Ustaz Syed Abdillah bin Ahmad
Al-Jufri
(2/3/1938 – 4/1/2003)
A well-known and respected ulama in Singapore. Ustaz
Syed Abdillah was born on Wednesday, 2 March 1938 / 29 Zulhijjah 1356 in
Singapore.
He received his education
at Madrasah Aljunied Al-Islamiah. Ustaz Syed Isa Semait, who was his
contemporary, told the webmaster that Ustaz Syed Abdillah was a very
intelligent student, who got promoted to special classed after the normal 4
years secondary education. Unfortunately he could not afford to go overseas for
his higher education due to lack of money. There were 5 students in his
graduating cohort. Among them were Ustaz Abu Bakar
Hashim and Ust Syed Isa Semait, the Mufti of Singapore.
Even though he was born
in Singapore, native Yemenites were always impressed with his command of colloquial
and classical Arabic, as though he was born and raised in Yemen. His command of
Arabic language gained admiration from his peers. This is due to the fact that
after school hours, he helped his uncle’s textile shop, and over there the only
spoken language was colloquial Yemen Arabic.
He applied and got a
position as a teacher in Ministry of Education. In the early 1980s, he was
tasked by the Ministry to setup the curriculum and write the textbook for the
Islamic Religious Knowledge subject. This subject was one of the component of
the Religious Studies introduced by the Ministry in upper secondary schools in
the 1980s.
Later, he worked at
Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) until 1997. In 1999, he was
appointed as President of Singapore Religious Teachers and Scholars Association
(Pergas). In 2000, he was appointed as Principle of Madrasah Aljunied
Al-Islamiah for one year. He was also one of the longest serving member of the
Fatwa Council, from the early 1970s to this death.
He was a prolific writer.
He authored, co-authored and translated many books. He also wrote numerous
articles and Friday sermons. Among his published works are:
1. Asas Agama Islam:
Pelajaran Tauhid & Fikah (Book
1 - 6)
2. Asas Agama Islam:
Pelajaran Akhlak & Sirah (Book
1 - 6)
3. Al Asas Fil Loghatil
Arabiah (Book 1 - 6)
4. Hari Ini Dan Esok
5. Sejarah Nabi hingga
kerajaan Abbasiyah
6. Ajarkan Anak-Anakmu
Cintakan Rasulullah (s.a.w.)
7. Jalan Yang Dekat -
Bagi Pengikut Jalan Rujuk Kepada Tuhan
8. Anugerah Tuhan - Dalam
perkara kewajipan hamba kepada Tuhan
9. Anda Bertanya Saya
Menjawab
10. Doa Dan Wirid
11. Pelita Al-Quran, Juz
30
12. Pelita Al-Quran, Al
Baqarah
13. Pelitan Al-Quran,
Al-Imran & An-Nisaa
He died on Saturday, 4 January 2003 / 1
Zulqaedah 1423, at the age of 65 years old.
May Allah bless his soul.
Click here to hear one of his lectures