Hizbul Muslimin

This article is about Hizbul Muslimin, the first Islamic political party of Malaya (1948). For the Islamic political party in Malaysia (1983), see Parti Hizbul Muslimin Malaysia.

Muslim People's Party of Malaya Parti Orang Muslimin Malaya
Abbreviation	HAMIM / Hizbul Muslimin
Leader	Ustaz Abu Bakar al-Baqir
Founded	17 March 1948
Dissolved	1948
Merged into	United Malays National Organisation (UMNO)
Headquarters	Gunung Semanggol, Perak
Ideology	Islamism Left-wing

Muslim People's Party of Malaya (Malay : Parti Orang Muslimin Malaya, abbreviated HAMIM or Hizbul Muslimin) is a defunct political party formed in British Malaya on 17 March 1948. Hizbul Muslimin was the first Islamist political party in Malaya, established with the aim of achieving Federation of Malaya independence from British colonial rule. ^{[1] [2]}

Formation

In March 1947, the first Pan-Malayan Islamic conference was held at Madrasah Ma'ahad al-Ehya as-Sharif, Gunung Semanggol, Perak. The conference was organized by the Parti Kebangsaan Melayu Malaya (PKMM) led by Dr. Burhanuddin al-Helmy to discuss economic problems faced by the Malay-Muslim community and to encourage greater political activism among Islamic groups. As a result, the Supreme Religious Council of Malaya or Majlis Agama Tertinggi Malaya (MATA) was formally established. ^[1]

Following a second MATA conference from 13 to 16 March 1948, Parti Orang Muslimin Malaya or Hizbul Muslimin was formally founded. The party leadership included Ustaz Abu Bakar al-Baqir, Dr. Burhanuddin al-Helmy, Ustaz Abdul Rab, and Kyai Masyhur Azahari, a figure associated with Indonesia's Masjumi party. Hizbul Muslimin adopted an Islamist-nationalist platform, advocating for independence and the establishment of Islamic governance. It was structured into eight bureaus covering religious affairs, education, politics, economy, society, youth, women's issues, and public information. ^[3]

UMNO representatives, alarmed by the militant tone of the Islamists, reported to party president Dato' Onn Jaafar, who famously warned: "Hubaya, hubaya! Bahaya dari gunung!" ("Beware, beware! Danger from the mountain!"), referring to the MATA leadership at Gunung Semanggol. ^{[1] [4]}

Hizbul Muslimin also expressed solidarity with global Muslim struggles, notably in Palestine and Patani, sending protest letters to the United Nations and urging Malay rulers to act. However, the British colonial authorities viewed the party as a subversive movement with suspected ties to leftist groups such as the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM). ^[5]

Following the declaration of the Malayan Emergency in June 1948, Hizbul Muslimin was outlawed under the Emergency Ordinance, and many of its leaders were arrested. The party ceased to operate soon thereafter. ^[6]

Dissolution aftermath

After its ban, many Hizbul Muslimin members took temporary refuge in UMNO. However, dissatisfaction with UMNO's approach led to a breakaway by the ulama faction, who then formed the Persatuan Islam Sa-Malaya (Pan-Malayan Islamic Association), ^[7] adopting the abbreviation PAS. This new association laid the foundation for what would later become the Pan-Malayan Islamic Party (PMIP) and eventually the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS). During its early years, PAS allowed dual membership with UMNO until 1954. ^[8]

See also

• Politics of Malaysia
• List of political parties in Malaysia

References

1. Freddie Aziz Jasbindar (19 March 2018). "Hizbul Muslimin, Parti Islam Pertama Di Tanah Melayu". orangperak.com (in Malay). Orang Perak. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
2. Ismail Said (21 May 2008), "Parti Islam Sa-Malaysia: Kepinpinan Dan Perjuangan Dari Tahun 1951 Hingga 1970" (PDF), eprints.usm.my (in Malay), Institut Perguruan Perlis: Universiti Sains Malaysia , retrieved 18 April 2010– via Open Access Repository @ USM
3. Noor, Farish A. (2004). Islam Embedded: The Historical Development of the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party PAS (1951–2003). Volume 1. Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian Sociological Research Institute. pp. 55–58. ISBN   9839986678.
4. Noor, Farish A. (2004). Islam Embedded: The Historical Development of the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party PAS (1951–2003). Volume 1. Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian Sociological Research Institute. p. 60. ISBN   9839986678.
5. Noor, Farish A. (2004). Islam Embedded: The Historical Development of the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party PAS (1951–2003). Volume 1. Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian Sociological Research Institute. pp. 58–60. ISBN   9839986678.
6. Mueller, Dominick M (2014). Islam, Politics and Youth in Malaysia: The Pop-Islamist Reinvention of PAS. Routledge. pp. 51–52. ISBN   9781317912989.
7. Noor, Farish A. (2004). Islam Embedded: The Historical Development of the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party PAS (1951–2003). Volume 1. Malaysian Sociological Research Institute. p. 72.
8. Noor, Farish A. (2004). Islam Embedded: The Historical Development of the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party PAS (1951–2003). Volume 1. Malaysian Sociological Research Institute. pp. 81–82.