Religious Authority in Colonial and Postcolonial Mandailing: Intellectual Traditions of Syekh Ali Hasan Ahmad Addary

Abstract

This study examines the intellectual tradition of Sheikh Ali Hasan Ahmad Addary in South Tapanuli, employing a biographical approach and utilizing Max Weber’s theory of authority. Weber identifies three types of authority—traditional, charismatic, and rational-legal—which are applied in the context of Sheikh Ali Hasan’s role. His traditional authority is intertwined with his background in a family of Mandailing scholars and his deep pesantren education. His charismatic authority developed through his personal reputation as a highly educated scholar with expertise in various Islamic disciplines, which attracted many followers. His rational-legal authority is evident in his contributions to formal institutions, such as the religious court and higher education, which further solidified his position in society. This research highlights how these three forms of authority interact, shaping Sheikh Ali Hasan’s image as a scholar who is influential not only in the field of education but also within the Islamic intellectual network in North Sumatra. Thus, his contributions to the development of Islamic education are highly significant and have a broad impact.