Biography

biographies are the one genre that can

open their eyes and hearts to people who
have made a difference in the world.
They can learn about lives and eras of
both the past and present. Read the
following to your students to pique
interest:
Features in Biography

 Personal History: Who, when, and where are answered here, along with why this
person has become well known.
 Experiences that made this person important
 Characteristics this person embodied
 Important Contributions
 Things you admire about this person
Biography Of Buya Hamka
HAMKA is acronym of Haji Abdul Malik Karim Amrullah (HAMKA). He was an ulama, political activist, and one
of Indonesian famous writer. He was born on February 17, 1908 (1908-02-17) in Molek Village, Maninjau, West
Sumatera. His father Syeikh Abdul Karim bin Amrullah was known as Haji Rasul the pioneer of Islah Movement
(tajdid) in Minangkabau, after returned from Makkah in 1906.

HAMKA had gotten low education in elementary school Maninjau until second class. When he was ten years old,
his father had built Sumatera Thawalib in Padang Panjang. HAMKA was studying about Islam and deepening
arabic language. HAMKA was also following islamic studying in mosques that was given by famous moslem
scholars as Syeikh Ibrahim Musa, Syeikh Ahmad Rasyid, Sutan Mansur, R.M. Surjopranoto, and Ki Bagus
Hadikusumo.

HAMKA was an aotodidact. He studied many knowledges by him self, observed and investigated many researches
envelop many area of knowledges such as philosophy, literature, history, sociology, and politics. By his talent in
arabic language, he could observe Middle East moslem scholars and great poets opuses like Zaki Mubarak, Jurji
Zaidan, Abbas Al-‘aqqad, Mustafa Al-manfaluti, and Hussain Haikal. And also by arabic language, he observed
scholars opuses from France, England, and Germany like Albert Camus, William James, Freud, Toynbee, Jean
Sartre, Karl Marx, and Pierre Loti. HAMKA was dilligent in reading and discussing with famous jakarta figures like
HOS Cokroaminoto, Raden Mas Surjoparonoto, Haji Fakrudin, AR Sutan Mansur, dan Ki Bagus Hadikusumo.
In February 1927, HAMKA went to Makkah for hajj and stayed there for six months. During
his living in makkah, he worked in a printing house. In July, he returned to Medan and to be
a religion teacher there for months. In the end of 1927, he returned to his native land.
HAMKA had written many books and creative works. Tafsir Al-azhar (5 volumes) was his
islamic scientific masterpiece. And many novels were written by him. His famous novels are
Tenggelamnya Kapal Van Der Wijck, Di Bawah Lindungan Ka’bah, Merantau ke Deli, etc.
HAMKA had ever received some awards in national and international as Doctor Honoris
Causa from Al-azhar University and National University of Malaysia, and title Datuk Indono
and Pangeran Wiroguno from Indonesia Government.

HAMKA had passed away in July 24 1981, but his good offices and his influence in raising
and providing Islam are still felt until now. He was respected and accepted as Ulama and
man of lettees not only in his country Indonesia, but also others as Malaysia and Singapore.