Haji Ishak bin Muhammad Hashim was born in 1771 at Kampung Padang Panjang, Kota Sena, Malau, Jitra. He received his early religious education from his own family. He learned to read the Koran in Kampung Malau. However, his basic religious education was not enough for him to become an Ulama, which was what his father had wanted him to be.

Through his own interest and encouraged by his family, Haji Ishak embarked on a journey to Mecca in 1786 to further his knowledge on Islam. For 20 years, he studied religion from many teachers, including someone, who was close and often mentioned by him, Sheikh Abdul Qadir. Haji Ishak managed to learn in depth subjects such as Fiqah, Tauhid, Usulludin, and Tassawuf, as well as Tafsir, Hadis, and other subsidiary subjects such as Nahu, Saraf and others.

He returned in 1806 at the age of 35 and began teaching religion at Kampung Malau at the request of the locals. This was what he had always wanted to do: to help strengthen Islam through teaching, in the community. Haji Ishak was a close relations of Tunku Anom as he lived at a time when Kedah’s relations with Thailand (Siam) was undergoing a critical phase.

As a reward for his efforts at reviving the Sultanate of Kedah by returning the Sultan of Kedah back to the throne, Tunku Anom was given the area of Kubang Pasu to administer as a State. In 1841, Tunku Anom invited Haji Ishak to be one of his court officials and appointed him as the Chief Kadi of the State of Kubang Pasu. He was given the responsibility of looking after Malay customs, religious affairs and general administration. His appointment was made based on his proficiency as a highly learned Ulama.

As a Kadi, Haji Ishak was outstanding. Among his duties were in deciding the location of the palace (istana), the Family of the Sultan’s domicile, the Royal Cemetery. He was also the Royal Religious Teacher, while at the same time, taught Fiqah and Tauhid to the public.

In August 1845, Tunku Anom went to Siam to send the Bunga Emas (golden flowers) along with 17 others, including Sultan Zainal Rashid, Syed Hussain and Tunku Muhammad Akib. During Tunku Anom’s six-month absence, Haji Ishak acted as the ruler and ruled over the State of Kubang Pasu. This proved that Haji Ishak was the most trusted and the closest to Tunku Anom who often gave him the responsibility of running the State.

With the support of Tunku Anom, Haji Ishak raised a centre for “Pondok” Islamic education at Pulau Pisang, Mukim Tujang. This centre for Islamic education in Pulau Pisang became famous and well known in Malaya. As Pulau Pisang became well developed as a centre for Islamic education, Tunku Anom agreed to make it his administrative centre. On Haji Ishak’s advise, Tunku Anom also agreed to build an istana (palace) in Pulau Pisang.

When he was head of the Pulau Pisang “Pondok” School, he built a mosque for the use of local Muslims. This mosque remained in existence to this day and it was called the “Ishaqiah Mosque”. Its foundation was still in its original state although several renovations had been made to the old building. Its original “mimbar” was made of hard remia wood and is still in good condition and still being used today. The mosque was constructed by using Javanese workers, but its design was entirely Haji Ishak’s. It just showed that Hj. Ishak was not only a man of religion but a credible architect as well.

This mosque, which was built in the “Pondok” school area was one of the most beautiful mosques in Kedah at that time. Haji Ishak did not use the mosque solely for prayers, but also to give religious talks and lectures to the local people. The beauty of the mosque was also one of the reasons why outsiders were attracted to study in Pulau Pisang and this in turn cause the number of students to increase from time to time. Tunku Anom himself became one of his students. He then ordered Haji Ishak to write religious books and articles on local remedies for the use of future generations. Unfortunately, most of his works were destroyed in two incidents of fire, which razed the Pulau Pisang “Pondok” School. The last time fire broke out in the school was in 1962.

When Tunku Anom died, the Sultan of Kedah appointed Tunku Ishak as the Sultan of Kubang Pasu and Tunku Muhammad Saman as the Heir Apparent (Raja Muda). Tunku Ishak ruled Kubang Pasu from 1853 to 1863. Haji Ishak retained his place of importance as Royal Adviser on religious affairs, Malay customs and general administration.

In the mean time, the reputation of Kampung Pulau Pisang Islamic Education Centre continued to shine. Traders from near and far came for commercial reasons to Pulau Pisang when it was the capital of Kubang Pasu. Some came to study under Haji Ishak as well. Haji Ishak worked tirelessly for Islam and managed to produce many Islamic religious intellects, educated in the “Pondok” system. One of those successful intellects happened to be his own grandson, Haji Muhammad Salleh bin Haji Hashim. Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Haji Osman bin Aroff, the fourth Menteri Besar (Chief Minister) is his great grandson. The products of his education centre were among others, Sheikh Ismail bin Haji Muhammad Salleh, the former Chairman of the Sheikh-ul Islam Consultative Committee, Sheikh Ramli bin Haji Muhammad Salleh, the former Registrar of Kedah Religious Schools, Dr. Burhanuddin al-Hilmy, former PAS President and many others.

Haji Ishak bin Muhammad Hashim died of old age in 1871 and was buried at the Muslim cemetery in Pulau Pisang Mosque. He was survived by four wives and ten children.