Al-Hassan Caluang Al Hassani Al Hussaini is a Filipino public servant, peace advocate, and Sufi shaykh whose life work embodies a unique convergence of spiritual devotion, grassroots leadership, and unwavering commitment to the Bangsamoro cause. A respected figure in both religious and civic spheres, his legacy stretches across decades of engagement in community service, democratic integrity, and spiritual propagation.
Early Life and Background
Born on September 2, 1964, in Kalingalan Caluang, Sulu, Al-Hassan grew up in a Tausug family steeped in tradition and resilience. From a young age, he was exposed to the challenges faced by the Bangsamoro people, including armed conflict, marginalization, and political exclusion. These early experiences would later shape his deep commitment to peace and social justice.
His full name, Al-Hassan Caluang Al Hassani Al Hussaini, reflects his lineage tracing back to the Prophet Muhammad (صَلَّى اللّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَأَصْحَابِهِ وَوَلَدِهِ سَيِّدُنَا شَيْخُ عَبْدُ الْقَادِرِ الْجِيلَانِي وَسَلَّمَ), an ancestry that would guide his spiritual trajectory throughout his life.
He is the son of:
Father: Yahya Sahibad Caluang
Mother: Monira Tawasil Caluang
His paternal lineage is: Imam Hji. Yahya Caluang, son of Capt. Kalingalan Caluang, son of Panglima Caluang, son of Panglima Bandahala, son of Sattiya Munuh, son of Sayyid Sharif Qasim, a Hadhrami descendant of the Prophet Muhammad (صَلَّى اللّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَأَصْحَابِهِ وَوَلَدِهِ سَيِّدُنَا شَيْخُ عَبْدُ الْقَادِرِ الْجِيلَانِي وَسَلَّمَ).
Al-Hassan’s formal education includes:
Elementary: San Jose Gusu Elementary School (1973–1979) — Graduated with Honors
Secondary: Ateneo de Zamboanga High School (1979–1983) — Graduate
College: Far East Air Transport Incorporated University (1983–1987) — 4th Year, ECE course
While his academic records are modest, Al-Hassan’s real schooling took place in the circles of dhikr and scholarly gatherings. A student of the spiritual sciences, he received Ijazah (authorization) in the teachings and practices of 40 Sufi Tariqas, a rare and significant distinction shared only by a handful of Filipino murids.
Alongside his wife Marlene Caluang, and children — Serenata Dreeza Caluang, Nur Warith Caluang, Calingalan Caluang, Sirikit Faina Caluang, and Hisham Caluang — he received Ijazah Khassah and Ijazah ‘Ilmiyyah from the eminent Hijazi scholar Sayyiduna Shaykh Muhammad Ali Yamani, a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad (صَلَّى اللّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَأَصْحَابِهِ وَوَلَدِهِ سَيِّدُنَا شَيْخُ عَبْدُ الْقَادِرِ الْجِيلَانِي وَسَلَّمَ). This encompassed authorizations in Dalā’il al-Khayrāt, adhkār, awrād, and salawāt.
He and his family were also granted Ijazah ‘Āmmah by Dr. Pir Syed Muhammad Yasir Sattar Shah of Punjab, Pakistan — signifying their commitment to the global Sufi heritage.
On February 11, 2023, Al-Hassan and his sons Nur Warith and Dr. Calingalan Caluang were among the few in the Philippines to receive the Ijazah in the 40 Sufi Tariqas from Naqib Sadat Al-Ashraf As-Sayyid Ash-Sharif Ash-Shaykh Dr. Muhammad Munir ibn Ash-Sharif Ash-Shaykh Al-Faqih Muhammad Ash-Shawiki. They were joined by fellow spiritual leaders Shaykh Al Johan Caluang Ilacad, Shaykh Abdul Warith Abdula, Shaykh Alnaif Kingking, Shaykh Shamir Kingking, Shaykh Omar Tagayan, Shaykh Bernardo Hussin, Shaykh Datu Amir Wagas, and Shaykh Muhammad Izar Misuari.
Public Service and Advocacy
Al-Hassan’s public service began with his early civic work in electoral reform and peace advocacy. In 2012, he served as a Consultant for the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, contributing to critical peacebuilding efforts in the Bangsamoro region.
He became a Municipal Coordinator for NAMFREL (National Movement for Free Elections) in 2013, working tirelessly to promote transparency and integrity in the electoral process. He would later reprise a similar role for the Bangsamoro Free Elections Movement in 2019 and onward, reaffirming his reputation as a trustworthy and principled civic leader.
In 2013, he joined Tumikang Sama Sama, a civil society movement promoting grassroots participation and unity among the Bangsamoro, underscoring his commitment to nonviolent transformation.
He was also among the key figures who helped facilitate the Jakarta Agreement of 1996, encouraged by then-President Fidel V. Ramos, which aimed to implement the 1976 Tripoli Agreement. As the former OIC Governor of Sulu and grandson of Sayyid Sharif Capt. Kalingalan Caluang, Al-Hassan played a pivotal role in arranging meetings between MNLF elders and the Philippine government. He provided vital logistical support and sustenance during negotiations. His grandfather, Capt. Kalingalan Caluang, a WWII veteran and founding member of Ansarul Islam, stood beside iconic figures like Salipada Pendatun and Domocao Alonto, laying the groundwork for Al-Hassan’s own peacebuilding contributions.
Government Positions Held
Over the course of his public service career, Al-Hassan held several key positions within the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). From November 1987 to March 1988, he served as Officer‑in‑Charge Mayor, overseeing municipal administration during a transitional period. He then became Sangguniang Bayan Secretary from January 1992 until February 1995, managing legislative affairs at the municipal level. Shortly thereafter, Al-Hassan was elected as a Provincial Board Member, a role he fulfilled from July 1995 through June 1998, during which he contributed to provincial policymaking and development planning. In mid‑1995, he also assumed the duties of Acting Provincial Governor by law of succession, guiding the province through an interim leadership phase until mid‑1996.
Clan Leadership and Reconciliation Work
A landmark moment in Al-Hassan’s peace work came during the Clan Leaders’ Conference on Security Issues in Sulu, held in Zamboanga City on September 21–22, 2010. Representing the Caluang Clan, Al-Hassan engaged in dialogue with representatives of rival families, including the Tawasil Clan, with whom the Caluangs had longstanding tensions.
Seeing Benhar Tawasil at the event, Al-Hassan said:
“Wai ako nag-expect kakitaan ko siya ha tampat byaini, hangkanna pagkitah ko kaniya, kimuyag tuod in atay ko despite our misunderstanding and miscommunication, nakapikil ako kalukalu sabab sin conference ini mahinang tiranan hikasulut sin parkalah namuh lagih kami ra mag-family.”
Translation: “I did not expect to see him — Ben Tawasil — here, at this type of occasion. But seeing him, I have become enlightened. With this, along with my prayer, despite our misunderstandings and miscommunication, I am hoping that this conference will be a good reason for the settlement of our family conflict. After all, we ourselves are also related.”
He further added: “This conference helped me understand and value the effort of reconciliation and the impact of the conference.”
Al-Hassan’s willingness to engage in difficult dialogue proved a model for peacemaking through traditional leadership structures, contributing to human security and social stability in Sulu.
Values and Philosophy
Rooted in Ma’rifatullah (Gnosis of God), Al-Hassan exemplifies the Sufi principle of serving creation for the sake of the Creator. He lives by the principle of “khidmah” — service without expectation of reward — and encourages the youth to “be servants of the people before asking to be their leaders.”
A Poem by Al-Hassan Caluang: “Mujahidin”
Al-Hassan Caluang, not only a public servant and spiritual leader but also a poet, expressed his thoughts and reflections on the struggles faced by his people through his writing. One of his poignant works is the poem “Mujahidin” (The Mujahideen), written on May 6, 2015. In this poem, Al-Hassan captures the courage, devotion, and sacrifices of those who fight for their faith and the dignity of their people. It is a testament to his deep connection with the struggles of the Bangsamoro people and his unwavering belief in the cause.
Mujahidin
by: AL-HASSAN CALUANG
Sak sab in mujahidin isog way sabanding
Misan masulang saling
Iman dih mapaling.
Kanila way pagpikil misan maparang sabil
Ayaw sadja magsurrender magad panduh kafir.
Mujahidin purnah iman wy garnah atay landoh sawasah misan majuljanah harap da pa surgah.
Mujahidin way gadji sabil matto mari atas manghad bulo 50 basta dih lumigad in panji.
Lupah Sug iyuntas baran piyag ihlas wayna makasasat pasurgah dumagpak.
Mujahidin purnah pa Allah nagmalillah helicopter, sikatu na dih mugah labayan pa Surgah.
Sin parinta biyunoh 3 adlaw da kunoh, in patay byah gunuh dih masangsang in bunoh.
Hi Roxas namissara pupulbusin na sila, mujahidin tattap da wayroun baya baya. Pila adlaw na in pagkalu hinda pnoy imabbo
Mujahidin nagwidraw dih na kunuh umato. Nasah sila nagpikil kanda Ustadz Habir, isug biyah tiger dih misan magcover. MUJAHIDIN IMAGPANG BISAN KULANG CINAPANG, SNIPER TUDJU SARANG SUNDALO MAGKABUGTANG.
ALLAHU AKBAR!
This poem reflects Al-Hassan’s personal commitment to the principles of courage, faith, and perseverance. By including it in the biography, readers gain insight into the emotional and spiritual depth of Al-Hassan Caluang’s life and work, seeing not just his public service, but also his inner convictions.
Legacy
Al-Hassan Caluang’s legacy is multi-layered. To civic leaders, he is a principled reformer. To the ulama and mashayikh, a link in the golden chain of tasawwuf. To his family, a guiding hand and spiritual patriarch.
His life bridges the political and the spiritual, the public and the private, the modern and the traditional. Through his unwavering dedication, Al-Hassan continues to inspire future generations to build a Bangsamoro that is not only politically autonomous but also spiritually awakened.
In a time of rising extremism and spiritual emptiness, Al-Hassan Caluang’s voice remains a call back to humility, tradition, and transcendence. His story is not merely his own — it is the story of a people, a path, and a promise still unfolding.