Pengaruh al-Manar terhadap Pemikiran Islah: Tumpuan Terhadap Permintaan Fatwa oleh Penduduk Tanah Melayu, 1905-1918 (The Influence of al-Manar on Reformist Thought: Focus on the Requests for Fatwas from the People of Malaya, 1905-1918)

Abstract

Al-Manar (1898–1940) is a religious magazine in Arabic published by Rashid Rida (1865–1935) in Egypt. One of the distinctive features of Al-Manar was a special column that allowed readers to submit religious questions directly to the author. Not only Arabs and people from the Middle East utilized this feature, but also the people of Malaya, including the Malays, actively participated by submitting their own religious inquiries to Al-Manar. This raises the question, what religious issues prompted such significant interest from the people of Malaya, leading them to seek answers from al-Manar? To address this, the study examines the demand for fatwas in al-Manar from the people of Malaya between 1905 and 1918, including those from Malay students studying in Egypt. The study employs a qualitative library research methodology, consulting various primary sources, including magazines. While al-Manar serves as the main reference, other magazines such as al Imam, Pengasoh, and Tunas Melayu are also referenced. Additionally, several secondary sources, including books and articles, are consulted. The study shows that al-Manar had a significant impact on the development of reformist thought in Malaya as the people of Malaya sought various fatwas from the magazine. Between 1905 and 1918, the people of Malaya submitted several questions to the author of al-Manar concerning issues of faith, jurisprudence, and knowledges. This highlights the importance of al-Manar as a source of fatwa for the people of Malaya when they were uncertain about obtaining a fatwa.