Philippines (Mindanao)
The history of the modern ulama in Cotabato dates from 1951. That was the year
Maulana Mohamed Abdul Aleem Siddiqui, (an Egyptian missionary), visited Cotabato
City.
According to Imam Akmad, the head imam at the Campo Muslim mosque, the
Maulana was the first alim to have arrived in Cotabato in his lifetime. Imam
Akmad
and his wife vividly remember that short visit.
Photograph commemorating the 1951 visit of Maulana Mohammad
Abdul Aleem Siddiqui (left) to Cotabato. The Maulana, the first Middle
Eastern Muslim missionary to visit Cotabato in the modern era, is
pictured here in the city plaza, accompanied by an unidentified
Magindanaon datu.
The Maulana went from house to house in Muslim communities in the
city to urge
the men to come to Friday noon prayers. He was also the first person ever to
instruct women to wear hijab [head coverings] in the mosque.
Famous Karamat of Maulana Abdul Aleem in
Philippines
The Maulana gave a speech in the city plaza during his visit. He spoke in
Arabic,
which was translated into English and then into Magindanaon.[3]
During the speech
there were rain clouds approaching, but the Maulana told the crowd not to worry
about them. When he finished his speech he walked to his hotel and the rain
clouds
were right at his back. As soon as he entered the hotel rain began to fall in
torrents,
causing flooding in the city.
The Maulana held a public debate with a Catholic priest in Buluan. After that
debate
the priest removed his crucifix and threw it in the river.