Haji Abdullah Tahir Bunut Payong (1897-1961)
Salah seorang ulama negeri Kelantan yang masyhur alim dalam ilmu fiqh. Pendiri Pondok Bunut Payong yang terkenal ke seluruh semenanjung. Seangkatan dengan Haji Ali Pulau Pisang, haji Yaakub Lorong Gajah Mati, Haji Saad Kangkong, Haji Ahmad Batu Tiga Repek, Haji saleh Pedada dan lain-lain.
Dilahirkan di Kampung Sireh, Kota Bharu pada 20 Muharram 1315 bersamaan 20 Jun 1897. Bapanya, Haji Ahmad bin Mohd Zain yang berasal dari Kampung Chepa, Kedai Lalat pernah berkhidmat sebagai Imam Tua di Masjid Langgar, Kota Bharu (berkhidmat sehingga 1920).
Sesudah berguru selama 15 tahun dengan Tok Kenali, beliau belayar ke tanah suci Makkah mendalami pengajiannya. Antara lain mengikut kuliah Tuan Mokhtar Bogor, Syeikh Said al-Yamani, Syeikh Mohd Ali al-Maliki, dan beberapa tokoh yang lain lagi.
Sekembalik ke Kelantan, beliau diminta menyertai kumpulan tenaga pengajar Halaqat Kitab di Masjid Muhammadi, Kota Bharu. Bagaimanapun khidmatnya tidak lama kerana pada tahun 1931, beliau memulakan kegiatan keguruannya sendiri di Bunut Payong yang diberi nama Madrasah Ahmadiah. Madrasah ini kemungkinan terkenal ke seluryh pelosok Semenajung Melayu sebagai pusat pengajian pondok yang berprestasi tinggi di kelantan.
Di pondok Bunut Payong inilah Tuan Guru Haji Abdullah Tahir mengajar kitab hingga ke akhir hayatnya. Beliau terkenal sebagai seorang tok guru yang tekun mengajar serta mengamalkan disiplin diri yang keras lagi tegas.
Kerana kegigihannya yang sedemikian maka tidak peliklah jika pondok Bunut Payong berjaya melahirkan ramai murid berilmu tinggi seperti Haji Husain Rahimi, Haji Nik Man Sungai Budor, Haji Abd Aziz Pasir Tumboh, Haji Ismail Padang Lepai, Haji Abdullah Kok Lanas, Haji Omar Kubang Bemban, Haji Abdul Rahman Slow Machang, Haji Wook Lubok Chekok, Haji Noor Teliar, Haji Sulaiman Siram, Haji Daud Bukit Bunga, Haji Yaakub Kelong, Haji Ghazali Pulai Chondong, Haji Zakaria Selising, Haji Osman Perlis, Haji Ahmad Kodiang, Haji Yahya Joned Gurun, Haji Ibrahim Bongek, Haji Abdul Wahid Sungai Udang, Haji Husain Umbai, Haji Ahmad Relai, Haji Hassanuddin Berhala Gantang, Haji Ismail Phuket, Haji Ghazali Mundok.
Kerana ketokohannya juga beliau dilantik menganggotai Jemaah Ulama Majlis Agama Islam Kelantan beberapa penggal (seawal 1932).
Kematian Fugaha’ ini pada pukul 7.20 pagi Selasa 4 Rabiul Awal 1381 bersamaan 15 Ogos 1961 menyebabkan negeri Kelantan kehilangan seorang tokoh ilmuwan yang menerangi budaya ilmu dan dakwah Islamiayah.
Haji Abdullah Tahir Bunut Payong (1897-1961)
Haji Abdullah Tahir was one of the well-known religious leaders in Kelantan due to
his vast knowledge in fiqah and also because he was the founder of Bunut Payong
cottage. He was in the same teamas Haji Ali Pulau Pisang, Haji Yaakub Lorong Gajah
Mati, Haji saad Kangkong and Haji Ahmad Batu Tiga repek.
He was taught by Tok Kenali for 15 years before pursuing his further studies in Mecca. There, he attended lectures by Tuan Mukhtar Bogor, Syeikh Said al-Yamani, Syeikh Mohd. Ali al-Maliki and others.
Upon his return to Kelantan, he was requested to join the teaching staff of Halaqat Kitab at Muhammadi Mosque in Kota Bharu but not for long. In 1931, he established his own education centre known as Madrasah Ahmadiah in Bunut Payong, Tuan Guru Haji Nik Abdullah Tahir devoted his time to the religious teaching at Bunut Payong cottage until the end of his life . He was known as a religious leader who was self-disciplined and diligent in teaching. Due to his determination, Bunut Payong cottage succeeded in producing learned individuals like Hj. Husain Rahimi, Hj. Nik Man Sungai Budor, Hj. Abdul Aziz Pasir Tumboh and many others. He was also appointed as the head of MAIK Religious Congregation for several terms of service , since the beginning of 1932.
Kelantan lost another great and knowledgeable religious leader with his passing at 7.20 a.m. on Tuesday morning, August 15, 1961.