Mawlana Shaykh Hisham Visit to "Fruit Garden"

This Tuesday, May 18, 2010, after Fajr prayer (dawn) Shaykh Hisham Kabbani sent Dr. Gabriel Haddad on a three-hour drive from Jakarta to visit the village of Cikereteg, Sukabumi. There is a school and a Naqshbandi zawiya there, established by Shaykh Hisham Kabbani, which currently hosts 2,500 students with room and board, givnig them fulltime studies in Islamic sciences from the age of 5 up to 18. Dr. Gabriel has been accompanied by the brother Nabil (a Murid came from Lebanon). The rest of the Mureeds accompanined Shaykh Hisham Kabbani and his family for a visit two-hours drive from Jakarta to a place called the "Fruit Garden," a large garden with fruit trees of all kinds covering an area of several hectares. It's a masterpiece, a haven, ideal for family Picnic. The whole area is beautifully enhanced by a vast lake where one can "walk on water."

We arrived, and here a welcoming crowd of mureeds greeted Shaykh Hisham Kabbani and his family and his entourage with melodious Qasidas and bouquets of roses presented to Mawlana and his wife. We were greeted by a bank manager who is also a student of the tariqah. The location of the ceremony was on the other side of the shore, and to access it one must go through a portion of the lake over a suspension bridge designated for pedestrians only. This journey is an ordeal for anyone with fear of heights because as you cross the suspension bridge it sways and bounces. Thank God no one had the jitters, so it became a moment of laughter enjoyment while some made fun of others who were a bit fearful to take the "walk".

The ceremony begins with a recitation of Qasidas by a group of young girls from Jakarta. Elegantly dressed in their uniforms, as is the case in Indonesia for all school students, they demonstrated expertise in Arabic recitation and in drumming. They were followed by another group and another.

Finally the visit ended with a lovely marriage ceremony of a couple which was celebrated in the park, and then lunch was served. After the final du'a, Shaykh Hisham Kabbani and his entourage took the road back to Jakarta.