An Arab Indonesian Singing Preacher, an Islamic Mass Concert, and the Historic Capture of a Public Space in Malaysia

Abstract

ABSTRACT Habib Syech bin Abdul Qodir Assegaf, a well-known Arab Indonesian singing preacher, transposed to Malaysia a model of performing selawat (praise songs) in Islamic mass concerts that captured public spaces in Indonesia. By ‘capture’, this article suggests both the sanctification of a physical space and the promotion of a heightened Islamic religiosity within that space. In 2014, Habib Syech performed in a mass concert held in Putrajaya, the administrative capital of Malaysia. This article explores this concert as a form of religious mediation that was facilitated by the transposition to Malaysia of the highly visible public role of descendants of the Prophet in Indonesia as well as Malaysia’s political leadership and state agencies. The concert had two historic outcomes. First, it heightened the status of descendants of the Prophet in Malaysia before a massive audience gathered at the location and others watching the live broadcast in distant places. Second, it captured Putrajaya through a mix of selawat, enchantment, charismatic performance, and prayer.