Buya Hamka is one of the prominent figures in Nusantara. Through his dedication and contributions in the field of knowledge, the name Buya Hamka has become increasingly recognized among the public. His role in politics and organizational endeavors has also propelled his career. In a testament to his significant contributions to the realms of scholarship and Indonesian politics, his life story was adapted for the silver screen on April 19, 2023.
Buya Hamka’s Profile
Haji Abdul Malik Karim Amrullah, more commonly known as Buya Hamka, was born in the village of Molek, Maninjau, West Sumatra in 1908. The title “Buya” is a term of respect used by the Minangkabau people for an esteemed individual, akin to “father” in English. In Minangkabau, “Buya” holds the meaning of “our father,” a loanword from the Arabic language, where it translates to “abi” or “abuya.” On the other hand, “Hamka” is an abbreviation of his full name. During his childhood, Buya Hamka was more often addressed as Abdul Malik.
Buya Hamka hailed from a devoutly religious lineage. His father, Haji Abdul Karim Amrullah, also known as Haji Rasul bin Syekh Muhammad Amarullah bin Tuanku Abdullah Saleh, was a scholar who delved deep into religious studies in Mecca. He was a pioneer of the awakening of the youth and a prominent figure in the Muhammadiyah movement in Minangkabau. His mother’s name was Siti Shafiyah Tanjung binti Haji Zakaria. Buya Hamka was the eldest of four siblings. His younger siblings were Abdul Kuddus, Asma, and Abdul Mu’thi.
When Buya Hamka’s family moved from Maninjau to Padang Panjang in 1914, he began his education in the basics of religion and Quranic studies at home under his parents’ guidance. A year later, his father enrolled him in a village school. In 1916, Buya Hamka started attending a religious school established by Zainuddin Labai. During his early years, Buya Hamka’s routine involved attending the village school in the morning, religious school in the afternoon, and spending his evenings at the Surau with peers.
Buya Hamka received his elementary education at the Maninjau Elementary School until the second level. He then continued his education at Sumatera Thawalib in Padang Panjang, an institution founded by his own father. There, he studied the Arabic language and delved into religious studies in Surau and mosques under the guidance of renowned scholars such as Sutan Mansur, RM. Surjoparonto, Ki Bagus Hadikusumo, Syekh Ahmad Rasyid, and Syekh Ibrahim Musa.
Apart from his devoutness, Buya Hamka was also known for his intelligence, diligence, and brilliance. His success in acquiring knowledge extended beyond formal education, as he was an autodidact in various fields, including philosophy, literature, history, sociology, and politics, both in the Islamic and Western contexts. With his proficiency in the Arabic language, Buya Hamka extensively studied the works of prominent scholars and literary figures from the Middle East, such as Mustafa al-Manfaluti, Abbas al-Aqqad, Husain Haikal, Jurji Zaidan, and Zaki Mubarak. He also delved into the works of Western scholars like Albert Camus, William James, Sigmund Freud, Arnold Toynbee, Jean-Paul Sartre, Karl Marx, and Pierre Loti.
In 1927, Buya Hamka embarked on a teaching career by becoming a religious instructor at the Tebing Tinggi Plantation in Medan. Two years later, he also began teaching in Padang Panjang. His educational journey continued as he taught at the Islamic University of Jakarta and the Muhammadiyah University of Padang Panjang from 1957 to 1958. Buya Hamka was also entrusted with the role of rector at the Islamic University of Jakarta.
Besides his dedication to knowledge, Buya Hamka was actively involved in the social and community organization, Muhammadiyah. He played a crucial role in the declaration of Muhammadiyah’s establishment in 1925. He served as the chairman of the Makassar branch of Muhammadiyah in 1928, later becoming the Chairman of the Muhammadiyah Leadership Council in West Sumatra in 1946. In 1953, he assumed the role of Advisor to the Central Leadership of Muhammadiyah.
In the political arena, Buya Hamka was a member of Sarekat Islam in 1925. In 1947, he was appointed as the chairman of the National Defense Front and also served as a member of the Masyumi Constituent Assembly. Unfortunately, when Sukarno’s government dissolved Masyumi in 1960, four years later, in 1964-1966, Buya Hamka was imprisoned on charges of being pro-Malaysia.
Before his foray into politics, he was a writer and editor. In the 1920s, Buya Hamka worked as a journalist for several newspapers, including Pelita Andalas, Seruan Islam, Bintang Islam, and Seruan Muhammadiyah. In 1928, Hamka became the editor of the magazine Kemajuan Masyarakat, and in 1932, he ventured into editing and publishing with the magazine al-Mahdi in Makasar. He also served as the editor for magazines like Pedoman Masyarakat, Panji Masyarakat, and Gema Islam.
In recognition of his contributions to the academic world, Buya Hamka received an honorary doctorate, “doctor honoris causa,” from Al-Azhar University in 1958 and from the National University of Malaysia in 1974. He also received other titles and honors from the Indonesian government, such as Datuk Indono and Pengeran Wiroguno. On July 26, 1975, when the first Indonesian Council of Ulama was formed, Buya Hamka was unanimously chosen as its chairman.
Buya Hamka married Siti Raham on April 5, 1929. At the time, Buya Hamka was 21 years old, and Siti Raham was 15. This union blessed Buya Hamka and his wife with ten children: Zaki Hamka, Rusjdi Hamka, Fachry Hamka, Azizah Hamka, Irfan Hamka, Aliyah Hamka, Fathiyah Hamka, Hilmi Hamka, Afif Hamka, and Shaqib Hamka. Following the passing of Siti Raham, Buya Hamka married Siti Khadijah in August 1973. However, their marriage did not result in any offspring.
After stepping down from his role in the Council of Ulama, Buya Hamka’s health began to deteriorate, necessitating extensive medical care. Shortly after being hospitalized on July 18, 1981, Buya Hamka passed away on Friday, July 24, 1981, at the age of 73. His remains were laid to rest at his residence on Jalan Raden Fatah III. In a final tribute, his funeral was attended not only by his students, friends, and relatives but also by prominent figures of the nation, including President Soeharto, Vice President Adam Malik, Minister of State for the Environment Emil Salim, and Minister of Transportation Azwar Anas.
Buya Hamka’s Works
His magnum opus, “Tafsir al-Azhar,” stands as a phenomenal achievement. This commentary is notable for its literary and sociocultural orientation, inspired by the principles of Sheikh Muhammad Abduh (1849-1905). This literary and sociocultural approach explicates the verses of the Quran that directly relate to societal life and offers solutions in language that is both comprehensible and melodious.
“Tafsir al-Azhar” has brought significant recognition to Buya Hamka in the intellectual landscape of Indonesian Islam. What makes it even more remarkable is the fact that he penned this commentary while incarcerated. “Tafsir al-Azhar” is widely acknowledged by diverse circles as Buya Hamka’s finest and most monumental work. Through this commentary, he sought to connect the history of modern Islam with the study of the Quran and ventured beyond traditional interpretations.
With his writing skills, Buya Hamka also produced numerous works, primarily in the field of literature. There are approximately 90 titles authored by Buya Hamka. Some of his renowned works include “Tenggelamnya Kapal Van Der Wijck” (1938), “Di Bawah Lindungan Ka’bah” (1938), “Tasawuf Modern” (1939), “Tuan Direktur” (1939), “Falsafah Hidup” (1940), “Merantau ke Deli” (1941), and many others. Beyond books, Buya Hamka wrote various articles and short stories across different genres.
*translated from here.