Abdul Halim Pardede (born 1886 – died 1958) was a Toba Batak Islamic cleric and a prominent figure in the spread of Islam in Toba (in Balige) and Simalungun (in Parapat). He was also known by his traditional title, Lobe Tinggi Pardede.[1]
Early life
Abdul Halim was born in Balige in 1886 to a Toba Batak Catholic family. He was born with the name Avinas Pardede. His father was Andreas Pardede and his brother was Johanes Pardede. Both of Abdul Halim's families remained Catholic until the end of their lives.[1]
Personal life
After his father and brother died, he went to Padangsidimpuan to study Islam for three years, in other sources it is said that he went to North Tapanuli with several of his relatives. Most likely he studied Islam with Ibrahim Sitompul, the spreader of Islam in North Tapanuli, especially in Janji Angkola.[1]
After converting to Islam, he changed his name from Avinas Pardede to Abdul Halim Pardede with the traditional title Lobe Tinggi Pardede. After returning from Padangsidimpuan and Janji Angkola, he settled in Balige and succeeded in converting his mother, Boru Siahaan (Lumbangorat), his younger sister Boru Tona, who married into the Tampubolon clan, and his wife's family has the surname Hutagaol.[1]
Preaching
Around 1916, the number of adherents of Islam had reached 150 households in Balige and its surroundings (Mejan, Simarmar, Parsuratan, Hinalang, and Tambunan) thanks to the efforts of Abdul Halim Pardede. Therefore, the Muslim community of Balige and the surrounding area planned to build a mosque as a place of worship, and then Lobe Leman Tampubolon took care of the permits. Then finally got permission to build the mosque on 2 January 1918.[2]
Next he preached in Simalungun, precisely in Parapat, where he then settled. With a strong determination to preach he met the king of Tanah Jawa and the king of Siantar who were Muslim. His presence in Parapat was welcomed, and the assistance of the two kings was not small. He also opened a halal rice stall in the hope that people passing through Parapat heading to Medan from West Sumatra and South Tapanuli, where the majority are Muslim, can stop by to eat or rest.[2]
In 1929, he bought a plot of land around the current Lake Toba guesthouse, which he planned to use as a site for the construction of a mosque. However, his plans were challenged by the Dutch Colonial Government, so that he was summoned and interrogated by the Dutch Colonial Government three times. Then, in 1940, the Dutch Colonial Government again disturbed him and looked for reasons to prevent him from building a permanent mosque. Because the establishment of a permanent mosque is very possible, because his plan was supported by the king of Tanah Jawa and the king of Siantar, then a mosque was built which was finally known as the Grand Mosque of Taqwa Parapat (Masjid Raya Taqwa Parapat).[3]
References
- 1.[1.2][1.3][1.4]Suhendro, Pristi; Gultom, Ernita (2017). "Penyebaran Agama Islam di Kecamatan Girsang Sipangan Bolon". Puteri Hijau Jurnal Pendidikan Sejarah (in Indonesian). 2 (2). Medan: State University of Medan: 1–71. doi:10.24114/ph.v2i2.9093.
- 2.[2.2]Hermanto, Putra (19 October 2010). "Haji Abdul Halim Pardede". putrahermanto.wordpress.com (in Indonesian). Islam For World. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
- 3.Magribi, Alija (2 March 2026). Prasandi, Ayu (ed.). "Masjid Raya Taqwa Parapat: Kisah di Balik Ide Soekarno yang Dijemput Masyarakat Setempat". medan.tribunnews.com (in Indonesian). Tribun News. Retrieved 6 August 2026.