How did religious education evolve in Malaysia? Let’s uncover the story of Madrasah Ar-Shadiah. The earliest Islamic education in the Malay Peninsula began with Quranic instruction. These lessons took place in mosques prayer houses and the homes of learned Muslims. This was since the arrival of Islam in the region.
As Quranic schools became popular permanent schools were established. These schools were known as pondok or madrasah. They provided additional training in Islamic studies. This was for those who had already mastered reading the Quran. Many of these schools were in the northern states of Kelantan and Kedah.
In 1914 Habib Hassan al-Attas founded Madrasah al-Attas in Johor Bahru. In 194 he also founded Madrasah al-Attas Ketapang in Pekan Pahang. The latter was the first Arabic religious school in Pahang.
Reformed madrasahs appeared in urban centers. Madrasah al-Hadi opened in Malacca in 1917. Madrasah Al-Iqbal-Islamiyyah was founded in Singapore in 1908. Madrasah Al-Masyhor Al-Islamiyyah started in Penang in 1919. These madrasahs offered a new religious outlook on education for Muslims.
These institutions pioneered modern printing methods. They published religious texts journals and magazines. This helped create a literate Malay community. Madrasah Al-Masyhor Al-Islamiyyah in Penang began by teaching the Quran and basic Islamic knowledge. Several Arabs helped establish it including Sayyid Mahzar Aidid and Sayyid Ali Bawazir. It was named in honor of Sayyid Ahmad al-Mashhor.
Arabs played a significant role in developing madrasah education in Malaysia. They established several madrasahs in the early 20th century. Due to changes in national education policy the state government took over many of these madrasahs. Some madrasahs still maintain their identity while using the mainstream curriculum.
The need for Islamic education grew in the Malay Peninsula from the 18th to the early 20th centuries. Pondoks and madrasahs were formed by ulama and Muslim modernists. They had experience with educational systems in Mecca and Cairo. These institutions offered a strong education compared to British-established schools. This transformation brought improvements to Malay society in politics social and economics. Madrasah Ar-Shadiah stands as a testament to this rich history of Islamic education in Malaysia.