Page 251 - INDONESIA ISLAMIC CULTURE

Thus, a linguistic analysis of the 1602, during the reign of Sultan Alauddin exercising his power and therefore it can
translation of the ‘Aqa’id, as Asmah Hj. Ri‘ayat Shah Sayid al-Mukammil in Aceh.
Omar and also Imran conducted Various scholars have conducted studies
42
43
shows that in the 16 century the use on this text, including, for example,
th
of the Malay language had become Valentijn (1726) Werndly (1736), and
increasingly well established and wide Roorda van Eysinga (1827) during the
spread. This is proved by the more early days of Dutch scholarship about
complete affixation system, in addition Indonesia. They generally praised the
to the vocabularies that had also quality of the text of the Taj as-Salatin,
increasingly absorbed Arabic elements, especially the Malay language that it
especially those related to religious uses. They consider the book the best
44
aspects, especially Sufism. text in Malay literature. More recent
scholars, such as van Ronkel and
Fiction and Historical Literature Winstedt (1938) proposed a slightly
different view. Although they still praise
In addition to book literature, in the 16 the quality of the content and the
th
and 17 centuries, Aceh,Samudera expression of the Malay language of the
th
Pasai and Malacca also produced text, but both found that it ismerely a
other types of texts called fiction and translation of a Persian work.
historical literature. However, unlike in
Samudera Pasai and Malacca, in Aceh, However, regardless of these issues, it is
these two types of literature, as will be undeniable that the text of the Taj as-
shown below, but more emphasize on Salatin played an important role in the
development of the political discourse
Acehnese history and culture in addition in the Malay world and in Indonesia
to Islamic subjects. Here follow some 45
texts from Aceh that are ranked among in general. One important point in
this regard is that the Taj as-Salatin
the categories of fiction and historical put Islamic political tradition ---to be
literature.
precisely the Sunni school--- at the
center of Malay political thinking. Political
Taj as-Salatin
principles in Islam were formulated in the
TheTaj as-Salatin (Sultans’ Crown) by form of stories and admonitions. And the
Bukhari al-Jauhari is the first text to be reigning monarch was expected to use
explained. It was written most likely in the book as a reference to guide him in
242 Indonesian Islamic Culture in Historical Perspectives
and despotic viziers; (6) generous and Tomb of Raja Ali Haji.
be paralleled to the Nasihat al-Muluk by noble people; and (7) the description of Raja Ali Haji’s thoughts,
al-Ghazali (d. 1111). reason and knowledge. 46 including those on
Some issues dealt with in the book T. Iskandar (1966) has made a linguistics, were
47
are the requirements a king needs, the transliteration into Latin script of chapter 2 attempts to restore
duties of kings, his ministers and chief article 13 and up to recently it was the most Malay culture.
commanders; criteria for and the nature important source on the history of Aceh. Source: Directorate of
of a just king and those of ministers and History and Cultural
commanders; physiognomy in selecting Adat Aceh Values, Ministry of
officials; rules and admonitions to govern Education and Culture
a kingdom; and various other issues The author of this text has not been of the Republic of
identified. Information about the text Indonesia.
related to political power. is based on T.J. New bold’s study in
Bustan as-Salatin the Madras Journal of Literature and
Science (1836 III: 54-57 and 1836 IV:
The Bustan as-Salatin fi Dhikr al- 117-120), as well as on his other works
Awwalin wa ‘l-Akhirin (Sultans’ Garden (1839: 225-226). Following New bold is
in Remembrance of the People of the Th. Braddle who conducted studies on
Beginning and the End), is an extensive the same text. The result of Braddle’s
historical work written by Nuruddin ar- study was published in the Journal of the
Raniri. He wrote it in 1637after he had Indian Archipelago (1850 IV: 589-603;
receivedan order to do so from Sultan 1851 V: 26-28). Detailed information and
Iskandar Thani, who had become his the latest research results were obtained
patron in Aceh. It contains the history from G.W.J. Drewes and P. Voorhoeve
of the world, starting from the creation (1958). The Adat Aceh (Acehnese
of the heavens and earth to the period Tradition) consists of a number of
of the Aceh Kingdom. The text consists important points: (1) the order of all kings;
(2) the genealogy of the kings in Bandar
of seven chapters: (1) the description
the creation of the seven skies; (2) the Aceh; (3) the tradition of the Kings’
assembly; and (4) other traditions.
description of all the prophets and kings;
(3) the description of all the just kings
and ingenious viziers; (4) all ascetic kings Hikayat Aceh
and pious saints; (5) authoritarian kings This text contains the genealogy
Indonesian Islamic Culture in Historical Perspectives 243