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Tok Kenali or his real name Muhamad Yusof bin Ahmad Al-Kenali was born in 1868 at Kubang Kerian, Kota Bahru. His father passed away when Tok Kenali was 5 years old. He started learning – to read and write the Al-Quran from Tok Lih, his maternal grandfather.

At the age of 10, Tok Kenali moved to Kota Bahru and studied the Arabic language from Ismail. Among Tok Kenali?s teachers were Ahmad bin Mohd Zain bin Mustaffa al-Fatani and Syeikh Daud Abdullah Fatani.

Tok Kenali married Mek Nik Haji Salleh Janggut at the age of 16 but the marriage only lasted one year. He later remarried Hajah Rokiah Haji Mahmud and was blessed with 4 children, namely Hj. Ahmad, Hj. Mohd. Salleh, Haji Mahmud and Haji Abdullah Zawawi.

He went to Mekah to perform his pilgrimmage and to further his studies at the age of 18 and returned to his homeland in 1908 at the age of 40. He started teaching in his house and later on in other houses at Kampung Paya in Kelantan. He also taught at the Masjid Al-Muhammadi, Kota Bahru.

Among his students were Yaakob Legur, Haji Ali Sallehuddin, Haji Othman Jalaluddin Sering, Abdullah Tahir and Mohammad Undang. During his career, he held various posts such as member of Majlis Ulama Kelantan and Majlis Agama Islam dan Adat Istiadat Melayu Kelantan, Head of Islamic Studies in Kelantan, Chief Editor of the magazine Pengasuh and was the founder of Jam?ayatul Al? Asriyah in Kota Bahru.

Tok Kenali’s literary works include Kadi Yang Pintar, Helah Yang Baik, Pengetahuan Manusia Terbatas, Kuasailah Pengetahuan Agama dan Politik, Bertanya Yang Tahu, Ilmu Itu Apa Yang Terguris Dalam Hati, Ilmu Yang Tidak Diamalkan, Hanya Untuk Menyedapkan and Awang Hidung Melintang. He passed away on 19 November 1933 at the age of 65.