Haji Abdul Lathif bin Haji Nuruddin (1872-1939)

Haji Abdul Lathif Tambi
Tokoh Ulamak Melaka
Ulamak Nusantara

Son of Haji Nuruddin @ Haji Tambi @ Tambi

Grandson of Hj Muhamed Saleh

Cucu Haji Muhamed Saleh

Sheikh Haji Abdul Lathif bin Tambi
Ulamak Nusantara
(Lahir Telok Mas, Melaka 1872 -
deceased Friday, September 1939 Makam Tengkera, Melaka)
(Meningggal: Jumaat jam 2.30 pagi, 17 Rejab 1358 Hijrah)

Full name: Haji Abdul Lathif bin Haji Nuruddin
Popular names: Haji Abdul Lathif Tambi [bin Tambi / bin Haji Tambi]
Referred name: He is referred to as Sheikh Haji Abdul Lathif, Ulamak Nusantara.
Nama lengkapnya ialah Haji Abdul Lathif bin Haji Muhammad Nuruddin (Haji Tambi) bin Muhammad Shalih al-Malakawi at-Tankirawi (named after Tengkera).
Gelarannya ialah Bahauddin. Gelaran ini diberikan oleh seorang ulama besar Melaka yang hidup sezaman dengan beliau iaitu Syeikh Haji Ahmad bin Haji Abdul Rauf, Mufti Pertama Melaka (asal Semabok; makam di Semabok).

Lahir: 1288 Hijrah di Kampung Telok Mas, Melaka
Born: 1872 AD at Kampung Telok Mas, Melaka

Occupation: Ulamak, taught kitab, wrote kitab, publisher, published Suara Benar, philanthropist
Owner of printing press: Malacca Latieefiah Press; later relocated to Singapore

Residences (2 locations):

1. Tengkera, Melaka and 
2. North Bridge Road, Singapore

Tengkera residence in Melaka
25 Jalan Pantai
Source: Melaka in Fact, 30 April 2019

Google map picture of residence
25 Jalan Pantai

A morning market operates between 7 am - 11 am.
The surrounding houses are mainly Chinese.
The house has been sold to a Chinese.

Map: https://goo.gl/maps/oxjdaZCjQMBT9fbUA
Map shows relative positions of Masjid Tengkera on Jalan Tengkera, Tengkera residence at 25 Jalan Pantai, and graves (makam) at Jalan Siantan 2/3A.

Meninggal:  Jumaat jam 2.30 pagi, 17 Rejab 1358 Hijrah, Makam Tengkera (67 tahun)
Deceased: Friday, September 1939, 2.30 am, interred at Makam Tengkera, Melaka (67 years)

Ulama yang hartawan lagi dermawan ini menghembuskan nafas terakhir pada hari Jumaat pukul 2.30 tengah malam, 17 Rejab 1358 H/1 September 1939 M dalam usia 67 tahun. Jenazahnya dikebumikan di Perkuburan Tengkera, Melaka. - Urusan Ulamak PAS Jasin, 2012

Makam Hj Abdul Latiff bin Hj Tambi
Jalan 2/3A, Taman Siantan, Tengkera

External links:
http://urusanulamakpasjasin.blogspot.my/2012/11/tokoh-ulama-melaka-syeikh-abdul-lathif.html

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ZIARAH MASJID TENGKERA

VISIT TO TRANQUERAH MOSQUE

5 June 2016

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Masjid Tengkera in 1937.
From Bapak's pendrive 2009.

Turn right as you enter through the front gate and enter the grounds of the masjid.
A red plaque near the front brick fence has information about him.

Information about Syeikh Haji Abdul Lathif
inside the grounds of Masjid Tengkera.
5 June 2016

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From Malacca Museum:

Ulama Nusantara

Syeikh Abdul Latif Haji Tambi

Syeikh Haji Abdul Latif bin Haji Muhammad Nuruddin (Haji Tambi) adalah seorang ulama berketurunan India yang dikenali di seluruh negeri-negeri Selat dan Indonesia. Beliau dilahirkan pada tahun 1872 bersamaan 1288 Hijrah di Kampung Telok Mas, Melaka dan dibesarkan di Singapura. Beliau telah dihantar ke Mekah oleh bapanya pada usia 8 tahun dan mendapat pendidikan agama

di Mekah selama 20 tahun iaitu bermula dari tahun 1880 hingga 1900.

Dikenali sebagai seorang yang dermawan dan kerap menghulurkan bantuan kepada sekolah-sekolah agama Melaka.

Beliau juga dianggap sebagai tokoh persuratan Melayu kerana jasa beliau dalam bidang penulisan amat besar.

Beliau banyak menghasilkan penulisan deskriptif mengenai sosial orang Melaka dan pernah membuka syarikat percetakan Malacca Latieefiah Press sebelum dipindahkan ke Singapura. Suara Benar adalah sebahagian sumbangan syarikat percetakan Abdul Latiff kepada sejarah pembinaan semangat nasionalisma dan patriotisma masyarakat di Tanah Melayu.

Beliau telah meninggal dunia pada hari Jumaat jam 2.30 pagi, 17 Rejab 1358 Hijrah, bersamaan bulan September 1939 dan dikebumikan di tanah perkuburan Tengkera, Melaka.

Translation of the above text from Malacca Museum: 

Archipelago Parson

Syeikh Haji Abdul Latif Haji Tambi

Sheikh Haji Abdul Latif bin Haji Muhammad Nuruddin (Haji Tambi) is a person of Indian descent well-known around the Straits Settlements and Indonesia. He was born in year 1872, equivalent to 1288 AH in the village of Telok Mas, Melaka, and then raised in Singapore. He was sent to Mecca by his father at the age of 8 and obtained religious education in Mecca for 20 years starting from 1880 to 1900. He is known as a philanthropist and often provided assistance to the religious schools in Melaka.

He is also regarded as a Malay literary figure for his great service in the field of writing. He produced a lot of descriptive writing about Malaccan sociology and used to open the printing company Malacca Latieefiah Press before relocating it to Singapore. Suara Benar was contributed by Abdul Latiff's company, which inspired the history of nationalism and patriotism among the Malay community.

He passed away at 2.30am on Friday, 17 Rejab 1358 AH, equivalent to the month of September 1939 and is interred at Tranquerah Cemetery, Melaka.

PERBADANAN MUZIUM MELAKA

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From: http://urusanulamakpasjasin.blogspot.my/2012/11/tokoh-ulama-melaka-syeikh-abdul-lathif.html

Asal-usul nenek moyangnya dikatakan berasal dari India. Walaupun dilahirkan di Melaka, usia kecilnya banyak dihabiskan di Singapura. [Haji Tambi lived and traded in Singapore. The family lived mainly in Singapore.] 

Keluarganya sangat memberi perhatian kepada pendidikan agama. Lantaran itu, ketika beliau berusia 8 tahun, beliau sudah dihantar oleh ayahandanya ke Makkah untuk menimba ilmu di sana. 

Di Singapura, beliau mula mengajar ilmu agama di ruang kecil di kedai kain milik ayahnya dan juga di kediamannya. Dikatakan bahawa selain mengajar, beliau turut mengusahakan perniagaan kain seperti ayahandanya. [Haji Tambi @ Haji Nuruddin bin Haji Muhammad Salleh, was a cloth merchant in Singapore.]

[Edited] Beliau dikatakan pernah turun berdakwah hingga ke utara tanah air - di Pulau Pinang, ke Medan di Sumatera, serta ke Surabaya dan Bandung di Tanah Jawa. 

Menyedari bahawa percetakan kitab sangat penting pada waktu itu untuk tujuan penyebaran ilmu maka beliau telah menubuhkan dua syarikat percetakan iaitu satu di Singapura dan satu lagi di Melaka. 

[Edited] Syarikat percetakan di Singapura dikenali dengan nama Lathifiyah Press, yang terletak di 768 North Beach (Bridge?) Road, Singapura, manakala syarikat percetakan di Melaka dikenali dengan nama Mathba’ah Al-Lathifiyah Al-Malakawiyah yang beroperasi di Tengkera, Melaka. 

Perkara ini telah diyatakan olehnya di muka hadapan kitab yang dikarangnya sendiri iaitu Hidayatur Rahman seperti berikut, “Dinamakan dia Hidayatur Rahman pada menyatakan segala arkanul iman karangan al-Imam al-Fadhil al-Haj Abdul Lathif bin al-Haj Tambi negeri Melaka kejadiannya, Kampung Tengkera kediamannya, Syafi’i mazhabnya, Asy’ari aqidahnya. Dihapuskan kiranya oleh Allah Ta’ala segala kesalahannya dengan kemegahan Nabi Muhammad saw”. 

Kajian yang dibuat oleh Md Sidin mendapati bahawa Syeikh Abdul Lathif Tambi ada mengarang kira-kira enam buah kitab. Kitab-kitab tersebut adalah seperti berikut, (the following are publications of Haji Abdul Lathif Tambi)

1. Syair Bandung – Kitab syair ini diriwayatkan telah dikeluarkan oleh al-Ikhwan Press pada tahun 1917. 
2. Hidayatur Rahman – Kitab ini diselesaikan penulisannya pada hari Isnin, 15 Jamadilawal 1318 H/1900 M. Kandungannya membicarakan tentang akidah menurut Mazhab Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaah. Kitab ini dicetak buat kali ketiga oleh syarikat miliknya sendiri iaitu Mathba’ah al-Lathifiyah al-Malakawiyah, Melaka pada akhir Syawal 1348 H. 
3. Tazkiratus Sunnatil Basyar bi Ahkami Itsna `Asyar (Rangkapan) – Kitab ini diselesaikan penulisannya pada malam Sabtu, 13 Rabiulakhir 1343 H/1924 M. Kitab ini pernah dicetak oleh Mathba`ah Al-Ahmadiah yang beroperasi di 50 Minto Road, Singapura, 25 Jamadilakhir 1344 H. Kandungan membicarakan beberapa masalah dan berbagai-bagai disiplin ilmu Islam terutama sekali beberapa pertikaian pendapat atau khilafiyah dalam Islam. 
4. Risalah Buat Sementara Yang Sebenarnya Kelak Ketara – Kitab ini diselesaikan penulisannya pada hari Jumaat, 23 Jamadilawal 1354 H/26 Ogos 1935 M). Ia dicetak oleh Lathifiyah Press, Singapura, tanpa tarikh. Kandungannya membicarakan perkara khilafiyah dan merupakan lanjutan atau memperkukuh sebuah karya yang ditulis oleh al-Alim al-’Allamah Syeikh Abdul Muhaimin bin Abdul Aziz al-Lasami (Lasem). 
5. Dalailul Khairat – Menurut Almarhum Tuan Guru Haji Wan Mohd Saghir Abdullah, kandungannya belum diketahui namun judulnya diperolehi melalui iklan Al-Ahmadiah Press pada halaman belakang risalah Ibu Di Dalam Rumahnya yang dikarang oleh Raja Haji Umar bin Raja Haji Hasan Riau, cetakan tahun 1926 M.
6. Qiblah Dalail al-Hairan fi Jawazi Hadmi Masjid as-Sulthan – Judul ini diketahui melalui karya beliau berjudul Tazkiratus Sunnatil Basyar bi Ahkami Itsna `Asyar (Rangkapan). Judul ini ditulis barangkali ada kaitan dengan peristiwa perombakan Masjid Sultan Singapura seperti yang diungkapkan dalam majalah Qalam pada ketika itu. 

References used by the above blog:

1. Wan Mohd Saghir Abdullah. 2004. Syeikh Abdul Lathif Tambi Ulama gigih, dermawan. Ruangan Bicara Agama. Utusan Malaysia. Terbit pada 1 Mac 2004. [newspaper article]
2. Md. Sidin Ahmad Ishak. 1998. Penerbitan dan Percetakan Buku Melayu 1807-1960. Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

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Photos of Sheikh Haji Abdul Lathif Tambi:

His portrait is among many other renowned Malay ulamaks.

He is in the middle, 3rd row from the top.

Haji Abdul Lathif bin Haji Nuruddin.
From Bapak's pendrive 2009.

Haji Abdul Lathif bin Haji Nuruddin.
From Bapak's pendrive 2009.

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Wives and children of Haji Abdul Lathif:

There were altogether 6 wives and 21 children (8 sons and 13 daughters).

**

The following information was compiled from many sources and feedback, and after verification by live relatives who knew or have met them or knew their descendants.

Wife #1: Mariam (Tengkera)
Children:

1. Hj Ahmad bin Hj Abdul Lathif (HABHAL) - pengusaha kicap HABHAL di Singapura dulu. I met him when he visited Banda Hilir in 1964, and when I visited Geylang, Singapore in 1965.
2. Khadijah bt Hj Abdul Lathif
3. Abu Bakar bin Hj Abdul Lathif (Jumilah bt Abdul Rahman's maternal grandfather)
4. Fathima bt Hj Abdul Lathif
5. Umar bin Hj Abdul Lathif
6. Aminah bt Hj Abdul Lathif
7. Uthman bin Hj Abdul Lathif

Wife #2: Siti Hajar
Children:

1. Ali bin Hj Abdul Lathif
2. Yahya bin Hj Abdul Lathif
3. Saidah bt Hj Abdul Lathif
4. Abdullah bin Hj Abdul Lathif
5. Aishah bt Hj Abdul Lathif
6. Salma bt Hj Abdul Lathif

Wife #3: Neng Chik (from Azharuddin Kassim in KL and his aunt in Singapore. Neng is an Indonesian name; my SIL is Siti Fatimah Jaafar @ Nengsi. Chik can be a derivative of Kechik or Kecik, meaning youngest or small build.)
Children:

1. Hamidah bt Hj Abdul Lathif

Hamidah married to Nur Hassan Khan @ Wanchik. Wanchik is Azharuddin's uncle. Azharuddin's family, father, and grandmother are from the second wife of Ali Shah Khan. Tan Sri HM Shah is from the first wife of Ali Shah Khan. Hamidah's marriage sealed the bond between Ulamak Nusantara's family and that of Ali Shah Khan.

2. Halimah bt Hj Abdul Lathif

Wife #4: Che' Bee (her origin is unknown, she died when her daughter Hawa was young, her youngest granddaughter was named after her)(from Hawa Ahamad, Singapore, 15 May 2020)
Child:

1. Hawa bt Haji Abdul Latiff

Hawa dan Hj Ahmad (HABHAL), datuk Baharin, adik-beradik.

Hawa berkahwin dgn Hj Md Taib tetapi bercerai.
Hawa mempunyai 7 orang anak (yang hidup) semuanya perempuan. 

Hawa's children: 

1. Rogaiyah bt Md Taib
2. Safiyah bt Md Taib
3. Aminah bt Md Taib
4. Saedah bt Md Taib
5. Fatimah bt Md Taib
6. Yang Chik bt Md Taib (tinggal di Tg Kling, Melaka)
7. Che' Bee bt Md Taib (Singapura; aged 83 in 2020)

Che’ Bee bt Md Taib sepupu dengan Hj Thamby bin Hj Ahmad (bapa Baharin).

A photo supplied by Hawa bt Ahamad (on 15 May 2020), featured Hamidah bt Hj Abdul Lathif and her children, with Halimah and Che' Bee bt Md Taib.

Che' Bee bt Md Taib was close to Nenek Hjh Umi Kalthom bt Hj Abdul Latif (Nek Som) and Tok Jamaluddin bin Mohd Ali (Tok Din), when they lived in Muar and Johor Bahru, before Tok Jamaluddin's family shifted to KL (actually, they relocated to Klang).  

Wife #5 (last wife): Bi bt Abdullah (asal Bandung; keturunan Belanda)(from Azharuddin Kassim's aunt)
Children:

1. Hajjah Umi Kalthom bt Hj Abdul Lathif

Umi Kalthom was about 9 years old when her father passed away. Her mother was known as Nek Bee by Azharuddin's aunt.

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From Abdul Latteef Yunos (anak Hjh Saadiah HABHAL), 24 March 2016:

Hjh Kalsom adalah adik kepada Hj Ahmad ( Habhal ) lain emak.

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From Maheran bt Ahmad (Yan 010-2787 228):

1. She is called Yan Ahmad in Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/maheran.ahmad.12
2. She contacted me in Facebook on 10 October 2013.
3. She lives near Masjid Tengkera, Melaka, but has moved to KL to be near her son.
4. She is doing dakwah through her products (Mawar Kasturi Syifa’).
5. She is married to Ustaz Zain Azzra'iy bin Mahat, a Minangkabau man. His grandfather is Haji Muit, who was renowned in Selandar for Malay self-defence ("persilatan").
6. She has a son Adam Almalek Faizel, aged 8 in 2013; 9 in 2014; 10 in 2015; 11 in 2016.

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Maheran's family tree:

She is "generasi ke-5" of Haji Muhammad Salleh, from the Melaka side.

1. Her father is Haji Ahmad bin Osman
2. Her father is the son of Fatimah bt Haji Hashim.
3. Her paternal grandmother is Fatimah bt Haji Hashim.
4. Fatimah's mother is Hajah Mahdom bt Haji Tambi.
5. Her paternal moyang is Hajah Mahdom bt Haji Tambi. 
6. Hajah Mahdom is the sister of Sheikh Abdul Lathif bin Haji Tambi al-Malakawi, a renowned Ulamak Nusantara. 
7. Sheikh Haji Tambi is Muhammad Nuruddin bin Haji Muhammad Salleh.

There are no birth date or date of demise of the rest of the individuals mentioned herein. Therefore, it is difficult to date when this Haji Muhammad Salleh lived.

Not knowing dates when these men were alive/dead makes it difficult to pinpoint which Haji Muhammad Saleh is meant.

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History of the 3 masjids

Haji Muhammad Salleh married 5 wives; 3 wives in Singapore, Malacca, and Penang. He erected a masjid at each place (port of call). Altogether, Haji Muhammad Salleh built 3 mosques in Singapore and Malaya. These became the early centres of Islamic study and expansion.

1. Masjid Haji Muhammad Salleh in Singapore (new masjid, re-dated to 1903). This is near Makam Habib Noh Alhabshi. There is no photograph of the original masjid.
2. Masjid Tengkera, Melaka in 1728.
3. Masjid Batu Uban, Kg Melayu (Arab) Batu Uban, Penang in 1734.

Masjid Haji Muhammad Salleh, Singapore early 1700s
https://islamicevents.sg/organisation/246#

Masjid Tengkera, Melaka 1728
Source: https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berkas:DC16505802_Masjid_Tengkera_Malaka.jpg

Masjid Jamek Batu Uban, Penang 1734
Source: http://262bandahilir.blogspot.my/2014/01/masjid-jamek-batu-uban-penang-1734.html

External links:
http://muhibmahbub.blogspot.my/2008/04/syeikh-abdul-latif-ulama-asal-melaka.html