THE CREED OF TUAN GURU NIK ABDUL AZIZ NIK MAT: AN ASSESSMENT OF ISLAMIC CREED CURRICULUM IN SEKOLAH AGAMA PETANG PERLIS (SAPPs) MAIPs

The late Tuan Guru Tan Sri Dato’ Bentara Setia Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat (1931-2015) is the 17th Chief Minister of Kelantan state, Malaysia. He was also highly trusted as the Mursyidul Am or Spiritual Leader of the Pan-Malaysia Islamic Party (PAS) (1995-2015). Thus, he is widely revered as a scholar professing an exemplary Sunni Islamic creed. Meanwhile in the neighbouring state of Perlis, the Crown Prince His Royal Highness Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Ibni Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail inspired a primary level initiative in Islamic education, implemented by the Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council of Perlis or popularly abbreviated as MAIPs. Assented the name of Sekolah Agama Petang Perlis (SAPPs) MAIPs or Perlis Afternoon Religious School, this education vision of MAIPs was launched since 2018 to sustain the acculturation of the Sunni methodology among the future generation of Perlis. In the curriculum of SAPPs MAIPs, Sunni Islamic Creed is a unique component. Therefore, this paper endeavours to compare selected issues in Sunni Islamic creed between Tuan Guru Nik Abdul Aziz, with the teaching and learning of Islamic creed in the curriculum of SAPPs MAIPs.