Equipping the People With Knowledge

Among the vanguard of Islamic scholars in the Nusantara, leading the Malay community in its intellectual and spiritual revival, is Almarhum Ustaz Syed Ahmad Semait (1933-2006). Recognising that Islamic civilisation has always flourished on literacy, he believed that recovering from spiritual and intellectual malaise requires the publication and dissemination of books and translating classical texts, such as Imam al-Ghazali's Ihya ulum al-Din, into contemporary Malay vernacular. This work by Dr. Muhammad Mubarak traces the life of Ustaz Syed Ahmad Semait, from his early years in an orphanage after losing his father, his education at Madrasah Aljunied, his initial involvement in the book business, to his scholarly pursuits and his lasting legacy of providing a wide-ranging collection of Islamic books that serve as essential resources for seekers of knowledge in the region. The book includes discussions on the virtues of the Ahl Al-Bayt, his personal and environmental background, his efforts in disseminating Islamic knowledge through ideas, thoughts, community diagnosis, printing, publishing, and teaching, along with illustrative appendices.