Syeikh Abdullah Fahim

Syeikh Abdullah Fahim is a Malaysian nationalist and religious scholar. He was Penang's first mufti after Independence. He is also the paternal grandfather of the current Prime Minister of Malaysia, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Abdullah Fahim known as “Pak Him” was born in Mecca, Saudi Arabia in 1869. He was a respected Islamic scholar and had set up and ran many religious schools, also known as "madrasah" or "sekolah pondok". He was the "mudir" or director of Madrasah Idrisiah in Kuala Kangsar. [ [http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/3/26/nation/20751204&sec=nation Zahid the man of religion] , The Star, March 26, 2008.] He also started a "madrasah" in Kepala Batas, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's current hometown. This was around the time he became Penang's first mufti.

He was one of the key people who started Hisbul Muslimin, which later became known as Parti Islam Se-Malaysia or PAS, one of the main opposition parties in Malaysia which fights for an Islamist agenda. Ironically both his son and grandson became leaders in UMNO, the sworn enemy of PAS.

Recently, on 12th February 2008, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi launched Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia's newly set-up Islam Hadhari Institute's first Chair, which was named after Abdullah Fahim.

The Prime Minister in his speech said the Islam Hadhari Institute was the first of its kind in the country and he hoped that it would emerge as a leader in promoting Islam in and outside the country. On the Chair, named in honour of his grandfather's contribution and determination in fighting for the importance of development of Islam in Malaysia, the Prime Minister said he was deeply honoured.

References

* [http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/2/13/nation/20311624&sec=nation Case of three Abdullahs at launching of institute] , The Star, February 13, 2008.