The Real Cry of Syed Shaykh Al-Hady: With Selections of His Writings by His Son, Syed Alwi brings together a number of important essays chronicling the life and times of Shaykh al-Hadi, as well as a selection of his important writings published in the journals that he launched and ran. A comprehensive introductory chapter outlines the historical context and sociopolitical milieu that was the cradle for Shaykh al-Hadi. Other essays present us with an intimate record of the man seen through the eyes of his son and grandson, Syed Alwi al-Hadi and Syed Mohamed Alwi respectively. Linda Tan’s essay outlines the mission of the man himself. Perhaps for the first time in Malaysian history, local Malaysian scholars have set out to record the ‘true cry’ of the man who was out of place and out of time, ahead of his peers and contemporaries, and a true visionary in every respect. Syed Shaykh al-Hadi was one of the most revolutionary thinkers and Islamist activists of his generation. It was through the efforts of men like him and Sheikh Mohamad Tahir Jalaludin that the radical ideas of the newer generation of Muslim intellectuals, such as Muhammad Abduh and Rashid Rida, were introduced to the Malay Muslims of the Malay Peninsula.
During his lifetime, Syed Shaykh al-Hadi was regarded as the khalifa (leader) of the Kaum Muda (or the Khalifa Kaum Wahhabi) by his conservative-traditionalist critics. He was particularly interested in reforming the institution of the madrasah and pondok schools, for he believed that modern Islamic education was the key to living many (if not all) of the problems that the Muslims were facing at the time. Syed Shaykh al-Hadi was aided in this task by other Malay Muslim reformers such as Haji Abbas Mohamad Tahar and the Acehnese Sheikh Mohamad Salim al-Kalali, as well as the prominent Libyan reformer, Shaykh Abu Jabir al-Ghadamisi (also known as Shaykh Abd’Allah al-Maghribi). The reform of the Islamic educational system meant, for al-Hadi, the reform of the Muslim mind itself. Along with the introduction of modern subjects like history and science, he also wanted to create a generation of young Muslims who would be able to address the social, economic and political challenges they faced with confidence and determination. He helped to set up numerous madrasah all over the peninsula. Working in collaboration with other reformist activists, Shaykh al-Hadi launched the Madrasah al-Iqbal al-Islamiyyah in Singapore. Later he set up the Madrasah Al-Hadi in Melaka. After moving to Penang, he was involved in the running of the famous Madrasah al-Mashoor al-Islamiyyah, which was destined to play a major role in the development of political Islam in the country.
