Getting to Know Tuan Haji Mohd Khair bin Haji Mohd Taib, a Distinguished National Falak Figure
Getting to Know Tuan Haji Mohd Khair bin Haji Mohd Taib, a Distinguished National Falak Figure
Tuan Haji Mohd Khair bin Haji Mohd Taib, a renowned Sharia astronomy figure in Malaysia, has left a profound impact on the field of Islamic astronomy. Known as the "Perak State Falak Gauge," he possessed an extraordinary ability to memorize and calculate numbers in astronomical computations up to 12 digits without needing to make any notes.
This brilliance made him a respected and revered astronomer. Among his greatest contributions is a collection of manuscripts and astronomical materials kept at the National Archives of Malaysia, Perak Branch, which covers various important aspects of falak, such as determining the Qibla direction, prayer times, the beginning of the months of Ramadan and Syawal, as well as Iftar and Imsak times.
Early Life and Education
Tuan Haji Mohd Khair was born on September 8, 1922, in Kampung Bakar Bata, about 3 kilometers from Alor Setar, Kedah. His interest in astronomy began at a young age. He started his formal education at Madrasah al-Hamidiah, Limbung Kapal, in 1936.
There, he studied under Ku Arifin, a figure skilled in prayer time calculation methods. Later, he continued his studies at Ma’had Mahmud, Kedah, where he learned Sharia astronomy and the use of the Rubu’ Mujayyab, a traditional tool used for astronomical calculations.
He did not stop there. Tuan Haji Mohd Khair continued to gain knowledge at al-Mashoor, Penang, and later studied under Muhammad Tahir bin Syeikh Muhammad bin Ahmad Jalaluddin in Kuala Kangsar.
His teacher, who had studied astronomy at Al-Azhar University, Egypt, gave him a safe containing various astronomical instruments as a symbol of trust and appreciation for his interest and talent. Additionally, he also studied part-time at Sekolah Agama Idrisiah, Bukit Chandan, Kuala Kangsar.
Contributions to the Field of Sharia Astronomy
Tuan Haji Mohd Khair was not only a diligent student but also a dedicated educator. Together with his close friend, Haji Salleh Shamsuddin, he gathered and taught 15 to 20 students interested in deepening their knowledge of astronomy. With the cooperation of Tuan Guru Haji Yahya Junid, the founder of Madrasah al-Taufiqiyah, he also taught astronomy at the madrasah.
His main reference books included handwritten works by Muhammad Tahir bin Syeikh Muhammad bin Ahmad Jalaluddin, the Nautical Almanac published in England, and several Arabic-language books.
In 1978, the Malaysian government sent him to an astronomy conference in Istanbul, Turkey. This conference was attended by astronomical figures from all over the world, including Datuk Syeikh Abdul Mohsin, the Federal Territory Mufti, and Professor Abdul Hamid Tahir from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.
As a result of this conference, he successfully brought home an important discovery: the conjunction (ijtimak) of the sun and moon occurs no less than 8 hours before sunset. This discovery was eventually accepted as one of the criteria for hilal (crescent moon) visibility in determining the beginning of the Hijri month.
Role in Education and Research
In the same year, he was appointed by the Dakwah Institute (INDAH), Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM), to prepare lecture modules and provide astronomy lectures to government officials, the public, and students. The modules covered various important aspects of Sharia astronomy, including an introduction to astronomy, religious texts (nas-nas naqliah), date determination, prayer time calculation, Qibla direction determination, hilal calculation, eclipse determination, and physical astronomy.
On October 6, 1981, Tuan Haji Mohd Khair was officially appointed as a Visiting Scholar at the Department of Sharia, Faculty of Islamic Studies, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). His duties included guiding students and lecturers in determining prayer times, hilal visibility, and Qibla direction. He also produced important works in the field of Sharia astronomy and compiled Islamic calendars.
Establishment of the Malaysian Sharia Astronomy Association
On January 22-24, 1982, during a Sharia Astronomy Seminar organized by the Department of Sharia, Faculty of Islamic Studies, UKM, Tuan Haji Mohd Khair presented a paper titled "The Development of Sharia Astronomy After the Time of the Prophet SAW." In the seminar, he proposed the establishment of the Malaysian Sharia Astronomy Association to gather all experts and enthusiasts of the field.
This proposal finally became a reality on October 7, 1983, when the association was established at Lecture Hall II, Faculty of Islamic Studies, UKM. He was appointed as the association's advisor.
An Enduring Legacy
Tuan Haji Mohd Khair passed away on October 28, 1989, at Ipoh Hospital due to cancer. His remains were buried at the Rapat Jaya Islamic Cemetery, Gunung Rapat. Although he has passed, his contributions and legacy in the field of Sharia astronomy continue to live on through his works, the students he taught, and the institutions he helped build.
Tuan Haji Mohd Khair bin Haji Mohd Taib was not just an astronomer, but also an educator, writer, and thinker who successfully integrated astronomy with the needs of modern Muslims. His brilliance in calculating and memorizing complex numbers, as well as his dedication to spreading astronomical knowledge, makes him an unforgettable figure in the history of Islamic astronomy in Malaysia.
References:
- National Archives of Malaysia, Perak Branch
