There’s plenty to learn of the coming of Islam from the Malay Manuscripts, writes Ninot Aziz
MAAL Hijrah is defined by the momentous migration made by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) from Mecca to Medina. It was an occasion of great celebration and joy, a celebration of freedom from oppression.
The Hijrah was truly a new chapter and, in the next centuries, marked the expansion of Islam worldwide. There was a strong focus on the pursuit of knowledge and the rise of scholars from the 9th to 11th centuries, like Ibnu Sina and Al-Khwarizmi, known as the father of algebra, was testament to this.
This was hardly surprising as Iqra, the first word revealed through the Quran means “read” and in many ways, this was the ayat (word) that put us on the path to knowledge. For instance, devices such as the astrolabe were developed by Islamic scholars, which allowed for better travel to far flung parts of the world, for example, to China via the Silk Road. Medicine and mathematics meanwhile, were strong disciplines of science that Muslims scholars excelled at.
COMING OF ISLAM
The change that Islam brought to this region is traced to many markers. For the peninsula generally, the Batu Bersurat Terengganu, or Terengganu Inscription Stone, the oldest artefact with Jawi writings on it, was believed to be the earliest evidence of the arrival of Islam to our shores. The inscriptions in Malay, were believed to have been written on Feb 22, 1303.
FROM THE MALAY HIKAYAT
It might seem strange that the coming of Islam was chronicled in the Malay Hikayat (legends) but it was, after all, a powerful and important tool that recorded historical events of the past.
From Sejarah Melayu (Malay Annals), the following story was related. Raja Kecil Besar, the ruler of Malacca, dreamt one night that he was ordered by the Prophet to embrace Islam. In the dream it was relayed that a ship would be arriving from Jeddah and that those on it would pray once they step foot on the land. He recounted his dream to his bendahara. The latter subsequently told Raja Kecil Besar that should the dream come true, he (the ruler) must embrace the religion.
“Asar sekarang datang sebuah kapal dari Judah, turun orangnya itu sembahyang di pantai Melaka ini,” katanya (Raja Kecil Besar). - Sejarah Melayu/Malay Annals.
The following day, Raja Kecil Besar went to the harbour and true enough, a ship from Jeddah arrived. When he saw the men in white praying on the ground, he asked them who they were. “Syeikh” came the reply.
Raja Kecil Besar, son of Raja Tengah, descendants of Raja Iskandar of Singapura became a Muslim and the people followed.
Similar stories abound in other writings. For example, in Hikayat Patani, the ruler Phaya Tu Naqpa had a terrible skin disease and was healed by Syeikh Said when he promised to embrace Islam. However, the ruler refused to do so until finally, the Syeikh refused to heal him unless he became a Muslim. The ruler was renamed Sultan Ismail Syah Zilullah Fil Alam, and his three children were called Sultan Mudaffar Syah, Siti Aisyah, Sultan Manzur Syah. The people of Pattani Dar al-Salam also converted to Islam.
LEGAL MATTERS
From the Malay Manuscripts, we understand that laws in ancient times were also fashioned after Islamic laws. It is a fact that the Undang Undang Berkanun (Statutory Law) was based on Islamic law and formed the bulk of laws thereafter in Malacca. As these laws formed the basis of other laws in the peninsula, Islamic laws were thus practised throughout the kingdoms.
An example is: “He who steals from a house shall have his hand amputated. But if there are many thieves and only one of them breaks into the house, then only that thief’s hand shall be amputated. As for the rest, they will undergo the ta’zir punishment.” (Undang-Undang Kanun Melaka).
LIBERATION AND LITERACY
Perhaps the single most important thing with the coming of Islam was the promotion of literacy among the people.
Apart from learning to read the Quran, the Arabic script was used as a basis for the Malay script, Jawi. This allowed for records, including religious studies, laws, literature and other important documents, to be recorded in the Malay Manuscripts.
The Manuscripts strongly shaped the minds of the people centuries ago. Time and again, we are provided with evidence of its gentle teachings, subtle warnings and wisdom, and reminded of its role as the keeper of tradition and culture. Among all the Manuscripts, the Hikayat had a long history of popularity and its storytelling reflected a time when beliefs were rooted in various practices and religions.
Maal Hijrah signifies the migration to a better place. A better state of mind. A better sense of self actualisation. Perhaps, apart from the gift of Islam itself, the other invaluable gift of Maal Hijrah was the eventual birth of the Jawi script on our shores, which brought about the renaissance of thought, wisdom and knowledge.
Catch the Pameran Antarabangsa Manuskrip Melayu at the National Library (International Exhibition of Malay Manuscripts) at Jalan Tun Razak, KL. Exhibition ends Dec 31, 2014.