Reverend shadows of holy images: Arabs of Burma

Abstract

Islam reached Burma in 8th century through Arabs. Arabs served in palaces as teachers, advisors, fighters and governors. Many graves of Arab sheikhs could be found along the shores of Burma. Syed Abdul Razak from Ta'if and forty of his members had reportedly reached to Burma to spread Islam and were killed by the invading Portuguese forces in 16th century. Shipbuilding business flourished in Burma and ships were built for Arabs and Armenians. In 1824 / 1239, the English confiscated a ship equipped with twenty-one cannons that was built for the Imam of Muskat. The last Burman king had Muslim crew to man his yacht. Many Arabic terms made way into Burmese such as, Za Pyit (grape), Kessa (matter/story/problem), Aret (alcohol), Alan (flag) and many others. Today, the presence of Arabs in Burma is nothing more than images in Burmese memory. However, the two Arab brothers, who served the Burman king Anawratha, had become the revered shadows of those vivid images. The Arab brothers were ordered to join others in building pagoda but they refused for they were Muslim by faiths. Burmese consider the two brothers killed were innocent and assume to have become spirits and worship them. Today, a week-long Taungbyong festival is held in the memory of the two Arab brothers. No pork is allowed either to serve the spirits or to sell throughout the festival because the spirits reside in this particular pagoda are Muslims. So long as this festival is alive, the presence of Arabs in Burma remains perennial.