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His Royal Highness
Maharaja Adinda Mohammad Betatar Carpenter Arpa - VI
Royal Message
“Bismillahir-Rahman-Niraheem, Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatulahi Wabarakatuhu”
In celebration of our 618th Anniversary of local Governance and Public Administration, His Highness message to His peoples and of the Mindanaos:
“Your spirit, your age and your valor have given His Highness more confidence, for it matters not whether foreign dominion upon us had arisen from either conquest or by compact, for these shall have an end. But our peoples and our culture are eternal”.
Hadith (4543): Fulfillment of the covenant made with the caliphs is imperative. The caliph to whom allegiance is sworn in the first instance has shall established supremacy over those who assume powers (By Caliphates) later.
His Highness, the Sultan of Sulu and North Borneo (Sultan Suluk Negara), through His Maharaja Adinda (Heir-Apparent) Moh. Betatar Carpenter Arpa-VI, addresses His peoples of the Sulu Sultanate territories of Palawan, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and North Borneo-Sabah; Along with its trust territory of Zamboanga Peninsula (Tributary to the Sulu Sultanate-That first brought ”The Door to Mecca” upon us) and particularly most to its once Muslim populations and their present descendants in this last stronghold of Spanish colonizers that turn over its surrender to Datu Mandi, Datu Nuῆo and Datu Taupan in a ceremony at Forth Pilar, Zamboanga.
His Highness` seal and ancestral flags of authority are His Highness legitimacy by succession and by heredity; moreover, indicative of the Sulu Sultanate`s dejure Sovereignty since the 1400`s of the “Door to Mecca” State flag, thou presently under foreign sovereign jurisdiction/s (GRP, and Malaysia over North Borneo-Sabah) administering upon it.
Foreign powers that have undermined our jurisprudence for the physical conquest of our lands and territories, and by their own making, entreaties have legally guaranteed the preservation and continuing existence of the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo-Sabah as the 1915 Carpenter Act, and treaties profoundly recognizing the Sulu Sultanate`s Sovereignty as the Bates treaty, and the Carpenter Memorandum, and the Treaty of Paris unfounded which the Sulu Sultan did not have representation nor of consent.
H.R.H. Sultan Sharif Maulana Paduka Ahmad Carpenter Arpa-V
Ibni Maharaja Adinda Taup Angging (Anddin) Zein Ul-Abidin
SULTAN SULUK NEGARA
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His Royal Highness
Maharaja Adinda Mohammad Betatar Carpenter Arpa - VI
The incorporating of the Mindanao and Sulu Sultanate`s lands and territories into Philippine Republic have undermined, in total disregard, The Adat Law and authority supporting the power structure and social organization of our Nation and Country, Teritib order of Islamic Shari`a Law in relation to other territories and our genealogies (SALSILA/SALASILAH) of Families which relates the kinship Structure of group of people–distribution to social ranks and family relationships that have a lot to do with the behavioral pattern, even in settlement of conflicts.
The Sultan Suluk Negara, H.R.H. Sultan Sharif Maulana Paduka Ahmad Carpenter Arpa-V cites the root causes and ultimate peace solution to the Sultanate lands and territories. His Highness states not to easily be absorbed in the immediate causes of outbreaks of conflicts in the Sulus and/or the Mindanaos, that the underlying and long-term causes are forgotten. Do not look upon the present situation with a “Tunnel Vision” nor a “Horse Blind” and losses sight of the fact that it is, but only the latest chapter in a centuries old history.
We have to identify the differences of the problem, the long term reasons of the present conflicts in Muslim Sultanate lands and territories, to well understand and constructively now realized the rightful and logical peace solution, for otherwise conditions towards conflicts will remain even after the present conflicts, while its immediate provocations may pass into history again. One such provocation to our muslimness, allegedly, was indicative in the February 4th 2008 incident at Ipil-Maimbung Sulu. This is just one of many alleged incidents prejudicial and vindictively bias to Muslims, even to a Muslim AFP Integrate Soldier, as well as innocent women, children and GRP Barangay Muslim officers massacred thou already identifying themselves as not being a group element nor ASG. Not to mention discrimination alone to Muslim masses that violates the SHARI`A law affecting our Islamic consciousness and subconsciousness.
Islamic consciousnesses are our Psychological Identity, our Umma Ideal and our Dar Ul-Islam. These three elements violated, since the forceful acquiescence of Spain in the 1500’s, upon the strings of Sultanates in the So-called Philippine archipelago and through by other foreign powers to the present, administering upon the Sultanates` lands and territories.
H.R.H. Sultan Sharif Maulana Paduka Ahmad Carpenter Arpa-V
Ibni Maharaja Adinda Taup Angging (Anddin) Zein Ul-Abidin
SULTAN SULUK NEGARA
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His Royal Highness
Maharaja Adinda Mohammad Betatar Carpenter Arpa - VI
Such violations of foreign encroachments into our sovereignty and territorial limits, introducing an alternative religion in total disregard of ours, in covering-up its primary motive of gold-seeking in our lands/territories, unrecognizing and saliently replacing the law of our land, undermining our independent sovereignty, recruitment of our peoples to fight brother Muslims in an attempt to take North Borneo-Sabah resulting to the “Jabidah Massacre” when the said recruits declined, replacing Muslims with non-Muslims into GRP-Government Offices in 1971-1972, non-recognition of Royal titles held by Muslims in our lands/territories in the 1987 GRP constitution, and not to mention other agendas on the Spratly adjoining islands of our Palawan territory, as well as other incidents of insensibility and insensitivity.
Provocations deeply rooted from the “crusade” against the Muslim Ottomans to try to convert the latter, no doubt had its “echo” in the coming of European powers to Southeast Asia in the 16th century. Portugal and then Spain sought to establish their religion and themselves in Southeast Asia, confronting the Muslims of the Malayas in the spirit of the crusade.
Evident of the Portuguese Viceroy, Affonso De Albuquerque, summoned his captains together on the eve of the final and successful assault on Malacca in august of 1511. He told them two reasons why they should not fail to capture that powerful rich and strategically placed Malay Port-City. The first reason was that, by taking Malacca, the Portuguese would come to monopolize the lucrative trade of spices which was the foundation of the wealth and influence of Mecca-Saudi Arabia, Cairo-Egypt and its main benefactor of Venice Italy. But even more important was the second reason… “the service which we shall perform to our lord in casting the moors (Refers to the Muslims of the Malayas- Sulu and far reaching Indonesia and many occupying India, often called moros whose cultural attire resembles the Muslims of morocco or Moroccans) out of this country and quenching the fire of this sect of mafamede (Mohammad) so that it may never burst out again hereafter; and I am so sanguine as to hope for this from our understanding, that if we can only achieve the task before us, it will result in the moors resigning India altogether to our rule, for the greater part of them-or perhaps all of them-live upon the trade of this country (Malayas) and have become great and rich, and lord of extensive treasures (Benda and Larkin, 1967:78).
This was the initial European incursion into Southeast Asia and was not only a mercantilist (Theory and system of political economic expansion) and imperialist expansionism. It was also an adjunct or attached to the centuries-old crusade against Muslims. More particularly, it was an expedition-operation into Southeast Asia of the long centuries of Iberian (pertaining to the ethnologic primitive groups inhabiting the Caucasus mountain range of the Soviet Union, called Caucasoid) warfare against the “moors”-Muslims of North Africa and Morocco.
H.R.H. Sultan Sharif Maulana Paduka Ahmad Carpenter Arpa-V
Ibni Maharaja Adinda Taup Angging (Anddin) Zein Ul-Abidin
SULTAN SULUK NEGARA
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His Royal Highness
Maharaja Adinda Mohammad Betatar Carpenter Arpa - VI
In the second half of the 16th century, Spain joined Portugal in waging a crusade in Asia against Islam. The first clash and encounter of arms occurred in 1569 near Cebu, where Suluans and Bornean allies were driven off their communities of UMMA. Then Spanish conquest of Mindoro Island and then the Manila area in 1570, and in 1571 followed by Spanish military expeditions to Borneo, and to Mindanao and Sulu later in that decade.
In this present state of affairs, let us focus on the said differences of the problem with the aim of understanding why, from the Muslim standpoint, these differences are “inflammable” and to understand what may be done to make it “fireproof”. His Highness exhorts that we fervently be asking Mahasutsi (ever all loving) Allah in bringing all back to the folds of the law of our land, Shari’a law; as undoubtedly as it was totally to Prophet-Nabi Mohammad (Sallawlahu Alayhi Wassalam) whom the completed message of Allah was given by which the unlettered prophet with no education nor instruction by other Human being, knew what he had have written in the Qur’an that stipulated Islam as man`s religion; stating… “your religion is Islam (Peace) and have given to you, Mohammad, the same religion as given to the prophets before you… And that is the religion of Goodness (derives peace)”. Thus, the religion for all. Evident and unknowly in the Bible old testament. However, Allah knows better.
In His Highness’ analysis, and in perspectives, we have described the post-war (World War-II) resurgence of Islam and deepening of Islamic consciousness amongst Muslims. GRP efforts and since President Quezon, to attract Muslims of the Sultanate lands and territories, the latter’s attention away from the Malayas and the Islamic World, mass migration of non-Muslims from the Luzon areas into the Mindanaos and (Sulus-Sultanate lands/territories), and to integrate Muslims into the GRP National Non-Muslim System, have fallen short of success.
Islamic consciousness can be described and should be understood, in terms of three (3) elements; and that is its Psychological identity, its Ideal of UMMA and its concept of Dar Ul-Islam (Adobe Of Peace).In as much as these elements are important in the (mind set) minds of Muslims, they try to define their position with the Christian Philippine Republic and Nation. The said Republic might not even begin to understand the deeper issues of their relation with Muslims until they get to appreciate the fact that these elements are important parts of the conscious and subconscious (MIND-SET) mind of Muslims.
H.R.H. Sultan Sharif Maulana Paduka Ahmad Carpenter Arpa-V
Ibni Maharaja Adinda Taup Angging (Anddin) Zein Ul-Abidin
SULTAN SULUK NEGARA
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His Royal Highness
Maharaja Adinda Mohammad Betatar Carpenter Arpa - VI
The Psychological Identity, by which an average Muslim may not have a very sophisticated knowledge of the classical theology, Philosophy and legal formulations of Islam and may even confuse some Pre-Islamic superstitions and customary practices with the essentials of Islam. But know the essence and/or basic teachings and duties of their faith. Muslims are aware that their religion sets them apart from Non-Muslims, binds them together as a community and governs every aspect of their lives, as both religion and government, in Islam, is one and only. Moreover, no question of the psychological disposition or ordinary so-called “moros” to be Muslims. This disposition (In its Final analysis) is the only criterion (even in Islamic law) by which their degree of “muslimness” and/or of being Muslims may be judged. However, among them are a number of well learned, solid and extensively learned UMMAHS, and are held with high respect. Some recognized as belonging to the Ulama-the body of religious leaders regarded as qualified on Islamic religious and legal matters affecting the community of Muslims. Islam, whatever its doctrinal grasp of it, provides us Muslims, at the very least, with a crucial psychological view of the meaning of our existence. It shields us from any suggested or implied unbearable thought to have a fleeting and insignificant individual life, but links us to a larger and more enduring purpose, the Will of Allah.
“Islam” and “Muslim”, comes from the same Arabic root word meaning “Submission”. This constitutes a faith-ideology which is vital to Muslim existence and gives meaning to their lives, no matter how enduring (whether rich or poor). Any threat to this Ideology would be intolerable and would represent a kind of “psychological death” which is harder to contemplate than physical/biological death. An example of such threat was the GRP Elections of 1971-1972 Constitutional Convention by which Muslim GRP Officials in the Sultanate lands/territories where replaced, and/or given a difficult process to be electoral nominees; as Non-Muslims practically given the government positions. Even more traumatic than this physical extermination or the prospect of it, is the fear to be totally submerged in a Non-Muslim based National Pilipino Identity. Historically, Muslims in the Sultanates lands and territories have suffered much defending the independence of their homelands (Seen as part of Dar Ul-Islam or Adobe of Peace) and its ways of life as understood as Sanctioned in the Qur’an and Islamic Customs.
H.R.H. Sultan Sharif Maulana Paduka Ahmad Carpenter Arpa-V
Ibni Maharaja Adinda Taup Angging (Anddin) Zein Ul-Abidin
SULTAN SULUK NEGARA
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His Royal Highness
Maharaja Adinda Mohammad Betatar Carpenter Arpa - VI
Unable to prevent the physical conquest of our homeland/s and its administration by the Philippine Republic, our peoples have nevertheless continue striving, against what threats to our Psychologically Anchored Islamic Identity. It is one cause why many of our Muslim peoples (Even in other parts of the world) turn to movements which help them come to grips with such forces as colonialism, secularism, kaffiric (offensive and Vulgar) modernism and communism which threatens the Muslim’s all-embracing faith-ideology. Muslims in the Mindanao’s and Sulus understand themselves as striving for deliverance from a tyrannical, oppressive “Echo” of colonialism that imposes its own Godhood with some man-made laws, such law as; the human security act, a law impose upon thru mere reasonable doubt or mere personal suspicion that can be use for personal vendetta upon others. While SHARI`A cannot issue laws in contravention to the QURA`N and SUNNAH.
THE UMMA IDEAL, from the Islamic viewpoint, the fundamental concern in some cases of such movements is to preserve, or to recover, or to restore as much possible the UMMA, the Islamic social community in which the divinely prescribed faith-ideology, with its accrued doctrines, customs and laws (ADAT) may find full expression. All Muslims belong, by virtue of being Muslims, to the worldwide non-territorial UMMA of ISLAM no matter where they live (Shorter Encyclopedia of Islam, 1965: 603-604), And Perhaps most Muslims, as individuals, seek to be part of the UMMA on the local level. Muslims feel that in order to be Fully-A-Muslim, they must belong to a local community which maintains the essentials of the Islamic social order.
As did Dean Majul cited and had addressed Muslims, Questions now facing individual Muslims in the Mindanao’s and Sulus; Moreover, in the rest of the archipelagic islands is whether to have desire in having and/or preserving the Muslim-Islamic Social order in their lands and communities, testifying to the oneness of Allah and the prophethood of Mohammad (Sallawlahu Alayhi Wassalam) and adhering to the fundamentals of Islam. It is not a question of whether Muslims want to exist as individuals or not, but a question explicitly whether the Muslims want to preserve their existence as an UMMA.
It is inconsistent and impossible for a Muslim to claim that he is, and not advocate the existence of the Muslim Community and as being an UMMA. Moreover, that Allah has commanded believers (Muslims) to act as a community or as a nation…It has been clearly demonstrated that no one can be a good Muslim, unless he works for the unity and cohesion of the Muslim Community and/or Nation, As well as its social well being