Idham Chalid

Idham Chalid was a prominent Indonesian Islamic scholar, philosopher, writer, lecturer, politician and journalist. He was born in Agam, West Sumatra, in 1908, to a family of devout Muslims. His father, Abdul Karim Amrullah, was a reformist cleric who founded the modernist movement in Minangkabau. Idham received his early education from his father and other religious teachers, and learned Arabic, Malay, and other languages. He also developed a passion for reading and writing, and published his first novel, Saudagar Minang, at the age of 17. Idham traveled extensively throughout the archipelago, the Middle East, and Mecca, where he performed the hajj in 1928. He met various Islamic figures and learned from different schools of thought. He also witnessed the rise of nationalism and anti-colonialism in Indonesia, and joined several political and social organizations, such as Sarekat Islam, Muhammadiyah, and Masyumi. He became a vocal critic of Dutch colonialism and a supporter of Indonesian independence. He also advocated for the unity of Muslims and the reform of Islamic teachings and practices. Idham wrote prolifically on various topics, such as Islamic law, history, theology, mysticism, and literature. He produced more than 100 books, including novels, essays, biographies, and commentaries. His magnum opus was Tafsir Al-Azhar, a 30-volume exegesis of the Qur'an that he completed in 16 years. He also founded and edited several magazines, such as Pedoman Masyarakat, Panji Masyarakat, and Gema Islam. Idham was a respected and influential figure in the Indonesian Muslim community. He served as the first chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council, and received honorary doctorates from Al-Azhar University and the National University of Malaysia. He was also named a National Hero of Indonesia in 2011. On December 19, 2016, he was immortalized in the new redesign of Rp. 5.000, new rupiah banknote. He died of a heart attack in Jakarta in 1981, at the age of 73. He was a man of many talents and achievements, who dedicated his life to the service of Islam and humanity.