Journey of Hajj Pilgrims from Patani and Its Social-economic and Intellectual Impact on the Patani Malay Society (1800-1960s)

Islam had formally accepted by the Patani people in the mid 15th century while the tenets of Islam were not fully practiced at the early time. In the early period, it has no clear evidence to indicate that there were pilgrims from Patani to reach Mecca for Hajj. However, the names of religious Patani scholars were mentioned about their connection with Mecca in some Malay classical books both directly and indirectly in 16th and 17th century. Journey of Hajj from Patani and had more recorded in the later century after being better transportation especially when the Suez canal in Egypt was opened in 1869 and operating of steamships which carried Malay pilgrims from the Malay Archipelago mainly through Penang and Singapore port. Barriers and various challenges faced by pilgrims throughout on board ship and life in Mecca and its environs gave much impact, especially in terms of social-economy and intellectual structure. Collective memory, spiritual and empirical experience gave a lot of individual impact and made Hajj pilgrims changes their way of life after they returning homeland. For those for stay a period of time for educational purpose after the Hajj season, this also gave profound impact to the Patani Malay society through intellectual pilgrims particularly the nineteenth and the first half of the twentieth century. Methods, texts, learning and teaching styles, had been transformed into the society especially the Madrasah system which directly copied from the madrasahs in Mecca. The Hajj journey was also one way to link the Malay region with the Muslim world, and consolidated its contact with the Haramayn in particular.