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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.
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
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.
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.
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
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.