, and a rumoured student suicide.

Can you visit?

Yes, but carefully: 

• you can see it from the Heritage Trail on Penang Hill - it's the best place to see from a distance what remains of the Crag Hotel. The trail is open to the public.
• You can hike to it from Upper Station (about 20-30 mins through forest). The buildings are fenced and officially closed – doors are rotted, floors are collapsing, and there has been no maintenance since 1999.
• Don't go at night, don't go alone, and don't enter. Penang Hill management and locals discourage trespassing. The area is isolated, dogs roam, and the structure is unsafe.

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

21 October 2026: 12:03 a.m.

AGACIA TOWN IN KAMPAR - A GHOST TOWN??

Agacia Town / Bandar Agacia in Kampar is Malaysia's famous "ghost town" – but not haunted in the classic Pontianak way. It's haunted because it's empty.

What it actually is

Bandar Agacia is an RM1.8 billion development on 100 acres of ex-tin mining land in Kampar. It was pitched as Malaysia's Disney-themed town - vibrant pastel buildings reminiscent of Disneyland.

The plan was for it to be a tourist attraction and student hub near UTAR called The University Square, with:

• 57 pastel-coloured 3-storey shophouses, each with a unique facade on Disney Avenue / Castle Avenue
• A 24-storey Champs-Elysees serviced apartment/hotel
• A planned fairytale, Agacia Castle that was never built

Most of the buildings remain largely unoccupied. The Disney-themed cafes that made it famous – Nasi Lemak Disney, Maleficent Fruits & Dessert, and Cafe Alice – have closed since 2021. Now only a few tenants, like bundle shops and Cafe Awesome of Art, remain.

That's why travel sites list it under "The Abandoned New Agacia Town" and call it a ghost town. It looks perfect for Instagram, but at night it's dark, silent, and empty - which is what fuels the spooky reputation.

Why people in Kampar call the area haunted

Kampar itself has a lot of ghost lore because it was a tin-mining town. One local account sums it up:

"Kampar has tonnes of paranormal activities going on because it used to be a tin mining town during the late 19th century, where many have lost their lives while working."

So around Agacia you get two layers of stories:

1. Inside Agacia Town:

• Empty corridors and shop lots where lights flicker on in Airbnbs/home-stays in Champs-Élysees
• People doing urbex at night report hearing footsteps in the abandoned upper floors and kids laughing around Disney Avenue – even though no one lives there.
• Security guards tell visitors not to wander after 8pm.

2. Just outside Agacia - what explorers actually hunt:

• Taman Kebun Kalai – 20-30 abandoned bungalows about 300 m from the main road, a cancelled housing project bought by doctors. This is the "GHOST TOWN KAMPAR" you see on TikTok/Reels now. Very overgrown, pure urbex.
• Old tin-mining lakes and the Kampar river flats behind Agacia – locals avoid them at night.

There is no official documentation of haunting, no police report of a death inside Agacia itself. It's the classic Malaysian "bandar tinggal" effect – a place built to be crowded, left empty, and feels uncanny after dark.

If you want to visit

• Location: Disney Avenue, Bandar Agacia, 31910 Kampar, Perak. 5 mins from Kampar bus station, 45 mins from Ipoh.
• Daytime: Totally fine for photos. Go in the morning and support the few open cafes.
• Night: Don't trespass into locked shophouses. The buildings are private property, some still under developer/auction. If you want that creepy ghost-town vibe, sunset is enough - the empty pastel streets get very eerie very fast.

References:

1. Amy's Crypt: 6 Most Haunted Places in Malaysia.
2. The Smart Local: Agacia Town in Kampar, Perak. 

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

20 October 2026: 11:46 p.m.

ISLAMIC HISTORY: BATTLE OF DZATUS SAWARI

The Battle of Dzatus Sawari – Ma'rakat Dhat al-Sawari – Arabic: معركة ذات الصواري, literally "Battle of the Masts", is the first major sea battle in Islamic history and the battle that ended 700 years of undisputed Byzantine naval supremacy.

1. Why it happened - The need for a navy

For the first 15 years of Islam, Muslims were a land power. The Caliphs Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA) initially forbade sea expeditions, fearing for Muslim lives.

That changed under Caliph Uthman ibn Affan (RA):

• In 28H / 649 CE, Muawiyah ibn Abi Sufyan, governor of Syria, was allowed to build a fleet in Acre (Akka) and Tyre, using Coptic and Syrian Christian shipwrights who knew Roman shipbuilding.
• At the same time, Abdullah ibn Sa'd ibn Abi al-Sarh, governor of Egypt, built a fleet in Alexandria.
• The trigger was Byzantine raids on Muslim coasts. Cyprus in 649 and Rhodes, Crete, were raided successfully, proving Muslims could fight at sea. This was also a fulfilment of the hadith of Umm Haram bint Milhan (RA), where the Prophet (SAW) said a group of his Ummah would undertake a sea expedition – she later died in the Cyprus expedition, where she fell while riding a mule.

By 654-655 CE / 34 AH, Muawiyah aimed for Constantinople itself. He led a land army through Cappadocia to Chalcedon, while the combined Syrian-Egyptian fleet sailed along southern Anatolia.

The Byzantines could not allow it. Emperor Constans II personally led the imperial fleet – 500 ships according to Muslim sources, 1000 according to Theophanes – to intercept.

2. The Battle

Date: Most historians agree on 34H / 655 CE [Al-Tabari gives 31H and 34H, but Armenian Sebeos and Byzantine Theophanes agree on 654-655].

Location: Off Mount Phoenix (Phoinike), near the harbour of Phoenix - modern Finike, Antalya, Lycia, on the Turkish coast

Commanders: Muslims – Admiral Abu al-A'war al-Sulami under Muawiyah's overall command, with Abdullah ibn Sa' d. Byzantines – Emperor Constans II himself.

Strength: Muslims - 200 ships vs Byzantines ∼500-1000. Muslim sources mention sabotage just before the battle – two Christian brothers from Tripoli, Syria, sabotaged part of the fleet and defected, leaving Muslims heavily outnumbered.

The night before: Theophanes reports Constans II dreamt he was in Thessalonica. His dream interpreter said, "Would that you had not slept" – because Thessaloniki sounds like Greek thes allo nike – "give victory to another".

Tactics: The sea was rough. Both fleets lashed their ships together with chains and ropes to create a stable fighting platform. Al-Tabari describes ships arranged in lines and tied together.

This was Muawiyah's genius - he turned a naval battle into a land battle. Muslim infantry, excellent in close-quarters sword combat, could fight hand-to-hand as if on solid ground. The battle lasted from morning until near noon.

Why is it called Dhat al-Sawari? 

The masts were so dense, and so many ships were tied together that they looked like a forest of masts. Another narration says the sea was so full of blood it looked like the masts were standing in blood.

Byzantine losses were almost total. Emperor Constans barely escaped – Theophanes says he exchanged armour with one of his officers to disguise himself and fled to Constantinople.

3. Aftermath and Significance

Immediate aftermath:

According to traditional Muslim sources, the fleet turned back because news of dissension against Caliph Uthman and the beginning of the First Fitna was spreading among the crews.

According to Armenian historian Sebeos, the Muslim fleet actually continued to Constantinople and attempted a siege of the capital, but a huge storm sank ships carrying siege engines – which the Byzantines attributed to divine intervention.

Strategic impact:

1. End of Mare Nostrum: The Mediterranean had been called a "Roman lake" for centuries. After Dhat al-Sawari, it became a contested sea.
2. Birth of Islamic naval power: This victory proved a desert people could become a sea power. It opened the way for the conquest of North Africa's coast, Sicily, and later Spain.
3. The first decisive conflict of Islam on the deep: Muslim historians call it that because it was the first time Muslims met the Byzantines in open deep water, not just coastal raids.

For Muslims, it remains a lesson – within 25 years of the Prophet's (SAW) death, a community with no naval tradition built 200 warships and defeated the superpower of the time through adaptation, tying ships together and using their core strength – close combat and tawakkul.

ABOUT THE HADITH OF UMMU HARAM BT MILHAN

Umm Haram (RA) herself narrated through Anas ibn Malik (RA):

Arabic text:

حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي مَالِكٌ، عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي طَلْحَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَهُ يَقُولُ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا ذَهَبَ إِلَى قُبَاءٍ يَدْخُلُ عَلَى أُمِّ حَرَامٍ بِنْتِ مِلْحَانَ فَتُطْعِمُهُ، وَكَانَتْ تَحْتَ عُبَادَةَ بْنِ الصَّامِتِ، فَدَخَلَ يَوْمًا فَأَطْعَمَتْهُ، فَنَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، ثُمَّ اسْتَيْقَظَ يَضْحَكُ، قَالَتْ: فَقُلْتُ: مَا يُضْحِكُكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ؟ فَقَالَ: "نَاسٌ مِنْ أُمَّتِي عُرِضُوا عَلَيَّ غُزَاةً فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ يَرْكَبُونَ ثَبَجَ هَذَا الْبَحْرِ، مُلُوكًا عَلَى الْأَسِرَّةِ أَوْ قَالَ: مِثْلَ الْمُلُوكِ عَلَى الْأَسِرَّةِ"، شَكَّ إِسْحَاقُ، قُلْتُ: ادْعُ اللَّهَ أَنْ يَجْعَلَنِي مِنْهُمْ فَدَعَا، ثُمَّ وَضَعَ رَأْسَهُ فَنَامَ، ثُمَّ اسْتَيْقَظَ يَضْحَكُ، فَقُلْتُ: مَا يُضْحِكُكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ؟ قَالَ: "نَاسٌ مِنْ أُمَّتِي عُرِضُوا عَلَيَّ غُزَاةً فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ يَرْكَبُونَ ثَبَجَ هَذَا الْبَحْرِ مُلُوكًا عَلَى الْأَسِرَّةِ، أَوْ مِثْلَ الْمُلُوكِ عَلَى الْأَسِرَّةِ"، فَقُلْتُ: ادْعُ اللَّهَ أَنْ يَجْعَلَنِي مِنْهُمْ، قَالَ: "أَنْتِ مِنَ الْأَوَّلِينَ"، فَرَكِبَتِ الْبَحْرَ زَمَانَ مُعَاوِيَةَ، فَصُرِعَتْ عَنْ دَابَّتِهَا حِينَ خَرَجَتْ مِنَ الْبَحْرِ فَهَلَكَتْ.

English translation - Sahih al-Bukhari 6283:

Narrated Anas bin Malik: Whenever Allah's Apostle went to Quba, he used to visit Um Haram bint Milhan, who would offer him meals, and she was the wife of 'Ubada bin As-samit. One day he went to her house, and she offered him a meal, and after that he slept and then woke up smiling. She (Um Haram) said, I asked him, 'What makes you laugh, O Allah's Apostle?' He said, 'Some people of my followers were displayed before me as warriors fighting for Allah's Cause and sailing over this sea, kings on thrones,' or said, 'like kings on thrones.' I (Um Haram) said, 'O Allah's Apostle! Invoke Allah that He may make me one of them.' He invoked Allah for her and then laid his head down and slept again and then woke up smiling. I asked, 'What makes you laugh, O Allah's Apostle?' He said, 'Some people of my followers were displayed before me as warriors fighting for Allah's Cause and sailing over this sea, kings on the thrones,' or said, 'like kings on the thrones. 'I (Um Haram) said, 'O Allah's Apostle! Invoke Allah that He may make me one of them.' He said, 'You will be amongst the first ones.'

And the narrator adds:

It is said that Um Haram sailed over the sea at the time of Muawiya, and on coming out of the sea, she fell down from her riding animal and died.

There are two parts in this hadith that scholars note:

The first expedition — "kings on thrones" on the green sea — which was Cyprus 28H, where Umm Haram (RA) was martyred by falling from her mule. This is why she is considered the first martyr of the Muslim Navy.

The second expedition — in the same chapter, Bukhari 2924, the Prophet (SAW) wakes up a second time smiling and says another group will conquer Caesar's city (Constantinople). That is linked to the later naval campaigns, including Dhat al-Sawari 34H.

The tomb of Ummu Haram in Cyprus

The tomb of Umm Haram is in Larnaca, Cyprus, and a mosque is built beside it. The mosque is known as Hala Sultan Tekke.

That's why Hala Sultan Tekke in Larnaca is so important — it marks where that first du'a was fulfilled.

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

20 October 2026: 1:37 a.m.

ISLAMIC HISTORY: BATTLE OF YAMAMAH

The Battle of Yamamah was one of the most consequential battles in early Islamic history, fought in December 632 CE / 11 AH.

Context

After the death of the Prophet Muhammad in June 632, many tribes in Arabia either left Islam or refused to pay zakat to Medina, and several men claimed prophethood. The first caliph, Abu Bakr, launched a series of campaigns known as the Ridda Wars — the Wars of Apostasy — to re-establish control over Arabia.

The most dangerous opposition came from central Arabia, in the region of Al-Yamamah, modern-day Najd near Riyadh.

There, the leader of the Banu Hanifa tribe, Musaylimah al-Kadhdhab — "Musaylimah the Liar" in Muslim sources — had claimed prophethood even during Muhammad's lifetime. He had a large following, a fortified town, and an army estimated by early sources at 40,000 men.

The Battle

Abu Bakr first sent Ikrimah ibn Abi Jahl and Shurahbil ibn Hasana, but they were defeated. He then sent his best commander, Khalid ibn al-Walid, with a large force of Muhajirun and Ansar.

The two armies met at Aqraba Plain in Yamamah.

The first phase was disastrous for the Muslims. Musaylimah's forces pushed them back and nearly broke into Khalid's tent. The Banu Hanifa fought with high morale, shouting their war cry.

Khalid reorganised the army — grouping tribes and Muhajirun/Ansar separately so each could see who held and who retreated — and launched a counter-attack. The fighting became hand-to-hand in what became known as the "Garden of Death" — Hadiqat al-Mawt — a walled garden where Musaylimah and his remaining elite had taken refuge.

Its walls were high, and gates were locked from inside. Khalid ibn al-Walid's army had taken heavy losses trying to break in.

The Muslims were stuck outside under a hail of arrows.

Al-Bara Ibn Al-Malik, younger brother of Anas ibn Malik — who was known to be thin, wiry, and fearless — shouted:

“Ya Ahl al-Madina, la Madinata lakum al-yawm, innama huwa Allahu wal-Jannah!”

“O people of Medina! There is no Medina for you after today — there is only Allah, then Paradise!”

He then told his companions, "Put me on a shield, lift me with spears, and throw me over the wall."

In some narrations he asked to be placed in a catapult—"Place me in the catapult, and throw me"—into the garden.

His men did it. He was hurled over the high wall alone into thousands of enemies. He landed, fought his way to the gate, killed the guards holding it, and opened it from inside despite being wounded severely — accounts say he suffered over 80 wounds that day.

"Soon a Muslim soldier, al-Bara' ibn Malik, asked his fellow men to let him climb the wall so that he could open the gate by killing the guards there. The soldier jumped into the garden and opened the gate. The Muslims entered the garden, and the last phase of the Battle of al-Yamama had begun."

Once the gate was open, the Muslims poured in, and the final slaughter took place where Musaylimah was killed.

For this, Khalid praised him, and Umar ibn al-Khattab later said about him, "Do not put al-Bara' in command of an army, for he will destroy them with his recklessness in seeking martyrdom."

Al-Bara' survived Yamamah but carried the scars. He was finally martyred years later at the Battle of Shushtar/Tustar against the Persians, around 20 AH.

Musaylimah was killed in the garden, reportedly by Wahshi ibn Harb, the same man who had killed Hamza at Uhud, and Abu Dujana al-Ansari. With his death, his army collapsed.

Aftermath and Significance

1. End of the Ridda Wars in central Arabia. With Yamamah secured, Muslim control over Arabia was largely restored.
2. Heavy losses of memorisers. Around 70 companions who had memorised the entire Quran — known as huffaz — including prominent companions like Zayd ibn al-Khattab and Salim Mawla Abu Hudhayfa, were martyred.
3. Compilation of the Quran. Alarmed by the loss of so many huffaz, Umar ibn al-Khattab urged Abu Bakr to compile the Quran into a single written codex. Abu Bakr ordered Zayd ibn Thabit to lead the effort. This master copy later became the basis for Uthman's standardised text.

The battle cemented the position of the Medinan state and marked the transition from defending the new community in Arabia to the expansion that followed into Iraq and Syria.

WHO WAS MARTYRED

Early sources say about 1,200 Muslims were martyred, most of them in or near the wadi, and half of them from the Ansar and Muhajirun — the closest companions. It is also said the martyrs included 300 who knew the whole Quran by heart.

Among the most well-known:

• Zayd ibn al-Khattab — elder brother of Umar ibn al-Khattab, commander of the right wing. He carried the banner and was a famous companion.
• Abu Hudhayfa ibn Utba — commander of the left wing
• Salim Mawla Abu Hudhayfa — freed slave of Abu Hudhayfa, renowned as one of the best Quran reciters. He was martyred after his arms were cut off.
• Abu Dujana Simak ibn Kharasha — famous for his red bandana at Uhud. He was martyred in 12 AH in the Battle of Yamamah.
• Tufayl ibn Amr al-Dawsi — chief of the Daws tribe, the one who brought Abu Hurayra to Islam. He fell as a martyr at Yamamah.

On the other side, about 21,000 of Musaylimah's men were killed, including Musaylimah himself inside the "Garden of Death" — Hadiqat al-Mawt.

Were any women involved?

Yes, on both sides.

1. On the Muslim side — Nusaybah bint Ka'ab al-Ansariya, known as Umm Amarah:

She is the most documented woman at Yamamah. Already famous for defending the Prophet at Uhud, she was in her late 50s at Yamamah.

She had a personal motive — her son Habib ibn Zayd had been sent as an envoy to Musaylimah, who tortured and dismembered him when he refused to accept him as a prophet.

She went to Abu Bakr and asked permission to join Khalid ibn al-Walid's army. He said, "Nothing can stop a woman like you from going to participate in the battle. Go forth in the name of Allah.”

At Yamamah she fought alongside her son Abdullah ibn Zayd:

She participated in the Battle of Al-Yamaamah... Her hand was cut off in this battle, and she received fourteen wounds in her body.

Other reports say eleven wounds. Her son Abdullah is credited as one of those who struck Musaylimah.

2. On the opposing side — Sajah bint al-Harith:

She was a Christian Arab woman from the Banu Taghlib who also claimed prophethood around the same time. She marched with her followers to Yamamah and made a political alliance with Musaylimah, even marrying him according to some accounts, but her troops left before the actual battle, so she was not present when the fighting started.

Early historians also mention women of the Banu Hanifa inside the fortified garden urging their men to fight, but the only Muslim woman named in the battle reports as a combatant is Umm Amarah.

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

20 October 2026: 12:37 a.m.

MY PHOTO COLLECTION (SARAWAK)

1983/84: REJANG RIVER, SIBU

Sungai Rejang, the longest river in Malaysia, 563 km of brown, muddy water from Kapit to the sea at Sibu, Sarawak.

I was assigned to the River Patrol Boat at KD Sri Rejang in 1983/84. The only permanent Royal Malaysian Navy forward riverine base ever, operating under the RASCOM (Rajang Area Security Command). RASCOM itself was created on 25 March 1972 as a tri-service command to fight the communist insurgency. Officially commissioned on 28 March 1973 and decommissioned on 3 November 1991, it became Kem Sri Rejang under Askar Wataniah. 

Patrolling the Rejang River during Ops Jala Aman 1, I worked jointly with 24 RAMD, 8 RRD, 11 RGK Commando, 17 PPH (now PGA), artillery and Sarawak Border Scouts. 

The area of operations covers Kanowit, Song, Sarikei, Bintangor, Kapit, Belaga, etc. I was at the tail end of the Sarawak communist insurgency against NKCP/PARAKU, which ended on 17 October 1990 with a peace agreement in Kuching, and RASCOM was disbanded on 9 November 1994. 

Ref: 

1. Zulheimy Maamor: KD Sri Rejang - Memoir seorang Veteran.
2. Zulheimy Maamor: The Brown Water Navy, Life on Bot Lancang.

SIBU

About 60 km inland at the confluence of the Rejang and Igan Rivers, the heart of the old 3rd Division.

Wikipedia: Sibu

About the photo:

Top-left: The blue Fajar building, the area of Jalan Kampung Nyabor and the Sarawak House as seen in the photo. 

Top-right: Opening ceremony of Masjid An-Nur, Sibu on 15 August 1983. 

Bottom-left: Jalan Pedada junction

Bottom-right: Hospital Lau King Howe; this was Sibu's main hospital before it converted to Lau King Howe Hospital Memorial Museum, officially opened on 3 August 1996. It was Malaysia's first and only medical museum. 

BELAGA AND BINTANGOR

Belaga and Bintangor (formerly Binatang), two very different ends of my Rejang patrol in 1983/84.

Belaga, the uppermost navigable point of Sungai Rejang, heart of Kapit Division, is only accessible by river or small airfield then. Our riverine boat resupplies the army, the Police Field Force and the Border Scouts and cuts communist supply lines coming down from the upper jungle. 

Bintangor in Meradong Division, lower Rejang, formerly called Binatang. Officially renamed Bintangor by Tan Sri Taib Mahmud after the Bintangor tree (Calophyllum). 

The photo of the long red-white express boat is the civilian lifeline in Belaga, and behind it you can see it is an RCP, the craft we crewed. 

KAPIT, SARAWAK

Capital of Kapit Division, comprising 4 districts: Bukit Mabong, Belaga, Song and Kapit itself, the last major town before the river becomes untamed. Our patrol boat had to pass Song (Katibas junction) to get there. All logistics – 105mm ammo, rations, and troops – had to pass through Kapit to go further to Nanga Gaat and Belaga. 

In the photo above, show the Nanga Gaat Memorial for those members of the British Security Forces who lost their lives while serving at Nanga Gaat, Sarawak, during the Malaysia-Indonesia Confrontation (1963-66).

Nanga Gaat was history, a reminder that the British Royal Navy had secured the same brown water 18 years before we did. 

Fort Sylvia, a historical landmark in Kapit, stands as a testament to the region's colonial past. Built in 1880 by Rajah Charles Brooke, named after his wife, Ranee Sylvia Brett, it served as a strategic outpost for the Brooke administration, overseeing the Rejang River and its surrounding territories.

From the deck of our River Patrol Boat, the fort's imposing structure is a constant reminder of the area's rich history and the role it played in maintaining order during turbulent times. Its walls have witnessed countless stories, from the early days of colonial governance to the more recent efforts in securing peace during the communist insurgency.

Whether under the bright sun or shrouded in mist, Fort Sylvia remains a significant point of reference, embodying the blend of history and nature that defines the region.

SARIKEI

Located in central Sarawak, known nationwide as the Fruit Basket of Sarawak for its sweet pineapples. But for us, it was a main logistic hub under RASCOM. 

Photo above: The Payang Puri Hotel is in the background, with troops from the army loading meal kits/rice boxes for Ops Jala Aman. Civilians mixed with soldiers on the boat, as the jetty was also a civilian boat jetty. The troops boarded at Sarikei Jetty to go to Song, Kanowit, Kapit, Nanga Gaat, etc. The photo in 1983/84 is the old jetty before it was rebuilt. 

KANOWIT

A town between Sibu and Song, about halfway up Rejang from Sibu, where the Kanowit River meets the Rejang River. Dominated by the Iban community

The photo above shows the Kanowit Memorial with the hornbill (burung Kenyalang) on top. The memorial lists the names of police and soldiers killed during fighting the communists. It is the location of the historic "Tragedi Pendam Bungkang", recounted by veteran Sarawak Border Scouts. 

SONG & GAWAI FESTIVAL

Song, a quiet riverside town, capital of Song District in Kapit Division, sits between Kapit and Kanowit as the Katibas River junction. 

The Gawai Dayak is the Iban Day of harvest thanksgiving, every 1st June every year. During Ops Jala Aman 1, RASCOM orders were not just to patrol but to protect longhouses. We were invited while anchored near a longhouse during Gawai 1984. Meet the Iban girl in full Ngepan Iban, a silver coin headdress, and a marik empang beaded yoke with red pom-poms. 

BINTULU

Located 610 km northeast of Kuching, 216 km from Sibu and 200 km from Miri. The first time setting foot in Bintulu was in 1990 while serving aboard KD Lekir, the Royal Malaysian Navy Corvette class, alongside the Bintulu Port. 

Then again in 2012, during Health Screening Programme organised by the Yayasan Jantung Malaysia from 18 to 20 May 2012 at Park City Mall, Bintulu. 

Ref: 2012-Bintulu, Sarawak

Bintulu Port at Tanjung Kidurong in 1990

Park City Mall, the main mall in Bintulu then, with the big curved roof. 

Restoran Seribu Bintang in Bintulu in 2012 was a famous ikan bakar/seafood restaurant on the waterfront. Having dinner with my niece, Cikgu Intan Ernany, who was a teacher at S.K. St Anthony, Bintulu. I met her on the first day I arrived at Bintulu and had dinner with her that night. 

The old Bintulu Airport, just next to S.K. St Anthony. It was opened from 1937 until 30 March 2003; it was closed after the new airport opened in Kidurong, 23 km from town. 

In 1990, when I was onboard KD Lekir alongside the Bintulu Port, I would have seen this airport from the port, with aircraft landing low over the port area. 

TUKAU OIL RIG, MIRI

Tukau Fields, about 40 km offshore Miri, Sarawak, was first discovered by Sarawak Shell in 1968 and has been producing since the early 70s. KD Lekir, a Kasturi class Corvette, regularly patrolled the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and offshore oil assets in Sabah and Sarawak. 

KUCHING, SARAWAK

The capital of Sarawak, located on the Sarawak River at the southwestern tip of Sarawak on the island of Borneo. 

From landing in Kuching Airport in 1983 as a young Navy for river patrol in Sibu to standing as a veteran in front of Cat City in 2012 – almost 30 years with Sarawak. 

The old terminal of Kuching Airport

The Kuching Waterfront in 1992. Looking across the Sarawak River is the Astana, built by Charles Brooke as a wedding gift for his wife Margaret. Behind it is Fort Margherita, the old Brooke fort to guard the river. 

Among the photos from my album of Sarawak, each image tells a story, capturing the essence of the places and experiences that shaped my time there.

From the bustling streets of Sibu, where the Rejang River flows gracefully, to the serene landscapes of Belaga, every snapshot evokes memories of camaraderie and duty. The vibrant colours of the Gawai Festival remind me of the warmth of the Iban community, while the historical landmarks like Fort Sylvia stand as silent witnesses to the region's rich past.

Each photograph serves as a portal, transporting me back to moments of laughter, challenges, and triumphs. They encapsulate not just the beauty of Sarawak but also the spirit of the people who call it home.

As I flip through the pages of my album, I am reminded of the friendships forged and the lessons learned during my service. These images are more than just memories; they are a testament to a time when I was part of something greater, a chapter in the ongoing story of Sarawak.

I look forward to sharing these memories with others, hoping to inspire a deeper appreciation for this remarkable region and its history.

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

19 October 2026: 11:18 p.m.

ISLAMIC HISTORY: BATTLE OF MUT'AH

The Battle of Mu'tah - Ghazwat Mu'tah / Ma'rakat Mu'tah معركة مؤتة - was fought in September 629 CE, 1 Jumada al-Awwal 8 AH, near the village of Mu'tah, east of the Jordan River in what is now Karak Governorate, Jordan. It was the first major encounter between the Muslims and the Byzantine Empire (Romans).

Background - Why it happened 

1. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ sent an emissary, al-Harith ibn Umayr al-Azdi, with a letter to the ruler of Busra (Bostra).
2. On his way, at the village of Mu'tah, he was executed on the orders of the Ghassanid official Shurahbil ibn Amr al-Ghassani. The Ghassanids were Arab Christian vassals of Byzantium. In Arab custom, killing an envoy was a grave violation.
3. The Byzantines were also re-occupying the area after their peace with the Sasanians in July 629. Their sakkellarios, Theodore, was in command in the Balqa region with local Arab tribal allies.

In response, the Prophet mobilised an army.

The Two Armies

Muslims: 3,000 men

Led by three commanders appointed in order: 

1. Zayd ibn Harithah - the Prophet's adopted son
2. Ja'far ibn Abi Talib – cousin of the Prophet, brother of Ali
3. Abdullah ibn Rawahah

The Prophet ﷺ said, "If Zayd is martyred, Ja'far will take the flag. If Ja'far is martyred, Abdullah will take it. If Abdullah is martyred, let the Muslims choose a commander from among themselves."

Byzantines and Ghassanids: 10,000, according to modern historians like Walter Kaegi. Early Muslim sources like al-Waqidi and Ibn Ishaq report 100,000 or even 200,000, which modern historians consider greatly exaggerated. The overall commander was Theodore, and the Arab vassal leader was Malik ibn Zafilah.

How the Battle Unfolded

The Muslim army marched to Ma'an. There they learned the size of the Byzantine coalition and wanted to wait for reinforcements from Medina. Abdullah ibn Rawahah rallied them, reminding them that what they sought was shahadah (martyrdom), and they continued.

They first engaged at Musharif, then withdrew toward Mu'tah, where the main fighting took place in a valley between two heights, which helped negate the Byzantines' numerical advantage.

One by one, the three appointed commanders fell as martyrs: 

• Zayd ibn Harithah took the flag and fought until he was martyred.
• Ja'far ibn Abi Talib took it. His hands were cut off while holding the banner; he held it with his arms until he was martyred. For this he is known as Ja'far al-Tayyar – the one who flies – as the Prophet said, 'Allah gave him two wings in Paradise.'
• Abdullah ibn Rawahah then took the flag and was also martyred.

The army was on the verge of being routed. Thabit ibn Aqram took the banner to save the army from collapse and handed it to Khalid ibn al-Walid.

Khalid, who had only become Muslim months earlier, showed his military genius:

He reorganised the army overnight. He swapped the right wing with the left, the vanguard with the rear, and brought up new units from the back, making the Byzantines think fresh reinforcements had arrived. He then launched aggressive hit-and-run attacks and then gradually disengaged in good order, saving the bulk of the 3,000 from annihilation.

According to Muslim sources, 12 martyrs fell – though modern historians note the casualty count for ordinary soldiers is disputed. They include: Zayd, Ja'far, Abdullah, Mas'ud ibn al-Aswad, Wahb ibn Sa'd, and others.

Aftermath

When the army returned to Medina, some people berated them for retreating, calling them furrar - those who fled. The Prophet ﷺ defended them, saying, "They are not furrar; they are kurrar – those who will return to attack again."

It was after this battle that the Prophet gave Khalid the title Saifullah – The Sword of Allah.

The graves of Zayd, Ja'far, and Abdullah are in al-Mazar near Mu'tah in Jordan today, where a mausoleum was built.

Three years later, the Prophet appointed Usama ibn Zayd - the son of Zayd ibn Harithah - to lead an expedition to the same area to avenge Mu'tah. That campaign became the first successful Muslim raid into Byzantine territory and paved the way for the later conquests of al-Sham.

Why Muslims remember it

1. Sacrifice and obedience: The three commanders knew they would likely die, yet accepted command without hesitation.
2. Leadership under pressure: The lesson of Thabit ibn Aqram and Khalid – saving the Ummah's army is more important than personal glory.
3. It set the stage: Mu'tah was not a conquest, but it was the first time the young Islamic state measured itself against the superpower of its age, the Byzantine Empire.

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

19 October 2026: 7:45 a.m.