Colonialism, society and reforms: the contributions of the Malay reformists to the educational reforms in Malaya

Early twentieth-century Malaya witnessed the emergence of Islamic reformist movement. Inspired by ‘Muhammad Abduh, Malay reformists, epitomized by the prominent Malay reformist of Hadhrami descent, Sayyid Ahmad al-Hadi discontented with the socio-economic and political conditions of the Malays and criticised the Malay ruling elites and called for reform of their society to meet the challenges of modernity. This paper discusses the contributions of al-Hadi, the prominent Malay reformist on the educational reforms in colonial Malaya. Al-Hadi who epitomized the Malay reformists was discontent with the traditional Islamic education in Malaya because of its inadequacy to prepare the new generation to meet the challenges of modernity. For this purpose, al-Hadi emphasized the reform of Islamic education system through the madrasah, which would offer both the religious and secular subjects. Further, al-Hadi proposed the Malay-Anglo school: integrating the positive elements of the Malay school with the English school for the benefits of the Malay students. To revitalize the society, al-Hadi emphasized that women’s education needed to be addressed urgently. Besides contributing to theoretical discussion, al-Hadi was also involved in various capacities in the establishment and management of several madrasahs: Madrasah Iqbal Islamiyah, Madrasah al-Hadi dan Madrasah al-Masyhur. This study adopts the textual study approach in examining the relevant primary sources. At the same time, it connects the text with the larger socio-historical contexts, which shaped the production of ideas and text. al-Hadi was a progressive thinker and active social critic. This paper focuses on the contributions of al-Hadi to Islamic reformism in Malaya especially in the field of education. Discontent with the traditional Islamic education in Malaya, al-Hadi believed that the traditional Islamic education needs to be reformed urgently. This was so because of its inadequacy to prepare the future generation to meet the challenges of modernity. For this purpose, al-Hadi emphasized the reform of Islamic education system through the madrasah, which would offer both the religious and secular subjects. Further, al-Hadi proposed the Malay-Anglo school: integrating the positive elements of the Malay school with the English school for the benefits of the Malay students. To revitalize the society, al-Hadi emphasized that women’s education needed to be addressed urgently. Besides contributing to theoretical discussion, al-Hadi was also involved in various capacities in the establishment and management of several madrasahs: Madrasah Iqbal Islamiyah, Madrasah al-Hadi dan Madrasah al-Masyhur