The Existence of Azan Magazine as a Media for Spreading Islamic Knowledge in Pattani Thailand

Rizka Harfiani^1*, Suraiya Chapakiya², Zailani³

¹Islamic Faculty, Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara, Medan, Indonesia

²Faculty of Literature and Social Sciences, Fathony University, Pattani, Thailand

³Islamic Faculty, Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara, Medan, Indonesia

ABSTRACT: Muslims in Thailand are a minority population. Three provinces in Thailand, namely Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat, are predominantly Muslim, until now the people in these areas are still struggling to maintain cultural values and Islamic teachings, so that they are maintained. One of the efforts made is to publish the Azan magazine which is a media for spreading Islam in the Pattani region, Thailand. This descriptive qualitative research aims to analyze the existence of the Azan magazine as a medium for disseminating Islamic knowledge. Data collection techniques are carried out by observation, interviews, library and documentation. The data analysis technique used Miles and Huberman Interactive Analysis, with the data validity technique using the Triangulation method. The results of the study found that the Azan magazine was revived successfully after 50 years. The Azan magazine offers Malay language reading material with the characteristics and spirit of the Pattani people who are close to the Islamic religion and in Jawi writing.

KEYWORDS: Magazines, Media, Knowledge, Islam

INTRODUCTION

The spread of Islamic teachings among the public can use various methods and media of da’wah, such as through social media (audio-visual), audio media, art and visual or print media in the form of books, newspapers, and magazines.

There are many ways that can be done in spreading Islamic teachings, including the spread of Islam on the island of Java with the Sekaten gamelan media, which is sounded to commemorate the birth of the Prophet Muhammad for one week in the Pagongan ward in front of the Surakarta Grand Mosque (Daryanto, 2015). Then the well-known Islamic development media in the Ponorogo area, namely Reog Ponorogo art, which teaches the values of Islamic moral education (Warsini, 2022).

Wayang kulit is also one of the media for the spread of Islamic teachings. Wayang kulit is very popular with the community, so that it can transform Islamic knowledge and education, as well as the values of religious harmony related to peace in life (Nurcahyawati and Arifin, 2022).

Another da’wah strategy was carried out by Sunan Kalijaga, namely through the song Lir-Ilir which has a philosophical meaning in the aspect of religion. Sunan Kalijaga uses art as a medium for preaching (Nugraha and Ayundasari, 2021).

The spread of Islamic teachings through various strategies and media has been carried out in many countries around the world. Pattani, which is a province in Thailand, is still trying to maintain Islamic culture, through the dissemination of Islamic knowledge among the people. One of the efforts made is to publish the Azan magazine, which provides readings related to Islamic knowledge. The hallmark of this magazine is that it is written in Jawi Malay, which is the identity of the Pattani people.

Azan magazine is the first magazine which is the oldest magazine in Pattani. At its inception, six editions were published, then Fakum for several years. Now starting to republish in 2022, the work of the Azan magazine is again stretching, with a new caretaker who is determined to return to realizing the lofty goals of the original Azan magazine founders. On the 50th anniversary of Azan Magazine, it is hoped that this magazine will be able to revive Malay values and culture based on Islam in Pattani, Thailand.

The research was conducted based on the researcher’s interest in knowing the existence of the Azan magazine which has been established for 50 years, until now it still makes a real contribution to the spread of Islamic knowledge, even though there are many obstacles faced, the noble intention and strong goal to defend Islam in Thailand makes this magazine increasingly popular. successful.

METHOD

This research was conducted in Pattani province, Thailand. The main data source was obtained from lecturers from Fathoni University. University Fathoni is the only private Islamic university in Pattani province.

This study used a qualitative approach with a descriptive research type. The selection of the type of research is based on the results of the analysis of the studies which are presented in a narrative manner to describe the contents of the Azan magazine which is a medium for spreading Islamic knowledge in Pattani.

The data collection technique was carried out by observation, namely visiting directly the location of the Azan magazine publication at Fathoni University, then interviewing, by interviewing the Azan magazine caregivers, then documentation and literature studies reviewing the contents of the Azan magazine.

Data analysis used Miles and Hubberman’s interactive analysis, namely the initial step by collecting and gathering data from various sources, then condensing data, namely selecting and sorting the appropriate data, then presenting the data in a qualitative descriptive manner, and the last step was verifying the data and making conclusions. from the results of research that has been done.

Broadly speaking, the data analysis steps can be described

The technique of testing the validity of the data is done by triangulation, both sources and methods.

RESULTS 

1. Beginning of Azan Magazine Publishing About 50 years ago, a group of young Pattani people agreed and worked together to produce a magazine called Azan which was published on the fasting day of 1 Syawal in 1392 Hijrah at the same time as 2015B/1972M.

According to Sheikh Ismail Lutfi, who was also one of the earliest founders of the Azan magazine, the aim of publishing the magazine at that time was for people in Pattani to also have their own reading material. The progress of a region or country may be measured by reading materials in that area. But at that time Pattani did not have his own publication. Most of the Malay language reading materials that are sold come from Malaysia such as Pengasoh Magazine, Dian, Qibla and so on. Then a group of Pattani youths agreed and tried to publish a magazine.

The re-issuance of Azan magazine is to continue the aspirations of the original founders of Azan magazine, to offer Malay language reading material with the characteristics and spirit of the Pattani people who are close to religion and in Jawi script. It’s not too much to say, the publication of the Azan at that time and now is part of the effort to maintain the identity of the Patani Malay people. Indirectly, this is part of the effort to give life to Islamic Education, especially the Jawi writing, not only for the Patani people, but even for the Malays, wherever they have a state. At the same time, this publication provides an opportunity for Patani writers to compose thoughts and work using their mother tongue.

The cover of the first Azan magazine is still inscribed with the original hand, which can be seen in the image below:

Fig. 2 (First Azan Magazine’s Cover.) (See in Pdf File)

B. Azan Magazine Spreads Islamic Knowledge in Bumi Patani

According to Suraiya Chapakiya and Ismail Mohamad (2021) in the book Sheikh Ismail Lutfi Spreader of Greetings from Pattani discusses the history of Azan Magazine spreading Islamic knowledge in the land of Patani. In the 1970s, little by little a new generation of Pattanis were being born into the full-fledged Thai education system. This generation, has changed the style of reading news or written materials such as books, magazines, and newspapers from Malay to Thai which is usually the practice of readers in Pattani. However, in that determination, reading materials in Malay still receive the main attention of the Pattani people who are born on average rather than the religious school system or pondok, which have always read printed Malay materials.

Materials for reading the Malay language, especially in Jawi writing, came from the Malay Land or Malaysia after that. Historically, the main printing centers in Tanah Melayu were centered in Singapore and Pulau Pinang. However, the state of Kelantan, especially Kota Bharu, has also been a center for thinking and publishing important books and mass media in the Malay language, which has become a competitor to the two ports. Even though in terms of infrastructure and transportation network, Kelantan is one of the countries that is lagging (Hamid, 2018).

From the year before the Second World War and after, fifteen kinds of magazines were published in Kelantan. Among the magazines that are of concern is the Caregiver magazine published by the Kelantan Islamic Religious Council. Likewise, the publication of books or scriptures, titles printed and used as texts in Islamic boarding schools in Kelantan. Because Kelantan and Pattani border each other and share almost the same history and culture, the planning for publishing and printing in Kelantan directly goes to Patani.

Therefore, several magazines published in neighboring Malaysia also circulated in Pattani, such as Pengasoh, Dian, Qibla and so on. Ismail Lutfi, who often invites Wan Abdul Nasir to the city in the Pattani area, always stops at a bookstore or books (Nasir, 2020). At the bookstore, Ismail Lutfi used to have a hard time buying reading materials, especially magazines with Jawi writing. Not long after, Ismail Lutfi subscribed to Dian dari Kelantan magazine.

After that, a problem arose in Ismail Lutfi’s mind, why is there no magazine in Pattani too? Going by history, before that there was already the first magazine published by Pattani which was named Sirrul-Islam magazine which was published in March 1972. The magazine was more of a place for broadcasting plans and writings in an educational and religious style, most of which were in the form of translations rather than books by Arabic authors, apart from the authors Malays outside Thailand such as Malaysia and Indonesia (Mohammad, 2013).

Therefore, in general, the Sirrul-Islam magazine is not considered the tongue of the Pattani people. Magazines that really represent the Pattani people do not exist anymore, and this is a problem for Ismail Lutfi’s friends.

This issue was shared with his more mature friends who were involved in the unity of religious schools in between writing guidebooks for schools, and then it became a serious problem among them, why wasn’t a special magazine created in Pattani? Therefore, Ismail Lutfi offered to be the host to discuss this further.

As a teacher’s son, Ismail Lutfi’s invitation was welcomed by friends who were more mature than him. Among those present was Ahmad Aman, who was considered the most knowledgeable Pattani person about languages because he had published a manual for the Malay language, namely Anak Kunci Bahasa and was considered a teacher to the generation of writers in the 1970s Pattani, because he often encouraged writing and was involved in language development and Malay literature (Mohammad, 2013). Also attending, Ubaidillah Mahmud, a teacher at Muassasah Thaqafiah Islamiah Pombeng or Pondok Pombeng. Likewise with Ahmad Latif who is also a Malay language teacher at Pondok Balor. And many other names. The decision they decided to publish a magazine named Azan magazine.

They met again, and met again in several places, the editorial team had been formed. They don’t have permanent officials; meetings are held in several places and they keep trying to make the Azan magazine a reality. As said by one of the organizers, namely Ahmad Latif, the Azan magazine is more a battlefield than a place to find food. This effort is supported by the enthusiasm to popularize the Malay language, in addition to the intention to carry out the obligation of preaching. How hard it is to work to prepare a piece of writing. At that time, none of them had Jawi typewriters (Latif, 2013).

Azan magazine continues to work to successfully publish the first time with limitations by working as a team. All writings are read together, and edited together. Some writings had to be completely rewritten, by hand. In fact, they also had to be involved in the final proofreading at the printing office as well (Latif, 2013). In this process, the person who is most involved behind the scenes to smooth it out, especially teaching in terms of language to the editorial staff is Ahmad Aman (Mohammad, 2013).

A few months later, their hard work finally paid off by successfully printing 2000 copies of Azan magazine. The first edition of the magazine featured Ubaidillah Mahmud as Editor-in-Chief, Ismail Lutfi as his deputy, Adam Haji Yusof as Secretary, and Bisman Dewani as deputy Secretary. Besides these, the other members are Hasan Husin, Ahmad Abdul Latif, Azmi Ahmad, Ramli Sharif, Wan Azizi Haji Abdul Samad, Abdul Rahman Haji Tahir, Mukhtar Wahba, Nik Abdul Rahman Abdul Rasul, Ahmad Abdul Wahab, Abdul Wahab Muhammad, Haji Ali Haji Abdullah, Bahrin Hasan Abdul Rahman, Ismail Ahmad, Ahmad Haji Harun, Abdul Razak Haji Abdullah, Abdul Rahman Ismail, Khalid Halabi, and Zek Ansori.

The content of Azan magazine covers language, literature, history, politics, education, and religious matters presented in a modern way according to the era. Ismail Lutfi himself in the first issue filled the text with ‘Doa Penerang Hati’. With the publication of Azan magazine, it has been considered the pioneer of modern media in Patani, directly also as the first media to introduce a standard form of writing in the Malay language of Pattani people (Latif, 2013), which was previously the writing style of Patani people in the yellow book style. This can be seen in the short story section, the use of Patani-style standard language, try to read part of the short story titled ‘Engciklah Yang Bersalah’ by Adam Haji Yusuf about polygamy:

“You don’t have to fight and divorce your first wife. She is an obedient wife and obeys the religious laws by allowing you to marry again. But dear, you have made a decision that is so ugly and bad in God’s law. If you want to to divorce the second wife, I do not mind issuing the form, because Mr. Encik had a fight because of it. To divorce the first wife, I will not issue the divorce form. Especially on this holiday, I think,” continued Tuan Kadi. In this matter, it is Mr. Human who is guilty.

After Mr. Rahim heard Mr. Kadi’s rambling advice, he thought for a moment. His body was in a cold sweat. Finally, he realized and repented. The old wife who wants to divorce is calm. The man turned and stared at his old wife’s face. He sighed. Finally, he apologized to his old wife and to Tuan Kadi for his mistake. And, the man got up and extended his hand to Tuan Kadi. The old wife and the young wife also greeted each other, like people after praying. You know, it is a holiday.

Then, they returned to the bungalow happily to form a peaceful life. At that time, the sound of bamboo cannons and the remnants of firecrackers from small children could still be heard. Maghrib bells and azan wafted into the air. The bungalow house, which was locked since morning, is now

open again, and the lights are back on.”

Fig. 3 (Cover of Azan Magazine 50th Anniversary edition.) (See in Pdf File)

Fig. 4 (Latest Azan Magazine Cover) (See in Pdf File)

C. Azan and Jawi Writing Magazine

According to Hara Shintaro in his writing in the 50th anniversary Azan Magazine first issue (2022) stated that in the 1970s when the Azan magazine was published, the neighboring countries in the archipelago had abandoned the Jawi script and switched to the Rumi script. However, the language practitioners in the author’s conference have a very high awareness, and are determined to publish a Malay language magazine in a script that blends with the land of Patani, namely Jawi script.

The decision to publish a magazine in Jawi script is also very important because previously the use of the script was generally limited to the religious field only. Of course, in the Azan magazine there are also articles that directly address religious issues such as sermons, interpretation of the Quran, hadiths, morals and history. However, Azan magazine also covers various fields other than religion, such as education, economics, science, local news, literature (such as short stories and poetry) and there is also a column for funny stories. With that, it is clear the intention of the author’s conference to expand the use of Jawi writing in addition to the religious field. The field of religion has contributed to strengthen the Malay language written in Jawi by the works of religious scholars, and Azan magazine tries to develop the potential of written Jawi by using it in various scientific fields.

In this magazine there are also effects of efforts to improve the quality of the Malay language in Patani. In a column called “Tulis Bahasa”, examples of the use of standard words taken from Malaysian literary works are displayed together with example sentences. In addition to direct efforts, simple essays also play a role in introducing standard terms. In the column “Gelak Geli” which contains funny stories, there is the term “police station” which is less common for Patani people. But this term comes with a translation in parentheses (فكڠرو). With that, Patani readers can also learn the standard term to replace the term ‘فكڠرو’ which is not a Malay term. The column “Summary of Doctoral Science” discusses matters related to science, especially medical science by introducing terms specific to the field in easy-to-understand language.

D. The Importance of Malay Language Media

Cikgu Nawawee Mohamad as a writer and educator from Malaysia, he has a ‘special relationship’ with Patani because he used to be a “foreign lecturer” and taught Malay language and literature at the Department of Eastern Languages, Faculty of Social Sciences, Prince of Songkhla University, Pattani campus. During his active period in Patani, he managed to organize a book “Di Bawah Langit: Rampai Melayu Sastera Patani” which was later published by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) in 2013. The book he organized contained works of various literary genres from 45 writers of the generation come from various backgrounds. Part of the maintenance book is sourced or selected works have been published in Azan magazine.

E. Contents of Azan Magazine

Among the contents of the Adhan Magazine published by Fatoni University’s Islamic Malay Civilization Study Center (PUSTANI) which has been maintained and improved according to the times is as follows:

1. Mustajab prayer, daily prayer.
2. Focus on current issues.
3. Tafsir al-Quran related to the theme of the magazine.
4. Hadith as a guide to daily practice.
5. Fekah, about Syarak law which is daily practice such as prayer guidance, fasting, zakat, waqf, cleanliness and so on.
6. Islamic economy to give space to understand and build Islamic economy well, avoid usury, corruption, and others.
7. Muslimah, about women such as Multaqa Muslimah activities.

Happy family, discourse about building a good family.

8. Bahasa Malay, fostering love and interest in learning and maintaining the mother tongue.
9. Health, medical doctor, or traditional shaman.
10. Fatoni’s Jawi method, building a method of reading and writing Jawi.
11. Art; introducing Malay architecture, calligraphy, clothing, food, traditional games, and others.
12. Education; lodges, kindergartens, religious schools, universities, and others.
13. The history of scholars, introducing the history of teachers who have died or are still alive
14. Literature; poetry, rhymes, rhymes, proverbs, short stories, stories, and book reviews.
15. Sermons, including Eid al-Fitr sermons, Eid al-Adha sermons, Friday sermons, marriage sermons, sermons, speeches, and others.

F. Awareness Advances the Nation

The effort to develop humanity is not an easy task. It requires seriousness and solid commitment at all levels and levels of society, especially those with the title of scholar and leader. Scholars and leaders should be held accountable for the good and bad of a society and the ups and downs of a civilization. The words of the Prophet SAW:

“Two types of people, when they are corrupted, the whole human being is corrupted, when they are good, then the whole human being is good. Those who are meant are the scholars and umara’ (scientists and leaders)”.

Therefore, Islam and progress are synonymous. Progress should be developed in an integrated manner between spiritual, intellectual, emotional, and material strength. Religion and nation will become strong, great, brilliant, glorious, and distinguished when its people reach a level of glory from all aspects. This is due to the fall of a civilization including the Islamic civilization that once appeared in the past is due to its people who are passive, uncivilized, uneducated, untrustworthy, and irresponsible. Therefore, the awareness and desire to become a developed nation needs to be polished again so that its luster can shine and be enjoyed by all nations in the world.

 DISCUSSION

Azan Magazine is a print media that aims to broadcast Islam in the Pattani region, Thailand. It is the same as in Indonesia, which has a variety of media that spread Islamic teachings throughout the archipelago, such as the Sekaten gamelan media (Daryanto, 2015), Reog Ponorogo art (Warsini, 2022), shadow puppets (Nurcahyawati and Arifin, 2022), as well as songs lir-ilir (Nugraha and Ayundasari, 2021).

Media Azan was first published in 1972 which uses the Malay language which has the characteristics and spirit of the Pattani people who are close to religion and in Jawi writing. This was done because, according to its founder, Syeh Ismail Lutfi (1972), the call to prayer magazine was reading material that would become a benchmark for the progress of the Pattani region. This magazine is an attempt to give life to Islamic education, not only for the Pattani people, but also for the Malay community in general.

The Azan magazine is more a battlefield than a place to find food. This expression was made by Latif (2013) because of the many obstacles faced in compiling this Azan magazine, such as difficulties in preparing a piece of writing, the absence of a typewriter in Jawi, so they had to write by hand, the limited manpower who worked as caretakers for the magazine, to the editing process and the final proof of printing. Everything is done jointly and enthusiastically to popularize the Malay language and carry out the intention of the obligation to preach.

The contents of the Azan magazine cover prayer, universal issues, interpretation of the Qur’an, hadith, Fiqh, Islamic economics, Muslim women, family, Malay language, health, Jawi rules, art, education, history of scholars, literature, and Islamic sermons. The caretakers of the Azan magazine are still struggling to maintain this valuable printing media, with the determination to advance the Pattani region to become a strong society in nation and religion, great, brilliant, and glorious in all aspects.

 CONCLUSION

Overall, the Azan magazine has been successful in being revived after 50 years. The aim of the Azan magazine is to continue the aspirations of the original founders of the Azan magazine, namely Sheikh Ismail Lutfi and his friends, to provide reading media and offer reading materials in Malay with the characteristics and spirit of the Pattani people who are close to Islam and in Jawi writing. However, challenges remain. To maintain this valuable printing medium, the writer and founder of Azan Magazine prays that printing materials such as the Azan magazine and books written by the Patani Malay community need to be supported by the Malay speakers themselves, whether in Patani or the Malay nation, even if they have a state. Waallahu a’lam.

 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Acknowledgments are expressed to Syeh Ismail Lutfi as the primary data source in this article. Thanks were also conveyed to the caretakers of the Azan magazine, as well as the lecturers of Fathony University who contributed in providing information about the publication of the Azan magazine in Pattani, Thailand

 DISCLOSURE

This article is written with full sincerity, without any conflicts or other interests, including financial, political, social, or cultural issues. This article is structured as a source of information for readers and is expected to provide benefits.

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