Hamka: Scholar, Writer, Thinker

By: Mymuslimin.com

When you talk about towering figures in Malay-Indonesian intellectual history, one name stands out: Hamka. Born Haji Abdul Malik Karim Amrullah in 1908 in West Sumatra, he came from a family steeped in religion. His father, Haji Rasul, was a respected ulama and reformist, while his Minangkabau heritage shaped his values of independence and learning. From a young age, Hamka was immersed in Islamic teachings, but he also showed a restless curiosity for literature, philosophy, and the world beyond his village.

Hamka’s greatest contributions were in the fields of Islamic scholarship, literature, and social thought. As an ulama, he became known for interpreting Islam in a way that was both deeply rooted in tradition and relevant to modern society. His monumental work, Tafsir Al-Azhar, is still widely read, offering not just a Quranic commentary but also cultural insights and moral guidance. As a novelist, he wrote Tenggelamnya Kapal Van Der Wijck and Di Bawah Lindungan Ka’bah, stories that combined romance, social critique, and a distinctly Malay voice. These works helped shape modern Indonesian and Malay literature, bridging faith and culture.

Beyond his writing, Hamka was also a public intellectual and leader. He served as the head of the Indonesian Ulama Council (MUI) and was deeply involved in national life during the early decades of Indonesian independence. He advocated for a version of Islam that encouraged education, moral responsibility, and engagement with the wider world. At the same time, he was not afraid to critique colonial legacies or authoritarianism, which sometimes placed him in conflict with political powers of his time.

One of the more fascinating aspects of Hamka’s life was his ability to move between traditional and modern worlds. He admired thinkers from the Middle East and the West, reading widely in philosophy, history, and literature. He translated and adapted ideas for local audiences, always with a view to making Islam relevant to everyday life. At the same time, his novels explored love, family, and society in a way that made him beloved by ordinary readers, not just scholars.

Today, Hamka is remembered not just as an Islamic scholar, but as a cultural icon of Southeast Asia. His books are still in print, his tafsir remains a reference, and his novels continue to inspire adaptations in film and television. More than that, his life stands as a reminder of how one can stay true to faith while engaging critically and creatively with the modern world. Hamka’s story is proof that the pen can be as powerful as the pulpit.

In recent years, Hamka’s legacy has even reached the big screen through films like Buya Hamka (2023), which dramatized his life, struggles, and influence. The movie introduced a new generation to his story, showing that his message of faith, resilience, and intellectual courage still resonates in today’s world.