Popular Name(s): Pa Da ‘El Patani, Haji Wan Ismail Semela, Pak Da ‘El Semela

Origin:

Location(s): Bendang Daya, Patani

Biographical Details: b. 1300/1882, in Kampung Bendang Daya, Patani. His father was Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir, known better as Tok Bendang Daya Muda. ‘Isma’il was a contemporary teacher with Tengku Mahmud Zuhdi al-Fatani, Haji Ahmad Palwan, Tok Balur, and others. He was an expert in ‘usul al-din. d. 9 Rajab 1385 AH [3 Nov 1965 CE].

He went with his father to Mecca in 1895, where he first studied with his uncles Shaykh Muhammad Zayn and Pak Cik Wan Da’ud Patani as well as his cousin Shaykh Ahmad al-Fatani. He remained in Mecca the rest of his life except for a return journey in 1912 and another just before World War II. He owned IAM 735 – Matn madkhal fi ‘ilm al-sarf (by Shaykh Ahmad al-Fatani). He penned a number of the very few surviving handwritten copies of Shaykh Ahmad’s works that later found their way to the Islamic Arts Museum in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Teachers:

1. Tok Jakar (c. 1870-1944), probably at Pondok Jakar
   
2. Shaykh Muhammad Zayn b. Haji Mustafa al-Fatani (1817-1908), uncle, Mecca
3. Pak Cik Wan Da’ud Patani (1866-1936)
   
4. Shaykh Ahmad b. Muhammad Zayn al-Fatani (1856-1908), his cousin, Mecca
5. Pak b. Haji ‘Abd al-Majid (Mecca)
6. Tuan Mokhtar Atarid Bogor (Mecca)
7. (unnamed teacher from India)
8. (several unidentified Arab teachers)

Students:

1. Tok Beruas, Kuala Beras
2. Haji Che Noh Penambang (c. 1882-1955)
3. Tok Guru Dala (c. 1898-1975)
4. Tuan Guru Haji Hassan Mak Enggol (c. 1896-1969)
   
5. Haji Ahmad b. Haji ‘Abd al-Wahhab, Kampung Pusan, Perigi
6. Haji Ahmad, Tembesu, Binjai Lima
7. Pak Cu Hab, Pangkalan Enam, Pujud
8. Haji ‘Abd Allah, Pondok Jambatan Kuda, Teluban
9. Haji Wan Nik, Pulau Mati, Bandar
10. Haji ‘Abd al-Rahman Jakar, Pondok Jakar
11. Haji ‘Abd Allah, Bendang Kebun
12. Haji Muhammad Zayn, Balur, Kekabu
13. Haji Yusuf, Pondok Melayu Bangkok, Yala
14. Haji Nik Mat, Pondok Comel, Teluban
15. Haji ‘Abd al-Rashid, Pondok Sesayap
16. Haji ‘Isma’il atau Pak Teh ‘El, Pondok Getah Cambah
17. Haji Dir, Sekam, Palas
18. Haji ‘Abd Allah Mayo, Rakak
19. Haji Hassan, Lubuk Topeng, Jeringa
20. Haji ‘Abd al-Rahman, Beraul, father to Dr. Ismail Lutfi
21. Haji Ya’qub, Langgar, Palas
22. Haji ‘Abd al-Qadir, Nad Tok Embong, (his son)
23. Tok Cembar (d. 1975/6), Kampung Cembar
24. Haji Waman, Gajah Mati, Cempaka
25. Haji ‘Abd Allah, Tanah Periuk, Kekabu
26. Haji Nik ‘Abd Allah b. Ahmad, Nibong Baru, Yala
27. Baba Li, Sekam, Palas
28. Shaykh ‘Abd al-Rahim b. ‘Idris al-Kalantani, Mecca
29. Haji Awang, Lambur, Wakaf Baharu
30. Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir al-Mandili, Mecca
31. Haji Cik Hassan, Lemal, Pasir Mas
32. Haji Da’ud Sa’id, Kampung Getting, Tumpat
33. Haji Hassan, Ketereh, Kota Bharu
34. Tok Pulau ‘Ubi (c. 1887-1957)
35. Pak Cu Him Gajah Mati (1891-1968)
36. Haji Ahmad Batu Tiga (c. 1899-1978), Batu Tiga, Repek, Pasir Mas
37. Haji ‘Abd Allah, Pondok Lati, Pasir Mas
38. Haji Harun, Batu Tiga, Repek, Pasir Mas
39. Haji ‘Abd Allah, Pondok Lubuk Tapah, Pasir Mas
40. Haji Wan Yusuf Che Tengah, Kemuning, Macang
41. Haji Wan Ya’qub Che Tengah, Kweng Hitam, Macang
42. Datuk Haji Muhammad Nur b. ‘Ibrahim, Mufti Kerajaan Kelantan
43. Haji Shu‘aib Da’ud, Kampung Menuang, Kota Bharu
44. Haji Ya’qub Salih, Kampung Nipah, Bacok
45. Haji Da’ud Jambul, Kampung Perakap, Bunut Susu, Pasir Mas
46. Haji ‘Abd al-Rahman b. Sulayman, Pondok Sungai Durian, Kuala Krai
47. Haji Wan Hussayn b. Wan Mustafa, Alor Keladi, Jerteh
48. Haji ‘Isma’il b. Ahmad (Imam Besar pertama Masjid Negeri, Negeri Sembilan)
49. Haji Muhammad b. Haji Yusuf, Kampung Gunung Pasir, Seri Menanti, Negeri Sembilan
50. Haji Ghazali, Perak—Tokoh Ma‘al Hijrah
51. Haji Mahmud Zuhdi, Pondok Lanai, Kedah
52. Haji Zakaria b. Haji Ahmad Wan Besar, Alor Setar, Kedah
53. Haji ‘Abd Allah, Kuala Ibai, Terengganu
54. Haji Wan ‘Abd al-Rahman Long, bekas Kadi Besar Terengganu—called Datuk Purba Diraja
55. Haji ‘Abd al-Latif “Gelok Getah” b. Awang, Alor Keladi, Jerteh
56. Tok Mundok (c. 1910-78)

Authored Writing(s):

1. Bakurat al-Amani
2. [Kitab faraid] – PNM 621 (signed merely by “Ismail di Bendang Daya”)
3. [Khutbah hari raya aidal adha] – PNM 1096
4. [Khutbah Jumaat] – PNM 1510A (in Bendang Daya, Patani) – bef. Jamadilawal 1345 AH ~ 1926 CE
5. [Kitab tajwid] – IAM 738
6. Tabsirah al-Amani

Scribed Writing(s):

1. IAM 730 – Qatr al-Nada, 1317 AH [1899/1900 CE]
2. [IAM 734A] – untitled and unidentified
3. IAM 734B – Manzuma al-shabrawi al-shafi’i
4. [IAM 734C] – Abniyat al-asma’ wa al-af’al
5. IAM 736 – Mutammima li masa’il al-ajrumiyya, 22 Dhu’l Qada 1314 AH [24 Apr 1897 CE]
6. IAM x739 – Matn Maqsud (now lost)

References:

1. Fatani, Ahmad Fathy al-. Ulama Besar dari Patani. Bangi: Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 2002: 167-80.