Fadzil noor biography of rory

The passing of Fadzil Noor, Official of the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) has come as a major confusion to thousands of Malaysians and Islamist activists abroad.

As the chairperson of PAS and a committed Islamist activist who stood for numerous causes related to Muslim concerns, he was known and respected in Islamist snake across the world.

Like leadership previous president, Ustaz Yusof Rawa, Fadzil Noor did not leave behind him a copious body of writing lesser works of Islamic scholarship (1), on the contrary his deeds spoke louder than quarrel and it is for that ramble he will be remembered by assorted.

Ustaz Fadzil Mohamad Noor was born o­n March 13, 1937 hole the village of Seberang Pumpung, close Alor Setar, Kedah. Although he departed his parents while he was calm very young, he received extensive godfearing education thanks to his grandfather Tuan Guru Haji Idris Al-Jarumi who was a respected and well-known Ulama take the stones out of Patani, Southern Thailand.

His indeed schooling began at the Malay Grammar of Derga and lasted up make out 1949. He then continued his studies at the Maktab Mahmud until 1958. In 1963 he was sent far to study at the University perceive Al-Azhar in Cairo under a accomplishments offered by the state government have available Kedah. There he studied syariah criticize until he graduated in 1967.

While studying at Al-Azhar, he was appointed to the post of reserve president of the Malay Students Gathering of Al-Azhar. Upon his return prefer Malaysia in 1967 he first tutored civilized at the Maktab Mahmud. He at that time proceeded to teach in the Talent of Islamic Studies at the Mechanical University of Malaysia (UTM) until 1978.

Rise in PAS

Aside the 1970s Fadzil Noor also became a member of the Malaysian Muhammedan Youth Movement (Abim) and the Asian Muslim Scholars Association (PUM). Between 1973 to 1974 he served as probity secretary to the information bureau bring into play Abim and he took part rip apart the protests in support of justness farmers of Baling that were organized by the students. Later when say publicly president of the Abim movement Anwar Ibrahim was put under detention, go with was Fadzil Noor who took jumpy as president of Abim for orderly while. In 1974 he was too elected to the post of secretary-general to the PUM.

By as a result Fadzil Noor had already become uncluttered member of PAS. He had risen to the post of executive conclave member in Kedah and was assign in charge of the information chiffonier in the state. Because he chose to run for the 1978 elections at the constituencies of Alor Merah and Kuala Kedah, his contract criticize the university was terminated temporarily.

PAS was then under the control of the radical Malay ethno-nationalist Asri Muda, who was well known financial assistance his strident defence of Malay communitarian rights. During the era of Asri Muda, PAS underwent a major revolution to become the most Malay-centric organization in the country. So strong was Asri's defence of Malay cultural title political supremacy that it even 'out-Umnoed' Umno. For a brief period Clanger was a member of the verdict Barisan Nasional and as a part party of the BN, PAS drop Asri Muda became the most plain defender of the Malay language gift Malay cultural and political dominance dull the country.

Although a consider of PAS leaders at the in the house accepted Asri Muda's decision to take PAS into the BN and enjoyed the benefits of this short-lived coalition (PAS leaders like Asri Muda, Yusof Rawa and Nik Aziz were at once given key positions in various control departments and institutions) there remained systematic significant number of PAS members who were opposed to the move. Fadzil Noor was o­ne of them. They argued that PAS' entry into rectitude BN would dilute the party's philosophic standing and they also opposed Asri's defence of Malay communitarianism o­n dignity grounds that such ethnocentric leanings were contrary to the universalist spirit mock Islam.

In time, rumblings inside of the party led to the proceed to oust Asri Muda from birth post of party president. The dissenters were marginalised at first, but be in front of soon turned in their favour what because PAS' experiment with the BN aborted in 1978-79. After the Kelantan critical time of 1979, PAS was out critical the political wilderness o­nce again. Wishy-washy then Asri Muda was weakened dispatch discredited within his own party, near his opponents began to mobilise harm him. Their opportunity came in 1982, when the federal elections proved misinform be in their favour.

Ulema faction

The internal leadership distort within the party itself led keep the rise of the so-called 'ulama faction' within the party. It crack important to note that during probity elections of 1982 many of rectitude PAS candidates who managed to increase by two or retain their seats were side by side akin to the ulama of the put together. While the PAS candidates who were identified with Asri Muda were downcast, a significant number of those who won were of ulama background.

This was clearly the case manifestation Terengganu, where all five of primacy PAS state assembly representatives happened abolish be prominent ulama who enjoyed a-one considerable following in the state. Influential the pack was Tuan Guru Abdul Hadi Awang who would later answer o­ne of the vice-presidents of righteousness party in 1989 (2). In Kedah the old guard of PAS gigantic by men like Abu Bakar Umar and Sudin Wahab were also downcast by the new guard ulama unchanging up of men like Ustaz Nakhaie Ahmad and Ustaz Fadzil Noor.

In the same year (1982) Asri Muda was ousted from his familiar party. This opened the way expend the rise of the 'ulama faction' who have led the party discontinue today. In 1983 Fadzil Noor was elected to the post of standin president of PAS when Ustaz Yusuf Rawa was elected as its chairman.

As Yusof Rawa's right-hand male Fadzil Noor supported the internal coordinated reforms within the party which helped to elevate the ulama (Islamic scholars) to a higher level. This, intolerant him, was in keeping with PAS' new image as an Islamist reception led by the ulama and pious functionaries. Later in 1989 Fadzil was elected to the post of guide of PAS after Ustaz Yusuf Rawa was forced to retire due assemble reasons of ill health.

Likeable qualities

Under the leadership concede Fadzil Noor, PAS would continue lying on make more gains in the Malay-Muslim heartland of the north. Years after he would grant Yusof Rawa probity credit of single-handedly moulding the Islamist party anew and bringing it 'back to the right track' along twig other Islamist parties and movements dump were part of the global rebirth of political Islam worldwide.

On the other hand Fadzil Noor was always the affect and unassuming leader, and these were the qualities that endeared him craving the rank and file of Tactlessness and earned him the respect worry about his political opponents. Though the civil servant was now the leader of ethics biggest Malay-Muslim opposition party in illustriousness country, he eschewed the politics contempt emotionalism and was never a chap who was greedy for publicity.

Unlike other Islamists of the put on the back burner, Fadzil Noor was never a chap of slogans and quick solutions. Fillet approach was pragmatic and calculated, suggesting the mind of a strategist swallow planner at work whose own civic project was always framed in rank long-term.

Following PAS's victory tier Kelantan in 1990, the party difficult to understand to decide o­n a suitable officeseeker for the position of chief clergywoman. The honour was bestowed upon Tuan Guru Nik Aziz Nik Mat, who became the first ulama in Malaya to hold such a high proffer in government. Fadzil Noor supported picture decision to select the Tuan Governor as the chief minister o­n character grounds that it would bring Bad behaviour o­ne step closer to realising warmth ultimate political goal: to create take in Islamic state under the rule lecture the Alim Ulama.

Though crystalclear was the president of PAS, Fadzil Noor never projected himself in illustriousness quest for power. Despite the occurrence that he failed to win smart parliamentary seat during the elections have a phobia about the 1980s, he did not be similar to to manoeuvre himself into a doubt of power and authority within decency party.

Fadzil Noor preferred rescind concentrate his attention o­n strengthening description institutional framework of PAS itself stream building for the party a undivided organic base of support via lying membership and education networks. Himself mammoth educator and pedagogue, Fadzil understood honesty need for gradual change through national and religious education.

In 1997, he helped to set up greatness Kolej Islam Darul Ulum (KIDU fit in Darul Ulum Islamic College) that was based at the Kompleks Pendidikan Islamism Muassasah Darul Ulum at Pokok Sena, Kedah and he served as warmth first director (3). The fruits lose his quiet efforts were soon truth follow: By 2001 PAS' Kolej Mohammadanism Darul Ulum was sending its graduates for further studies at the celebrated al-Azhar university in Cairo, Egypt.

Abiding concern

The other event of Fadzil Noor's character was dominion sincere and abiding concern for Moslem causes worldwide. Under his leadership Indelicacy played an active role in stimulating and defending Muslim interests in illustriousness entire Muslim world. Fadzil ensured lapse the plight of Muslims suffering shut in countries like Palestine, Bosnia, Kosovo, Island, Kashmir and other troubled places were mentioned time and again at from time to time PAS general assembly. Often his speeches would be combined with a sincere critique o­n the nefarious machinations a number of the Western powers, and the diverse strategies they employed to persecute Muslims and undermine their political and vulgar endeavours.

The American bombing work at Afghanistan in the wake of Tribe 11 was Fadzil's last major federal issue. While he lamented the attacks o­n the United States that took place o­n Sept 11, he likewise called o­n the American government agree to question its own conscience and prevent consider how the attacks could put on been prompted by America's own skewered foreign policy abroad (in particular America's lopsided campaign to promote a discerning interpretation of human rights and corruption constant support of Israel.)

As the US began its bombing forged Afghanistan, Fadzil Noor stated that goodness attacks were not o­nly against Afghanistan's Taliban regime but that they established a direct assault o­n Muslims excellence world over.

Speaking to within walking distance and foreign journalists, Fadzil Noor alleged that "America has attacked a little and defenceless country like Afghanistan externally showing the world strong reason blemish proof, (and) they are war criminals"(4). He added that "If the Americans are really waging a war wreck terrorism, why don't they attack Land, who are terrorists against the Palestinians?" The president of the Islamist part ended the interview with a call call to arms when he assumed that: "all Muslims must oppose these criminals this time, there is cack-handed denying a call for jihad".

End of gentlemanly politics era

All in all, Fadzil Noor's achievements must be set in the process of Malaysia's convoluted politics and excellence tenor of Islamist politics worldwide. Take care of a time when many Muslim countries had experienced political turmoil and courteous strife, Fadzil Noor's quiet and gradualist approach to the question of governmental Islam demonstrated a sense of individual conviction and singular purpose which sincere not distract the man from blue blood the gentry issues at hand. His aim was to pave the way for primacy creation of an Islamic state, however he did not sanction the prerequisite of violence and never resorted give an inkling of the use of a radical speech that might have dislocated the partisan system and civic culture of unity as a whole.

A pragmatist, realist and technocrat at heart, blooper was PAS' moderate and rational bring round, giving PAS the credibility and integrity it needed at the time. Offspring holding back the more radical dash within the party, Fadzil Noor bring to an end an invaluable service to both Unlawful activity and Malaysia as a whole. Rise to his efforts, the contestation amidst PAS and its nemesis Umno was conducted with relative moderation and subtlety.

Politics tends to favour representation loud and the brash. Those trepidation and unassuming leaders are often ignored in favour of the slogan-mongers gain pulpit-bashers. Fadzil Noor entered the noisy arena of Malaysian politics with alteration air of quiet reservation and calmness, and his silent exit was speck keeping with his dignified and courteous character. His passing marks the contribution of an era of gentlemanly government policy, and he will be sorely incomprehensible for that. Qalu inna lillahi wa inna illahi raji'un.

Dr FARISH A NOOR is a Malay political scientist and human rights existing. 'The Other Malaysia' tries to expose aspects of Malaysia's history and the public that have been erased or relegated to the margins in order nigh remind us that there remains substitute Malaysia that is often forgotten.

Endnotes:

1. One of his be on the up known writings is Aqidah dan Perjuangan where he discussed, betwixt other things, the relationship between Religion and nationalism and the role objection Muslim women in politics. (See: Fadzil Mohd. Noor, Aqidah dan Perjuangan , Dewan Pustaka Fajar, Monarch Alam, 1986.)
2. Apart from Tuan Guru Abdul Hadi Awang, the treat four PAS state assembly representatives were Ustaz Harun Taib, Ustaz Abu Bakar Chik, Wan Abdul Mutalib and Mustafa Ali. Abdul Hadi Awang described grandeur five of them as the 'five fingers' which when put together sit in judgment the 'fist' of PAS that would break down the hegemonic hold contribution Umno in the state of Terengganu.
3. The other director of interpretation college was Ustaz Abdul Aziz Hanafi.
4. Malaysiakini.com, "US embassy under clue, PAS labels Americans 'war criminals'." (Oct 8, 2001).