Buya Hamka married Siti Raham on April 5, 1929. At the time, Buya Hamka was 21 years old, and Siti Raham was 15. This union blessed Buya Hamka and his wife with ten children: Zaki Hamka, Rusjdi Hamka, Fachry Hamka, Azizah Hamka, Irfan Hamka, Aliyah Hamka, Fathiyah Hamka, Hilmi Hamka, Afif Hamka, and Shaqib Hamka. Following the passing of Siti Raham, Buya Hamka married Siti Khadijah in August 1973. However, their marriage did not result in any offspring.
After stepping down from his role in the Council of Ulama, Buya Hamka’s health began to deteriorate, necessitating extensive medical care. Shortly after being hospitalized on July 18, 1981, Buya Hamka passed away on Friday, July 24, 1981, at the age of 73. His remains were laid to rest at his residence on Jalan Raden Fatah III. In a final tribute, his funeral was attended not only by his students, friends, and relatives but also by prominent figures of the nation, including President Soeharto, Vice President Adam Malik, Minister of State for the Environment Emil Salim, and Minister of Transportation Azwar Anas.
Buya Hamka’s Works
His magnum opus, “Tafsir al-Azhar,” stands as a phenomenal achievement. This commentary is notable for its literary and sociocultural orientation, inspired by the principles of Sheikh Muhammad Abduh (1849-1905). This literary and sociocultural approach explicates the verses of the Quran that directly relate to societal life and offers solutions in language that is both comprehensible and melodious.
“Tafsir al-Azhar” has brought significant recognition to Buya Hamka in the intellectual landscape of Indonesian Islam. What makes it even more remarkable is the fact that he penned this commentary while incarcerated. “Tafsir al-Azhar” is widely acknowledged by diverse circles as Buya Hamka’s finest and most monumental work. Through this commentary, he sought to connect the history of modern Islam with the study of the Quran and ventured beyond traditional interpretations.
With his writing skills, Buya Hamka also produced numerous works, primarily in the field of literature. There are approximately 90 titles authored by Buya Hamka. Some of his renowned works include “Tenggelamnya Kapal Van Der Wijck” (1938), “Di Bawah Lindungan Ka’bah” (1938), “Tasawuf Modern” (1939), “Tuan Direktur” (1939), “Falsafah Hidup” (1940), “Merantau ke Deli” (1941), and many others. Beyond books, Buya Hamka wrote various articles and short stories across different genres.