early years
to
1992
Top Orphaned at a young age of 9 years, Syed Isa (centre) spent most of his childhood years at an orphanage, Malja’ al Aitam. His growing-up years had a large impact on his vision for the Muslim community, including safeguarding the welfare of needy Muslims and the educational upliftment of Muslim children, when he was appointed Mufti of Singapore. He forged close bonds of brotherhood with other orphans, including Abdul Mun’im (right) and Harun Ghani (left), the former Singapore Member of Parliament. Right Hari Raya function with other orphans at Malja’ al Aitam (presently Darul Ihsan Orphanage). (Back row, from left) Masduki Mohd (Brother of the late Ustaz Ahmad Sonhadji Mohd), Harun Md Said, Syed Isa, Sulaiman Md Said, Hassan Shahab (front).
Left Visiting the Mufti of Johor, Syed Alwi bin Tahir Al-Haddad: Shaikh Syed Isa (third from left) joins the mudir (principal) of Madrasah Aljunied Al-Islamiah, Syed Abdullah Balfaqih (1954) and other students during the visit. Bottom The old Madrasah Aljunied, where Syed Isa attended his secondary education. To date, the 85-year-old madrasah has produced many graduates who are religious elites as well as holders of key positions in various fields in Singapore and the region.
Syed Isa and Ustaz Mat Chik Wok from Malaysia (who later became the Mufti of Kelantan). They lived at the same hostel for foreign students in Al-Azhar University. They first met in December 1961 at Port Said in northeast Egypt, when the young Syed Isa arrived on Egyptian shores after many days of travel by ship from Singapore.
A dream come true: In 1961 Syed Isa received a scholarship to study at the prestigious Al-Azhar University in Cairo. He was one of only three Singaporeans selected for the scholarship.
Syed Isa as a young student at Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.
Syed Isa in sports gear – at Al-Azhar University he played football, badminton and sepak takraw with students who hailed from Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Thailand.
Top Syed Isa (bespectacled, second row, extreme right) with classmates, teachers and principal, a photo taken at the end of his upper secondary years in Al-Azhar University. Right Syed Isa and two Malaysian students in an informal discussion with Sheikh Hassounah, the Sheikh of Al-Azhar University, in 1962.
Members of the Sports and Recreation Committee, which was part of the Malay Students’ Association at Al-Azhar University (taken in the mid-1960s). Syed Isa, seated second from left, was an active contributor to the association. After Singapore separated from Malaysia, Syed Isa and a few friends set up the Singapore Students’ Welfare Assembly (Perkemas). He became its first president. Today, the society continues to look after the well-being of Singapore students studying in Egypt.
Syed Isa later helped establish a clubhouse for Perkemas which exists till today.
Syed Isa in Germany in 1964 where he landed a job as a welder. He is flanked by his dormitory mates.
The experiences of travel, study and work in the Middle East and Europe exposed Syed Isa to the diversity of beliefs and views in the wider world and shaped his outlook on faith.
Residence of Singapore’s Ambassador to Egypt, Professor Dr Ahmad Ibrahim, in the town of Maadi in Cairo, Egypt.
Syed Isa with Professor Dr Ahmad Ibrahim, Singapore’s ambassador to Egypt. Singapore’s former Finance Minister, Dr Goh Keng Swee, described Professor Ahmad Ibrahim as “a legal authority of international eminence”. For about a year while still a student at Al-Azhar University, Syed Isa was an aide to the ambassador, accompanying him on visits, hosting dignitaries, doing interpreting work, and even communicating with the driver, cook and cleaner. This was a valuable exposure to public service.
Syed Isa performing marriage solemnisation as naib kadi (1971).
Birth certificate of Syed Isa, bearing the name “Smith�. This was the source of a little confusion when he came into office as Mufti, as former Social Affairs Minister Othman Wok thought Syed Isa was a convert.
Syed Isa became the second Mufti of Singapore on 7 February 1972 at age 33. He was believed to be the youngest Mufti in the world and was a bachelor.
Marital bliss: Just two months after he became Mufti, Syed Isa married Sharifah Muznah Mohamed Al-Hadad. They are blessed with four daughters.
The first Muis office at a section of the Empress Place Building now occupied by the Asian Civilisation Museum. It was a small department in the then-Ministry of Social Affairs.
Second Muis Council in session in 1971. From left to right: Hj Ismail Aziz (first Muis President), Hj Othman Wok (Minister for Social Affairs), Othman Omar (Personal Assistant to Othman Wok), Mufti Hj Sanusi Mahmood (partially hidden), M.J. Namazie, Major Atan Yatim (Muslim Trust Fund Association), Ustaz Daud Hj Ali, Hj Abdul Rahman Dalbasah, Yatim Dohon (High Court Intepreter)
Syed Isa with staff who were pioneers of Muis, in a photo taken in the modest office in Empress Place.
Left The first key issue that Syed Isa tackled when he became Mufti was to institutionalise a standard zakat collection system so that monies collected could be properly channelled to benefit various segments of the community according to the eight asnaf, including the poor and needy. Top Syed Isa with Musa Yusof, secretary of Muis from 1971 to 1986. Musa Yusof was initially seconded to Muis in 1969 because of the illness of its first secretary.
Religious officials from Negara Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore met in 1991 to fix the dates for the Islamic calendar and participate in a simulated rukyah (moonsighting) exercise. Syed Isa was the sole representative for Singapore at the meeting.
Syed Isa at the sighting of the new moon in Malaysia.
Muslims making donations to the Mosque Building Fund at Sultan Mosque.
Syed Isa determining the direction of kiblat at the development site of Al-Muttaqin Mosque in 1977. Al-Muttaqin Mosque is the fifth mosque to benefit from the Mosque Building Fund.