Sulawesi

Sulawesi
From top, left to right: The first Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Makassar, Sulawesi, 1958; the Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds of Makasar, 1960; an aerial view of Paré-Paré, where Jamál Effendi and Siyyid Muṣṭafá Rúmí for one month.
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National Assembly		Indonesia
History: Firsts
-	Pioneers	Jamál Effendi Siyyid Muṣṭafá Rúmí
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Categories: Sulawesi • People

Sulawesi, also known as Celebes, is an island in Indonesia. One of the four Greater Sunda Islands and the world's 11th-largest island. It is situated east of Borneo, west of the Maluu Islands, and south of Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago. It lies at the southern edge of the Celebes Sea. It is also the third most populous island in Indonesia with a population of over 20,000 in 2023. The island has an area of 174,416.16 sq km (67,342.46 sq mi).

History

‘Abdu’l-Bahá mentioned Celebes along with other Pacific Islands in a tablet to the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada published in Tablets of the Divine Plan.

In 1885, Celebes was part of the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia). Two Bahá’ís, Jamál Effendi (then 65 years old) and Siyyid Muṣṭafá Rúmí (then 33 years old) made a trip to Celebes to establish the Bahá’í Faith. Although Islam was established there, the adherents maintained a strong connection to their native traditions and the animist priests and priestesses still wielded considerable power. They obtained travel documents with the help of the Turkish consul in Batavia. From Makasar, they traveled to Paré-Paré. There we had to get permission from the local King Soemangaroekka to stay. He had received a letter indicating that he should refuse to let them proceed to the interior areas. The King instructed the governors envoys not to interfere with the religious affairs of his region. The two Bahá’ís stayed in Paré-Paré for over a month. During their stay they had several meetings with the king and his daughter, Fatta Sima Tana. They then traveled eastward to the provinces of Padalia and Fammana. There they were welcomed by a royal couple, King Fatta Chikourdi of Padali and his Queen Diammarala. There seemed to be no interest in the Faith in that area so they continued with their journey to Boné.

There is a theory that their journey left a mark on the religious milieu of the area, echoed today in the concept of mufakat, or consensus-based discussion, which is present in the modern-day political system of Indonesia.

Yúsuf 'Abdu'l-Wáhid Otoluwa was a native of North Sulawesi (Celebes), Indonesia. His father and other relatives always encouraged him to look for the return of Imam Mihdi. After graduating from Hollands Inlandse School, Yúsuf returned to Sulawesi in 1927 as a teacher for 30 years. In 1957, he was given a position as the head of the Department of Religion for the municipality of Makassar in South Sulawesi. His mastery of Arabic and knowledge of the Quran gained him much respect. Remembering his family's admonishon to look of the return of Imam Mihdi, he studied the Bahá’í Faith. He attended study groups at the home of two Bahá’í pioneers in Makassar. In march 1958, he declared his belief. Although the Faith was banned in 1962, but he was able to use his position to provide well reasoned defenses of the Faith. He remained faithful and assisted the community to remain steadfast in the face of adversity until his death in 1978.

The first Local Spiritual Assembly of Makassar, Sulawesi was formed on April 21, 1958. At Ridván 1971 there was one Local Spiritual Assembly in Sulawesi.

(left to right) Baha'is of Makasar, Celebes, 1959; First LSA of Bontain, South Celebes, Indonesia, 1959; First Spiritual Assembly of Bontain, South Celebes, Indonesia, 1959; Haziratu'l-Quds of Makasar, Celebes, Indonesia, 1960.