Isahak, Nur Nashrah and Abdul Rahim, Adibah
(2020)
The response of Syed Sheikh Al-Hadi (1867-1934) to educational
concerns among the Malays in Malaya.
Al-Itqan: Journal of Islamic Sciences and Comparative Studies, 4 (2).
pp. 51-68.
E-ISSN 2600-8432
Abstract
The impact of British colonization on Malaya brought about various demographical changes among the Malays. Under the British colonization, the Malays were left behind in the state of backwardness and stagnation. Syed Sheikh al-Hadi (1867-1934) was one of the pioneers of the Malay reformists during the colonial period who observed the backwardness state of the Malays and felt responsible to bring changes in the condition and the way of thinking among them. This study attempts at investigating the approaches of Syed Sheikh al-Hadi in reviving the backwardness of Malay society through his educational reform. He believed that through education, the backward state of Malays can be improved to become a progressive
nation. For the purpose of the study, the paper focuses on selected issues approached by Syed Sheikh al-Hadi related to educational concerns in the Malay community. Four major issues will be highlighted, namely his opposition to blind imitation (taqlid), the elimination of superstition (khurafat) and innovation (bid‟ah), the establishment of the madrasah
system, and the importance of knowledge and education among the Malay women. The ideas of Syed Sheikh al Hadi on these issues had brought about the significant influence on the Malay society during his time. The study found that Syed Sheikh al-Hadi has contributed remarkably to the
progress and development of the Malays in Malaya through the educational field particularly in his writings and establishing educational institutions. It was also traced that Syed Sheikh al-Hadi was greatly influenced by the educational reform in Egypt and brought the idea back to Malaya.
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