SYED ABDULLAH HAMID AL-EDRUS: PENULIS, PENERBIT DAN PENGASAS QALAM

Abstract

Syed Abdullah Hamid Al-Edrus (Edrus / Ahmad Luthfi) is the founder of Qalam Press who published 228 of Qalam magazines from 1950 to 1969. Throughout the years he has certainly encountered many obstacles and experiences. What is Edrus's role in ensuring that its printing company continues to produce publishing materials? This paper attempts to shed light on the journey of Edrus from his humble beginnings as a compositor, reporter and writer till the pinnacle of his achievement as the business owner of a printing house, which publishes Islamic magazines such as the Qalam. The findings  show that Edrus has successfully built a printing empire that has survived for 19 years despite business problems and various actions taken by some because of his critical writing. He is free to voice out his views as Qalam is the result of his own magazine. For that, Edrus is very strict, brave and brazen in criticizing any issue which he feels is inaccurate and contradicts with Islam. This paper is written based on qualitative methods such as  interviews, Qalam magazines, books and thesis collections obtained from ArkibNegara, Perpustakaan Utama Universiti Malaya dan Perpustakaan Peringatan Za’ba Universiti Malaya. 

Received: 6 December 2018

Reviewed: 25 December 2018

Accepted: 12 October 2019