Tok Kenali in the Political Arena

Tok Kenali was going to Mecca when he is 18 years old. During that time, Mecca was

known not only because of pilgrimage but also popular as the Islamic education However, after

22 years at the Mecca, he decides to go back to Kelantan. There are several reasons due to his

decision to going back to Kelantan and one of it was the death of Shaikh Ahmad al-Fatani-

Allah mercy on him. The death of his teacher made Tok Kenali felt a great void in his life.

However, during his return, Kelantan on that time was in a discussion to make Kelantan subect

to British’s rule. The return of Tok Kenali during the transition of the rulers that control

Kelantan marked the new period of Kelantan that been colonized under British.

Tok Kenali does not involve directly in politics during his time in Kelantan. It is too far

to compare his role in politics role compared to Tok Janggut. Tok Kenali involvement in the

Political arena of Kelantan was through the establishment of pondok. According to the book,

Islam and Colonisation by Muhammad Ali, ‘His (Tok Kenali) teaching and activism in

Kelantan marked a new age of reform for Muslim education in Kelantan, now subject to British

colonial control.’ He believed that, to free form the colonization, Malay people need to have a

knowledge. He urged that it does not only to pursue the religious knowledge, but also modern

knowledge.

To make a great civilization, we need to cultivate the culture on seeking a knowledge.

There a lot of pondok that he established in short time. For example, Pondok Kenali in his

village, Kampung Paya. The establishment of pondok also was a key factor of the new system

of education in Kelantan, as stated in book review of Wan Mazwati in her book, ‘Tok Kenali

is an example of an early modernist in reforming the curriculum and pedagogy of the pondok

system. He established an integrated education system that included examinations so as to

provide the public with more choices of Islamic education.’ It took 5 years, until Tok Kenal
was allowed to teach at the State Mosque and also established Pondok Kubang Pasu. This is

due Dato’ Nik Mahmud persuaded him to move to the bigger place.

The education system in Kelantan was strengthen by the establishment of Jam’iyatul

Khairiah or known as Association of the Good. This was a reaction towards the attempt to

establish union, that may improve the conditions of the Malay people during that time that so

poor to transform them to be rich and not so left behind in the development of the economy.

The establishment of Ja’miyatul Khairiah will be primarily educational amongst children in

Kelantan. Tok Kenali believed that by have a proper level of education, there can compete the

political position in future to make sure Kelantan free from the British colonization. It a good

step when British also agreed with this the proposal. As mentioned by British’s advisor in

Kelantan during that time J.E Bishop ‘This government has no objection to the formation of

the proposed association for the objectives set out in your letter.’ British also agreed that Malay

teachers are allowed to be appointed.

During this time, there was a rule that made by British which the permit to publish any

educational journal were much easier to get compared the permit on creating an organization.

(Ali, 2015) This lead to Tok Kenali encourage Malay people to publish many writings that for

him will serve the community. Kenali also urged all people work in association, that will lead

to be strongerThis where all the things started, when all the Malay reformers were focused on

publishing their writings to be spread to the public. Tok Kenali was appointed as Chief Editor

for the journal like Pengasuh and Al-Hidayah. As mention by Muhammad Ali ‘ Pengasuh, the

only British Malaya journal sponsored by a Sultan. Tok Kenali during his time, published evey

half month in order to serve the Islamic community in the Malay peninsular, particularly in

Kelantan as to giving them compassion and love (to support their) outer material and inner

spiritual needs.’ (Islam& Colonialism,p 45) . ‘Pengasuh’ is the evidence of the emergence of

the new idea among the Islamic leaders. This journal was written in Jawi.
 Tok Kenali also known as Awang Kenali as a his nickname when he wrote a book

usually emphasize criticization towards Malay Muslim civilization as during that most of the

Malays were very depending on British. All the public sector always hold by people from upper

class and also among English people. Besides, the economy condition also poor, compared to

Indians and Chinese during that time more developed as they controlled mining sector and also

rubber plantation. Compared to Malay most of them stay in the rural areas and depends on the

nature products from the forests to be sold. Tok Kenali also put Japanese as the following

example as a role model. He stated that the success of the Japanese people due to of their

hardworking in seeking knowledge made them superior and also not easy to be colonized by

the western states. He also mention that physical development are important other than

religious knowledge, this is because that physical development can put Malay people in the

same level with other races, and also it can avoid from Malay people left behind in developing

an economy.