HE IS RAHMAN BINT ALI . A pure Malay. He’s the first son his parents had.

1. HE IS RAHMAN BINT ALI. A pure Malay. He’s the first son his parents had. Throughout his life he goes through many customs and practices of Malay culture. Let’s find out more about his life!!

2. (Shhh…) Being the first child in the family, he is given a special treatment. After he is washed by the midwife, he will be placed on a special bed covered with seven sarongs. A sheet is taken away a day until only one is left. The first ceremony is performed soon after his birth. Some relatives and close friends are invited to a small party to ask Allah to bless him. A religious man is then invited to pray for this blessing. His parents have to be careful when choosing this man as Malays believe that the baby will take some of this man’s character. BABY...

3. How Rahman got his name… Rahman’s name was selected to let him be identified as a Muslim. It might be a name of a famous person or prophet in the Qur’an, like: Musa (Moses), Suleyman (Solomon), or a name that could show the cultural ideal, like: Abdul-Raheem (Servant of the most merciful, Allah), Ali (“noble, excellent”). The last name of the child is often the first name of the father. NAME

4. CIRCUMCISION Circumcision is the cutting off of the skin at the end of the penis. Rahman and his peers are circumcised between the ages 2-14 by special surgeons. The ceremony introduced Rahman to his religious society as a new member and was part of transition to manhood. Circumcision are generally celebrated by the whole community. Rahman will get presents and there will be big feast in the village, with entertainment.

5. Education was mostly about religion, the text was the Qur’an, which had to be memorised. It took Rahman a year to complete. There was an one-week celebration when he completed memorising the Qur’an, when he receives a lot of gifts and sweets, and go around the village reciting prayers and hymns with his teacher, and the families would come out and greet them. While his parents were preparing foods. A sheep was slaughtered on that happy occasion. At the age of seven, Rahman showed respect to the school and understood ritual cleanliness thus he was allowed to go to the religious school (masjid). However if he had misbehaved, he would have gone there some time later. The Prophet Muhammad said, “When the child is seven, order him to say prayers and when he is ten, chastise him to do so.” EDUCATION

6. Becoming an adult Rahman, like his peers, were treated like an adult when they reached puberty. His sister was married at an early age while he married at an older age. Children were expected to work (even at ages of 12 or 13), in fact some might have been working much earlier! Rahman and his brothers were trained in the business his family followed. There was no idea of a time of freedom from hard work and serious responsibilities. Rahman was allowed to go to the mosque like his parents as he had completed memorising the Qur’an at the age of ten.

7. At Rahman’s time, marriages were usually arranged by their parents at an early age, which means they had no freedom of finding their own “loving” partner. Marriage customs varied throughout the Islamic world, but Islam has influenced that no sexual relations before marriages, and there are strict behaviour requirements for both the male and the female about sex and adultery. MARRIAGE

8. MARRIAGE(II) The couple are treated like King and Queen on that day. A meeting between parents from both sides held to determine the dowry. An henna application (called berinai) ceremony is held. It is sometimes followed by tukar pakaian (costume changes) for photo-taking. The pelamin (raised dais) will be decorated. Marriage is a contract, and the akad nikah effectively forges the union. It is a verbal contract between the bride’s father, or his representative, and the groom. A small sum of money called the mas kahwin to seal the contract, and there will be 3 witnesses. This ritual is to remind the groom of his responsibility to take care of his bride, which is then reinforced by a lecture by the kadhi.

9. MARRIAGE(III) Guests are invited to a meal at the void deck on Sunday. Guests are presented with a bunga telur each. Literally, this means 'flower and egg'.The egg symbolises that the couple will have many children. The feast is often a noisy, lively and informal affair, enhanced by colourful costumes guests wear and a Malay band group. The arrival of the groom is heralded by the hadrah troupe who beat the kompang (hand drums) and sing. The mak andam (beautician)and the bride’s family members will ask the groom for an 'entrance fee'. Parents of the couple are the very first to perform the ceremony, then the senior members of the family.Relatives sprinkle petals and rice (fertility symbols) on the couple seated on the 'throne'.

10. PRAYER: five times a day facing Mecca and going to a mosque on Friday, the holy day FAITH: belief in one God, and that Muhammad is His prophet FIVE PILLARS PILGRIMAGE:making a trip to Mecca if possible, at least once in a lifetime. CHARITY: (giving to the poor or to mosques, hospitals, etc.) FASTING: during the holy month of Ramadan from sunrise to sunset

11. DEATH AND BURIAL • Muslims bury the dead quickly, best before sundown on the day of death. • There was a ritual ablution, then put in a white shroud (burial cloth wrapping). Face was turned toward Mecca, prayers were said. It was believed the behaviour in this life determines the next. • However, martyrs (people who die for a holy cause) are buried as they died, in their clothes, unwashed, for their wounds bear testimony to their martyrdom. As the corpse is carried through streets to a mosque for prayers or to its resting place, the Profession Of Faith is spoken. As it passes, people rise, join in the chanting, and help carry the coffin for a short distance.

12. THE END.THANK YOU. Done by: Quek Yanjun Jocelyn (10) 2g Bye bye!