Middle-East Journal of Scientific Research 7 (Special Issue of Diversity of Knowledge on Middle East): 14-21, 2011 ISSN 1990-9233 © IDOSI Publications, 2011 Corresponding Author: Adibah Sulaiman, Centre of Core Studies, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, 71800 Bandar Baru Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia, E-mail: adibah@usim.edu.my. 14 Syed Shaykh Ahmad Alhady: A Religious Education Reformist in the Late 19 and Early 20 Century th th Adibah Sulaiman, Ezad Azraai Jamsari, Kamaruzaman Jusoff, Noor Inayah Yaakub 1 2,3 6 4 Wan Kamal Mujani, Wan Mohd Hirwani Wan Hussain and Zinatul Ashiqin Zainol 2.3 4 5 Centre of Core Studies, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, 71800 Bandar Baru Nilai,Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia 1 Department of Arabic Studies and Islamic Civilization, Faculty of Islamic Studies 2 Institute of West Asian Studies (IKRAB) 3 Graduate School of Business (GSB), Faculty of Law, 4 5 Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43650 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia Faculty of Forestry, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400 Selangor, Malaysia 6 Abstract: This study examines important sources that related to Syed Shaykh b. Ahmad Alhady. The reasons for choosing him are he was among the first persons to be able to bring about reforms in Malaya and was the most vocal reformist in Malaya during his time, when compared to his contemporaries such as Shaykh Tahir b. Jalaluddin, Hj. Abbas b. Taha and Mohd. Yunus b. Abdul Hamid. The objective of the writing is to seek out materials which are deemed relevant and promising sources for the study of Syed Shaykh. The research mainly uses library and archive research methods to identify sources concerning Syed Shaykh. It is found that there are several works on Syed Shaykh but almost all placed excessive attention on his thoughts on education. Writing on the sources for the study of Syed Shaykh is considered meaningful as no other authors have been known to have done anything similar. Besides, this study may provide a fast access to the available sources and they are feasible to all, especially those who are interested to study on him. Key words: Syed Shaykh % Sources % Reformist % Modernist % Novelist % Journalist % Education INTRODUCTION national and international affairs. The British Between 1882 and 1906, the Europeans dominated many different parties; among the European powers many regions of the world, i.e. France in North Africa, themselves and between Egypt and the Ottomans [1]. Britain in India and Africa, Russia in Central Asia and In Egypt, the British occupation generated self- Holland in Southeast Asia. The waning state of the appraisal among the educated Muslims to include al- Ottomans stirred reform movements in several countries Afghani and his disciple, Muhammad ‘Abduh (1849-1905), such as Egypt and India, led by Jamal al-Din al-Afghani on the weakness of Islamic institution. They all saw the (1838-1897) and Syed Ahmad Khan (1817-1898) need for serious reform. The religious reforms needed to respectively [1]. Explicit opposition towards European be designed to suit the needs of modern realities. Among colonialists began in the early 1870s. A volatile reaction the Malay scholars in Malaya who showed a great reached its peak when the British occupied Egypt in interest in the ideas of reform and modernization as September 1882. In fact, the British occupation was not disseminated by al-Afghani, ‘Abduh and Ahmad Khan opposed by its colony alone. It also raised objections was Syed Shaykh b. Ahmad Alhady (1867-1934). It is from other European powers and the Ottomans. This was probably right to say that his interest in the modernists’ because the occupation had an impact on their vested ideas was associated with his opinion that reform could interests in Egypt, i.e. on their financial, administrative, improve the inhabitants of Malaya. consequently created a labyrinthine conflict that involved