Tuan Haji Abdul Hamid bin Desa

BIOGRAPHY

Tuan Haji Abdul Hamid was born in Batu 3 Tandop, Mukim Pengkalan Kundur in Kedah on 7 January 1920.

He received his early education at the Tandop Malay School in 1926 and at the Haji Abdul Ghani Religious School in 1930. In 1931, he continued his studies at the Madrasah Hamidiah (now Maktab Mahmud) and Al-Quran studies, guided by Tuan Syeikh Ibrahim Al-Ibyari.

Tuan Hj. Abdul Hamid's involvement in the field of Al-Quran recital begun since he was still a child i.e. at the age of 10. He was the first person to be recognised as the Champion Qari of the first National Musabaqah Al-Quran Recital that was held for the first time on 18 March 1960. Among locations that listened to his recitals were Medan in Indonesia, Johor, Perak, Kelantan, Patani in Southern Thailand, Perlis and Kedah.

He was possibly featured in the Malayan Medical Mission to Makkah in the early 1960s, along with Dr Che Lah bin Md Joonos, Tan Sri Syed Hassan Aidid and others.

After 1960, he stopped his involvement in musabaqah in order to give way to the younger generation to compete and he focused on the task of being an educator and taught his students how to recite al-Quran. He was frequently invited to act as judge for musabaqah at the state level from 1962 until 1974.

He continued giving guidance for al-Quran recital to his students until the end of his life. He passed away on 8 April, 1986.

Source:
http://www.mykedah2.com/e_20hall_fame/e201b_12.htm