Modernits Ulama in East Sumatra: The Intellectual Biography of Sheikh Mahmud Khaiyath (1885–1975)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.30821/jiu.v1i2.587Keywords:
ulama, modernist, Arab, Malay, education, AhmadiyahAbstract
This study examines the contributions of Sheikh Mahmud Khaiyath (1885–1975), a modernist scholar from Mecca who played a significant role in the Deli region. The focus of this research encompasses his contributions to education, Islamic preaching, and the independence struggle. Using a historical method that includes heuristics, verification, interpretation, and historiography, the study relies on primary sources such as interviews and historical documents, as well as secondary literature reviews. Max Weber’s theory of authority is employed to analyze his influence. The findings indicate that Sheikh Mahmud modernized the Friday sermon by incorporating a blend of Arabic and Malay, prioritized outdoor Eid prayers, and opposed the teachings of Ahmadiyya and Communist ideologies. In the field of education, he led the Sultanate of Serdang’s madrasa and preached in the plantations to Muslim Javanese workers. As a freedom fighter, he supported weapons logistics and motivated local troops. This research fills a historiographical gap in modernist scholars, highlighting Sheikh Mahmud’s courage in balancing tradition with modernity.
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