TOK KU PALOHS ISLAH MOVEMENT IN TERENGGANU IN EARLY 20TH CENTURY

Many colonial British officers considered the Terengganu people as different from Muslims in other Malay states. They were considered as the most pious among the Muslims in Malaysia. They refused to accept British administration due to the influence of the scholars leadership in their lives. The attitude of the Terengganu people towards the British was due to the influence of scholars efforts, especially Tok Ku Paloh, who launched the Islah Movement to establish firmly the tenets of Islam among the population so that they did not stray from Islamic principles even after they were colonised by the British. He directed his efforts to all levels of society, the common people as well as the ruling class of Terengganu. This research is for the purpose of studying the role played by Tok Ku Paloh in his efforts to entrench the principles of Islam and prepare the people of Terengganu to face the threat of British occupation. This research is a qualitative research using historical study approach. Research finds that Tok Ku Paloh played a big role in implementing islah (revival) to entrench Islamic principles among the Terengganu population both through his own endeavour and his students, especially Sultan Zainal Abidin III who was in ruling power from 1881 to 1918. He succeeded in forming the next echelon of scholars, such as Haji Abdul Rahman Limbong who played the main role in continuing the endeavour to entrench Islam among the people of Terengganu. Scholars were also responsible for organising the reaction of the Terengganu people against British colonisation after the demise of Tok Ku Paloh and Sultan Zainal Abidin III.