Hadi Awang
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Dato' Seri Tuan Guru Haji Abdul Hadi Awang (born Abdul Hadi bin Awang; 20 October 1947) is a Malaysian politician who has been president of the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), an Islamic political party in Malaysia, since 2002. He was Menteri Besar of Terengganu from 1999 to 2004, and the state assemblyman for Ru Rendang. He is currently a member of parliament for Marang, both in Terengganu. At the international level, he has been appointed as the vice president of the International Union of Muslim Scholars.
Biography edit
Hadi received his education in neighbourhood schools before continuing his studies at the Islamic University of Madinah between 1969 and 1973, and later at Al-Azhar University. Upon his return to Malaysia, he joined Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (ABIM) in 1977, where he quickly became its Selangor state chief. A year later, Hadi joined the Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) and contested a parliamentary seat in the 1978 general election. He rose quickly through the ranks. He became PAS deputy president in 1989 when Fadzil Noor was elected to the party presidency. He remained deputy president until 2002, when Fadzil died of a heart attack, resulting in Hadi succeeding him as PAS President.
Act of Villainy & Controversies edit
Amanat Hadi edit
Amanat Hadi refers to the dark period in the 1980s, when Hadi Awang was a PAS firebrand. It was the beginning of the era of "kafir mengkafir" (calling fellow Muslims infidels due to different political beliefs) which Hadi had popularized throughout the villages of Malaysia.
Hadi delivered this infamous Amanat Hadi sermon at Kampung Banggol, Peradong, Kuala Terengganu on April 7, 1981, and thereafter his image appeared on posters on the walls of PAS offices across the nation at the same time.
Hadi claimed that UMNO perpetuated the unIslamic rule of colonialism, and therefore the struggle of PAS and its supporters against UMNO is jihad and that those who died in the struggle are al-shahid (martyrs).
Later in 1983, an Amanat Hadi poster was used in the Selising by-election in Kelantan and thereafter became a flagship battle clarion call for PAS in other elections.
In one bold stroke, Hadi drew a line that separates PAS and UMNO.
Indeed, there were separate Imams for daily prayers, separate "kenduris" (wedding feasts etc.), abattoirs, funeral rites, Friday prayers, even separate burial sites.
Families were separated, husbands and wives were separated through an acrimonious divorce, and children left in limbo that eventually led to a large scale division of the Muslim ummah.
Trivia edit
Hadi has been listed as one of the world's 500 most influential Muslims by The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre based in Amman, Jordan. He was given this recognition in the category of Preachers & Spiritual Guides The Muslim 500: The World's 500 Most Influential Muslims 2016 edition.