Abdul Wahhab ibn Ibrâhîm al-Âsyî: Pioneer of Modern Hijaz Literature from Aceh Indonesia

 

Abdul Wahhab ibn Ibrâhîm al-Âsyî: Pioneer of Modern Hijaz Literature from Aceh

Abdul Wahhâb ibn Ibrâhîm al-Âsyî is a Meccan scholar from Aceh who is noted as a pioneer in the world of modern literature and journalism in the Hijâz, especially since the early days of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The name Abdul Wahhab Âsyî is very popular in the world of modern Saudi Arabian literary and journalistic studies. However, unlike in his ancestral lands, namely Indonesia in general and Aceh in particular, the name Abdul Wahhab Âsy is almost unknown and isolated.

Abdul Wahhâb Âsyî's big name can be compared to Alî Ahmad Bâ-Katsr, a figure who is noted as a pioneer of modern Arabic drama literature (râid al-masrahiyyah al-'arabiyyah), who is a son of the archipelago from Surabaya and had a brilliant career and reputation in Cairo in the mid-1950s. the first of the 20th century AD.

Abdul Wahhab was born in 1905 (1323 H) in Dâr al-Âsyî (House of Aceh) which is located in the al-Syâmiyyah district in Makkah to parents named Shaykh Ibrâhîm al-Âsyî. The father is listed as one of the Acehnese elders who lives and has a career in Mecca and has great influence.

In the early 14th century AH (late 19th century AD), Shaykh Ibrahim al-Âsyî established a kuttâb (Islamic boarding school for children) in the district, known as Kuttâb Âsyiah. During his journey, this kuttâb was counted as one of the famous kuttâb in Mecca at that time.

Shaykh Ibrahim also established Dâr al-Âsyî (House of Aceh) which consists of four level houses (apartments). The house is intended for his extended family, apart from being a lodging house for pilgrims from Aceh and the surrounding area.

Abdul Wahhâb grew up in the environment of Dâr al-Âsyî. He studied the Qur'an and the basics of Islamic science at Kuttâb Âsyîah established by his father. In that kuttâb, Abdul Wahhab also completed the Qur'an.

At the age of ten, Abdul Wahhab continued his studies at the Madrasa al-Falâh which is also located in Mecca. The scientific environment he got at his grandfather's kuttâb, and also at the al-Falâh madrasa had a great influence on his love and interest in science. He also studied a lot in the scientific halaqahs found in the Masjid al-Haram, in addition to reading a lot of self-taught interdisciplinary books.

In 1341 H (1922 AD), he was appointed as one of the teachers at the al-Fakhriyyah madrasa in Mecca, as well as teaching at his alma mater at the al-Falâh madrasa in 1347 H (1929 AD).

Abdul Wahhab was then more active in the world of literature and journalism. Together with Muhammad Shalih Nashf, he also founded the newspaper "Shaut al-Hijâz" which was published in Mecca in 1350 H (1931 AD). "Shaut al-Hijâz" is recorded as the first private newspaper published in the history of the modern Hijâz, namely the early period of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Abdul Wahhab Âsyî was listed as the first editor-in-chief (raîs tahrîr) of the newspaper.

Abdul Wahhab Âsyî's reputation as a pioneer in the world of journalism in the Hijâz has also increased. He is also known as one of the pioneers of modern Hijâz literature. In addition to writing a lot of his thoughts, Abdul Wahhab Âsyî also wrote a lot of works and literary criticism. He also founded al-Nâdî al-Adabî al-Su'ûdî (Saudi Arabian Literary Union).

Among some of his intellectual works are; (1) Dîwân Syauq wa Syauq (collection of poetry), (2) Fath Makkah (history), and (3) Hal al-Hurûb Dharûrah min Dharûriyyât al-Basyar (social-political review). Some of his poems are also included in the poetry anthologies of Modern Hijâz such as “al-Adab al-Hijâzî”, “al-Mausû'ah al-Adabiyyah”, and “Wahy al-Shahrâ”.

It was narrated by his son, Ahmad Syauqî ibn Abdul Wahhab Âsyî, that his father was a writer and journalist who was close to the ulama. He is the best murabbi. The father was gentle but firm, broad-minded, respectful of differences of opinion, and very open to various schools of thought.