Hamka
Encyclopedia
Haji Abdul Malik Karim Amrullah, known as Hamka (born in kampung Molek Sungai Batang Agam Regency
, West Sumatra
February 17, 1908 - and died in Jakarta July 24, 1981) was a prominent Indonesia
n author, ulema
and politician. His father, syekh Abdul Karim Amrullah
, known as Haji Rasul, led and inspired the reform movement in Sumatra
upon his arrival from the holy land Mecca
in 1906. In 1970's, Hamka was the leader of Majelis Ulama Indonesia, an extra government Muslim organizations in Indonesia which, have power to produce Fatwa
, and contains ulema and scholar from Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah
.
He was given the title Buya, derived from the Arabic word Abi or Abuya meaning Father or someone respectable.
Hamka was only getting a relatively low education in Maninjau Elementary School. He reached only until grade 2. But when he was about 10 years old, his father founded the Thawalib or religious teaching school in his hometown Padang Panjang
. Hamka then learned and mastered Arabian language. He also took mentors from famous Muslim scholars such as Syeikh Ibrahim Musa, Syeikh Ahmad Rasyid, Sutan Mansur, R.M. Surjopranoto and Ki Bagus Hadikusumo.
At the beginning Hamka worked as a religion teacher in 1927 at a plantation in Tebing Tinggi
, Medan
and also in Padang Panjang around the year 1929. Hamka then worked as a teacher in University of Islam, Jakarta and University of Muhammadiyah, Padang Panjang from 1957 to 1958. After that, he became the rector in High Institute of Islam, Jakarta and given the title Professor from University of Mustopo, Jakarta. From 1951 to 1960, he was given in the position as a Religion High Officer by the Ministry of Religion, Indonesia, but he deliberately step off from the position when the former Indonesian first President Sukarno asked him to choose between taking up with the position of civil employee or becoming a political activist in Muslim organization Majelis Syuro Muslimin Indonesia (Masyumi).
Hamka was an autodidact in many subjects such as philosophy, literature, history, sociology and politics, both from Islamic side and Western side. With his skillful ability in Arabic language, he mastered the works from those Middle Easterners high scholars such as Zaki Mubarak, Jurji Zaidan, Abbas al-Aqqad, Mustafa al-Manfaluti and Hussain Haikal.
Through his skill in Arabic Language also he examined the works of French, British and German scholars such as Albert Camus, William James, Sigmund Freud, Arnold Toynbee, Jean Paul Sartre, Karl Marx and Pierre Loti. Hamka was a hungry reader and like to do discussions with famous figures in Jakarta such as HOS Tjokroaminoto, Raden Mas Surjopranoto, Haji Fachrudin, Ar Sutan Mansur and Ki Bagus Hadikusumo, while sharpen his talent as a gifted and talented public speaker.
Starting the year 1928, he became the leader of Muhamadiyah Organization branch in Padang Panjang. In 1929, Hamka established a training center for preaching in Muhammadiyah and two years later he became Muhamadiyah Consul in Makassar. Following the year, Hamka was elected to be the leader of Leadership Committee of Muhammadiyah in West Sumatera by the Muhammadiyah Conference, replacing S.Y. Sutan Mangkuto in the year 1946. He had reorganized the development in the 31st Muhammadiyah Congress in Yogyakarta in the year 1950.
In 1953, Hamka was chosen to be the counselor in Muhammadiyah Center. On July 26, 1977, the Indonesian Religion Minister Prof. Dr. Mukti Ali elected Hamka as the Leader of Majlis Ulama Indonesia (The Counsel of Muslim Scholars of Indonesia) but then Hamka resigned from this post in the year 1981 when his advices were ignored by the Indonesia government.
There was a misunderstanding between Hamka and then Indonesian President Sukarno about whose side was Hamka in, in the controversy pro-contra Malaysia. From the year 1964 to 1966, Hamka was imprisoned with in-house prison by President Sukarno. Hamka was actually felt grateful for his time in jail. He was always saying, “If I wasn’t in prison, then I wouldn’t have had the time to finish writing the Al Azhar’s Tafsir (translation and teachings of the ‘Koran’). Hamka started to write and finish the Tafsir, which then would turn out to be his greatest scientific work. When he was out from jail Hamka was elected as a member of the National Committee of Integrity Conference, Indonesia, a member of The Indonesian Hajj Travel Committee and a member of National Culture Association, Indonesia.
Hamka also wrote a number of Islamic scientific works, novels and short stories. His biggest scientific works, ‘Tafsir al-Azhar (5 volumes) and many of his novels captured the public’s attention and became the standard text books all the way to Singapore and Malaysia. Among these works are the novel ‘Tenggelamnya Kapal Van Der Wijck’, ‘Di Bawah Lindungan Ka’abah’ and ‘Merantau ke Deli’.
Hamka was awarded with several titles, both national and international scope such as the title ‘Doctor Honoris Causa, from University of Al-Azhar Cairo Egypt, 1958; Doctor Honoris Causa, Universitas Kebangsaan Malaysia, 1974; and the title ‘Datuk Indono’ and dan ‘Prince Wiroguno’ from Indonesian government.
Hamka died on July 24, 1981, but his works and influence are still present until today, especially in the growth and modernization of Islam. Not just as a scholar and a writer in his country, but he was also highly appreciated in Malaysia and Singapore.
Agam Regency
Agam is a regency of West Sumatra, Indonesia. It has an area of 2,232.30 km² and a population of approximately 419,800 people. The capital is Lubuk Basung....
, West Sumatra
West Sumatra
West Sumatra is a province of Indonesia. It lies on the west coast of the island Sumatra. It borders the provinces of North Sumatra to the north, Riau and Jambi to the east, and Bengkulu to the southeast. It includes the Mentawai Islands off the coast...
February 17, 1908 - and died in Jakarta July 24, 1981) was a prominent Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
n author, ulema
Ulema
Ulama , also spelt ulema, refers to the educated class of Muslim legal scholars engaged in the several fields of Islamic studies. They are best known as the arbiters of shari‘a law...
and politician. His father, syekh Abdul Karim Amrullah
Abdul Karim Amrullah
Abdul Karim Amrullah known as Haji Rasul was prominet Muslim reformer who led reformation of Islam in Sumatra.- Personal life :Haji Rasul was born in Sungai Batang, Maninjau, West Sumatra on February 10, 1879. His father was Muslim ulema, Syekh Muhammad Amarullah Tuanku Kisai and his mother Andung...
, known as Haji Rasul, led and inspired the reform movement in Sumatra
Sumatra
Sumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538...
upon his arrival from the holy land Mecca
Mecca
Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...
in 1906. In 1970's, Hamka was the leader of Majelis Ulama Indonesia, an extra government Muslim organizations in Indonesia which, have power to produce Fatwa
Fatwa
A fatwā in the Islamic faith is a juristic ruling concerning Islamic law issued by an Islamic scholar. In Sunni Islam any fatwā is non-binding, whereas in Shia Islam it could be considered by an individual as binding, depending on his or her relation to the scholar. The person who issues a fatwā...
, and contains ulema and scholar from Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah
Muhammadiyah
Muhammadiyah is an Islamic organization in Indonesia. Muhammadiyah, literally means "followers of Muhammad"...
.
Life
In the Dutch colonial era, Hamka was the chief editor of Indonesian magazines, such as Pedoman Masyarakat, Panji Masyarakat, and Gema Islam.He was given the title Buya, derived from the Arabic word Abi or Abuya meaning Father or someone respectable.
Hamka was only getting a relatively low education in Maninjau Elementary School. He reached only until grade 2. But when he was about 10 years old, his father founded the Thawalib or religious teaching school in his hometown Padang Panjang
Padang Panjang
Padang Panjang is located in the cool highlands of West Sumatra, inland from the provincial capital Padang. It sits on a plateau beneath the volcanoes Mount Marapi and Mount Singgalang. It has an area of 23 km² and a population of over 40,000...
. Hamka then learned and mastered Arabian language. He also took mentors from famous Muslim scholars such as Syeikh Ibrahim Musa, Syeikh Ahmad Rasyid, Sutan Mansur, R.M. Surjopranoto and Ki Bagus Hadikusumo.
At the beginning Hamka worked as a religion teacher in 1927 at a plantation in Tebing Tinggi
Tebing Tinggi
Tebing Tinggi Deli or more commonly simply Tebing Tinggi is a chartered city near the eastern coast of North Sumatra, Indonesia. It has an area of 31 km² and a population of about 135,000 people. In the 1990 census, its population was 116,767, 2000 National Census, 125,211, and 2005...
, Medan
Medan
- Demography :The city is Indonesia's fourth most populous after Jakarta, Surabaya, and Bandung, and Indonesia's largest city outside of Java island. Much of the population lies outside its city limits, especially in Deli Serdang....
and also in Padang Panjang around the year 1929. Hamka then worked as a teacher in University of Islam, Jakarta and University of Muhammadiyah, Padang Panjang from 1957 to 1958. After that, he became the rector in High Institute of Islam, Jakarta and given the title Professor from University of Mustopo, Jakarta. From 1951 to 1960, he was given in the position as a Religion High Officer by the Ministry of Religion, Indonesia, but he deliberately step off from the position when the former Indonesian first President Sukarno asked him to choose between taking up with the position of civil employee or becoming a political activist in Muslim organization Majelis Syuro Muslimin Indonesia (Masyumi).
Hamka was an autodidact in many subjects such as philosophy, literature, history, sociology and politics, both from Islamic side and Western side. With his skillful ability in Arabic language, he mastered the works from those Middle Easterners high scholars such as Zaki Mubarak, Jurji Zaidan, Abbas al-Aqqad, Mustafa al-Manfaluti and Hussain Haikal.
Through his skill in Arabic Language also he examined the works of French, British and German scholars such as Albert Camus, William James, Sigmund Freud, Arnold Toynbee, Jean Paul Sartre, Karl Marx and Pierre Loti. Hamka was a hungry reader and like to do discussions with famous figures in Jakarta such as HOS Tjokroaminoto, Raden Mas Surjopranoto, Haji Fachrudin, Ar Sutan Mansur and Ki Bagus Hadikusumo, while sharpen his talent as a gifted and talented public speaker.
Islamic Activist
Hamka also active in the Islamic movement through Muhammadiyah Organization. He was following the belief of Muhammadiyah since 1925 to fight off ‘khurafat’, ‘bidaah’, ‘tarekat’ and other misinterpretation and mistreatments of the Islamic teachings for the Padang Panjang region.Starting the year 1928, he became the leader of Muhamadiyah Organization branch in Padang Panjang. In 1929, Hamka established a training center for preaching in Muhammadiyah and two years later he became Muhamadiyah Consul in Makassar. Following the year, Hamka was elected to be the leader of Leadership Committee of Muhammadiyah in West Sumatera by the Muhammadiyah Conference, replacing S.Y. Sutan Mangkuto in the year 1946. He had reorganized the development in the 31st Muhammadiyah Congress in Yogyakarta in the year 1950.
In 1953, Hamka was chosen to be the counselor in Muhammadiyah Center. On July 26, 1977, the Indonesian Religion Minister Prof. Dr. Mukti Ali elected Hamka as the Leader of Majlis Ulama Indonesia (The Counsel of Muslim Scholars of Indonesia) but then Hamka resigned from this post in the year 1981 when his advices were ignored by the Indonesia government.
Politician
Hamka’s political activities started in 1925 when he became the party member in Islamic Trade Political Party. In 1945, he helped to fight-off the efforts from Netherlands to return to Indonesia through campaigns, speeches and participated in guerrillas’ war in the jungle. In 1947, Hamka was elected leader of Indonesian National Defence Force. He then became Masyumi Constituent and became the main speaker in The Grand Public Election in 1955. Masyumi Party was then banned by the Indonesian Government in 1960.There was a misunderstanding between Hamka and then Indonesian President Sukarno about whose side was Hamka in, in the controversy pro-contra Malaysia. From the year 1964 to 1966, Hamka was imprisoned with in-house prison by President Sukarno. Hamka was actually felt grateful for his time in jail. He was always saying, “If I wasn’t in prison, then I wouldn’t have had the time to finish writing the Al Azhar’s Tafsir (translation and teachings of the ‘Koran’). Hamka started to write and finish the Tafsir, which then would turn out to be his greatest scientific work. When he was out from jail Hamka was elected as a member of the National Committee of Integrity Conference, Indonesia, a member of The Indonesian Hajj Travel Committee and a member of National Culture Association, Indonesia.
Author
Other than his activities in the religious and political sectors, Hamka was also a journalist, a writer, and a publisher. Since the 1920s, Hamka was working as the journalist of several newspaper such as Pelita Andalas, Seruan Islam, Bintang Islam and Seruan Muhammadiyah. In 1928, he was the editor-in-chief of the magazine ‘Kemajuan Masyarakat’. In 1932, he became the editor of the magazine ‘Al-Mahdi’ in Makasar. Hamka also once became the editor for the magazine Pedoman Masyarakat, Panji Masyarakat and Gema Islam.Hamka also wrote a number of Islamic scientific works, novels and short stories. His biggest scientific works, ‘Tafsir al-Azhar (5 volumes) and many of his novels captured the public’s attention and became the standard text books all the way to Singapore and Malaysia. Among these works are the novel ‘Tenggelamnya Kapal Van Der Wijck’, ‘Di Bawah Lindungan Ka’abah’ and ‘Merantau ke Deli’.
Hamka was awarded with several titles, both national and international scope such as the title ‘Doctor Honoris Causa, from University of Al-Azhar Cairo Egypt, 1958; Doctor Honoris Causa, Universitas Kebangsaan Malaysia, 1974; and the title ‘Datuk Indono’ and dan ‘Prince Wiroguno’ from Indonesian government.
Hamka died on July 24, 1981, but his works and influence are still present until today, especially in the growth and modernization of Islam. Not just as a scholar and a writer in his country, but he was also highly appreciated in Malaysia and Singapore.
List of Books and Novels
- Khatibul Ummah (written in Arabic).
- Pembela Islam (History of Abu BakarAbu BakrAbu Bakr was a senior companion and the father-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. He ruled over the Rashidun Caliphate from 632-634 CE when he became the first Muslim Caliph following Muhammad's death...
as-shiddiq) (1929). - Ringkasan Tarikh Ummat Islam (1929).
- Kepentingan Melakukan Tabligh (1929).
- Hikmat Isra' dan Mikraj.
- Revolusi Agama (1946).
- Mandi Cahaya di Tanah Suci (1950).
- Mengembara di Lembah Nil (1950).
- Ditepi Sungai Dajlah (1950).
- Kenangan-kenangan Hidup (4 series, Hamka's autobiography) (1950).
- Sejarah Ummat Islam (4 series).
- 1001 Soal Hidup (1950).
- Pelajaran Agama Islam (1956).
- Sayid Jamaluddin Al-Afghani (1965).
- Ekspansi Ideologi (Alghazwul Fikri) (1963).
- Hak Asasi Manusia Dipandang dari Segi Islam (1968).
- Falsafah Ideologi Islam (1950).
- Keadilan Sosial Dalam Islam (1950).
- Studi Islam (1973).
- Himpunan Khutbah-khutbah.
- Muhammadiyah di Minangkabau (1975).
- Pandangan Hidup Muslim (1960).
- Kedudukan perempuan dalam Islam (1973).
- Tafsir Al-Azhar
- Falsafah hidup
- Falsafah ketuhanan