Birth and Lineage
Sheikh Abdul Samad was born in 1116 H (1704 CE) in Palembang, South Sumatra. According to the Encyclopedia of Islam, his full name was Abdul al-Samad al-Jawi Al-Palembani.
His lineage traces back to Arab ancestry through his father, Sheikh Abdul Jalil bin Sheikh Abdul Wahhab bin Sheikh Ahmad al-Mahdani. Sheikh Abdul Jalil was a scholar from Yemen who became the Mufti of Kedah in the early 18th century. His mother, Radin Ranti, was a woman from Palembang and the second wife of Sheikh Abdul Jalil, who had previously married Wan Zainab, the daughter of Dato' Sri Maharaja Dewa of Kedah.
Sheikh Abdul Jalil was a prominent Sufi scholar and religious teacher in Palembang. Like many Arabs who traveled to the Nusantara (Malay Archipelago) to spread Islam, he taught Islamic knowledge in Palembang. During his travels, he met and mentored Tengku Muhammad Jiwa, the Crown Prince of Kedah, who later followed him on various journeys, including to India. During one of these travels, they received news of the Sultan of Kedah’s passing.
Tengku Muhammad Jiwa then invited Sheikh Abdul Jalil to return to Kedah with him. In 1112 H (1700 CE), the prince was crowned as Sultan, and Sheikh Abdul Jalil was appointed as the Mufti of Kedah and married Wan Zainab. Three years later, Sheikh Abdul Jalil returned to Palembang at the request of his longing students. There, he married Radin Ranti and had a son, Abdul Samad.
Early Life and Education
Like most children of his time, Sheikh Abdul Samad received religious instruction from his father, Sheikh Abdul Jalil, as well as from teachers in his village. His keen interest in religious knowledge was evident from a young age.
In addition to learning in his hometown, he pursued religious studies in Kedah and Patani (Southern Thailand). He was a close companion of Sheikh Daud bin Abdullah al-Fattani while studying at Pondok Pauhbuk, Mayur, Pattani. Even as a student, he was recognized as a remarkable scholar, which led to his appointment as the student leader.
Unsatisfied with his knowledge, his father sent him to Makkah and Madinah, where he spent 30 years in Makkah and five years in Madinah. In Makkah, he studied alongside other Nusantara scholars such as Muhammad Arsyad Al-Banjari, Abdul Wahhab Bugis, Abdul Rahman Al-Batawi, and Sheikh Daud Al-Fattani. Despite living in Makkah, he remained deeply concerned with the social, political, and religious developments in his homeland.
Studies in MakkahIn Makkah and Madinah, Sheikh Abdul Samad studied various disciplines under prominent scholars of his time. He had a strong inclination toward Tasawwuf (Islamic mysticism) and, besides studying Tasawwuf at the Masjid al-Haram, he sought other teachers and read books on Tasawwuf that were not taught there.
He established his career in the Haramain (Makkah and Madinah), dedicating his time to writing and teaching. Despite this, he continued to monitor the state of Islam and Muslims in the Nusantara. His writings not only spread Tasawwuf teachings but also urged Muslims to wage jihad against European colonialists.
Sheikh Abdul Samad played an active role in addressing two major issues faced by the people of his homeland—the spread of Islamic teachings and the challenge of Western colonialism. Regarding da’wah (Islamic propagation), he warned against deviant teachings that strayed from Islam, particularly forms of Tasawwuf that neglected Shariah. On colonialism, he wrote books in Arabic to inspire jihad against European colonizers. His works significantly influenced the Muslim struggle against Dutch colonial rule in Palembang and beyond.
Major Works- Zuhrah al-Murid fi Bayan Kalimah al-Tauhid (1178 H / 1764 CE) – Written in Malay in Makkah at the request of Indonesian students who were not proficient in Arabic, focusing on Tauhid (Islamic monotheism).
- Hidayah al-Salikin Fi Suluk Maslak al-Muttaqin (1192 H / 1778 CE) – An adaptation of Bidayatul Hidayah by Imam Al-Ghazali, covering Aqidah (Islamic creed), Shariah (Islamic law), and Tasawwuf. This book has been widely printed in Makkah, Bombay, and Cairo.
- Siyar al-Salikin ila Ibadat Rabb al-Alamin (completed in Ta’if in 1778 CE) – Based on Lubab Ihya' Ulumiddin by Imam Al-Ghazali, this work was written between 1779 and 1788 in Makkah and Ta’if.
- Tuhfat al-Raghibin fi Bayan Haqiqat Iman al-Mukminin (1774 CE) – Contains discussions on jihad (war sabil), with copies preserved in the National Library of Jakarta and Leningrad.
- Al-'Urwah al-Wusqa wa Silsilah Ulil-Ittiqa’ – Written in Arabic, focusing on wirid (remembrance prayers) to be recited at specific times.
- Ratib 'Abdal-Samad – A pocketbook of dhikr (remembrances), praises, and supplications performed after the Isha prayer.
- Zad al-Muttaqin fi Tauhid Rabb al-'Alamin – A summary of Tauhid teachings from Sheikh Muhammad al-Samman in Madinah.
His Approach to Tasawwuf
Sheikh Abdul Samad’s two major works, Siyar al-Salikin and Hidayah al-Salikin, reflect the shift of 18th-century scholars towards the Sunni Tasawwuf of Imam Al-Ghazali, moving away from the Wahdatul Wujud doctrine of Ibn al-‘Arabi that was once dominant in Aceh.
He is considered to have taken a middle path between Al-Ghazali’s Tasawwuf and Ibn al-‘Arabi’s Wahdatul Wujud, emphasizing intellectual purification and moral behavior. He sought to harmonize Shariah and Tasawwuf, making Tauhid a key aspect of his teachings.
Jihad and Martyrdom
Sheikh Abdul Samad actively participated in the Pattani-Kedah war against the Siamese invasion in 1832. Historical records note 12 battles between Pattani and Siam. Alongside Sheikh Daud Al-Fattani, he left Makkah to join the jihad in 1832.
He was appointed as a war commander and ultimately attained martyrdom in battle in 1828 CE. His grave was recently discovered by historians in Pattani, in the village of Mukim Jenung, Chanaa, near Pondok Bantrap.
ConclusionSheikh Abdul Samad Al-Falimbani’s story serves as a source of inspiration for Muslims in deepening their Islamic knowledge and upholding their faith. His contributions in Tasawwuf, Islamic scholarship, and resistance against colonialism remain a valuable legacy for generations to come.
Sheikh Abdul Samad Al-Falimbani: His Life and Contributions
