Thereal Cry Of Syed Shaykh Al Hady

Syed Shaikh al-Hady lived in a period where the hegemonic position of Traditionalist Islam in the Malay-Muslim society was challenged by modernization. The traditionalist ulama’ perceived modernity as an ideological enemy; but on the other hand Syed Shaikh al-Hady worked and preached for a synthesis between the two. He believed that Islam and modernization are not antagonistic to each other. Instead, both are useful combination to revive the rational and scientific approach within the Islamic discourse hence making it very attractive to the younger generation of his time. And even until today, Syed Shaykh al-Hady remains as an inspiring figure and an icon for the various contemporary Islamic reformist movements that have resumed the work of islah (reform) and tajdid (renewal) for the betterment of the Muslim society.