The controversy surrounding Bahar bin Smith as a descendant of Prophet Muhammad remains a controversial topic on social media. However, his inconsistency in mentioning his descendant number, from the 29th to the 38th, raises doubts and suspicions for some people.



The controversy surrounding Bahar bin Smith cannot be avoided. He has been imprisoned and his lectures are known to be harsh. However, he is just one of the many Habibs in Indonesia, and should not be the sole reference for understanding the concept of Habib as a whole.


Habib itself is a quite heterogeneous group, with various social, political, and cultural affiliations. Although there is often contestation among them, in essence, Habib has an extraordinary contribution in showing positive things in society.


The phenomenon of Habib in Indonesia has become a dynamic area of study, where many researches have been conducted with different focuses and approaches. Some of them can be found in the writing of Marx Woorward and team, Daniel Androw Birchok, and the dissertation of Syamsul Rijal, which later became a book.


Syamsul Rijal's dissertation at ANU presents dense data and critical analysis of the phenomenon of religious activism by young Habibs in contemporary Indonesia. In his book, he explains that Habibs are increasingly playing a strong role in Indonesia, related to global and local contexts.


Through historical, sociological and anthropological approaches, Rijal presents interesting information about the religious activities of Habibs. The book provides insights that are not widely known by the public about the inner side of their religious activities.


In this context, the prediction of Bahar bin Smith as a descendant of Prophet Muhammad remains a myth that cannot be tested for its truthfulness. However, as a wise society, we should not focus too much on a single figure to understand the concept of Habib as a whole. Instead, we must be open to wider knowledge and information about the phenomenon of Habib in Indonesia.