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epistemological problems. Thus, the   the absolute recognition that the role   quite popular. There are translations
 mystical foundation should eventually   of the king, or sultan, was inseparably   in Malay, Javanese, Sundanese, and   (in Malaysia) and Jumsari Jusuf (Indonesia),
 also include transitory life, so that   linked with the mystical cosmogony   Buginese. This tale relates in narrative   also support this opinion (on the basis of both
                                                 editions). Like certain parts of al-Raniri’s work,
 the process of achieving essential   system. The role of the king, when   form that the foundation of royal power is   the Bustanus-Salatin, the book certainly uses
 universality could be realized, be it the   properly reformed and well could   justice. But what is the position of a just   historical material and Persian moral anecdotes.
 unity of “witnes” or that of “existence”.   constitute a guarantee for the formation   king? Thus, the Sufi said that, first, a king   All agree that it first became known in Aceh in
                                                 1603, and that it was very influential, not only as
 If a mystical order, backed by its   of a community that would accelerate   must always caution his dignitaries and   a guide for Malay kings, but also for Javanese
 legitimate pedigree, is an institution   efforts for the personal creation of the   the people to obey the law. Secondly,   rulers. Like the Sirat us-Salatin (Bustanus-
                                                 Salatin), the Tajus-Salatin had been translated
 that allows a person to get the right   self as the perfect man (insan kamil).   people’s complaints must be heard and   into Javanese and, according to Babad Yogya
 guidance in his efforts to achieve   The historical experience that kings fail   investigated. Thirdly, a king should not   (quoted by Carey, 1975: 334), was used by Sultan
 essential universality, then how about   to play their role properly might have led   covet wealth. And fourthly, a king must   Hamengkubuwono I (Mangkubumi). On this king
                                                 see Ricklefs, 1974b. Diponegoro suggested that
 the outside community that consists of   al-Ghazali and other religious scholars to   not discriminate his people based on   his brother, Sultan Hamengkubuwono IV (1814-
 laymen?  keep themselves distanced from kings,   their wealth.  Of course, it would be very   42), should study the book that Diponegoro had
                    51
                                                 studied. “Tadjus-Salatin”, said Carey, “is the first
 Attempts to explain the advent of   or to cause Hamzah Fansuri to reminding   interesting if all these simple words were   text copied in Keraton Yogyakarta, after the War of
 the “Minangkabau realm” from the   the people that:  written in modern language along with   Java, a period showed a renaissance atmosphere
                                                 in writing chronicles in the court, after the massive
 point of view of mystical thinking are   “Aho all of you who became poor do   political jargon. But that is unnecessary.   robbery of court library collections by the British
                                                                                    th
 common phenomenon, when social   not befriend kings and emirs as the   What is clear is that this moral theory   in 1812” check quote(Carey, Ibid). During the 19
                                                 century, it was reprinted four times in Java. In the
 life and matters of state have been   Messenger of Allah the Reminder   runs parallel with the advice given in the   Malay Peninsula, according to Hooykaas (1947)
 thought through. This is done not just   prohibits us to be saqhir and   Tajus-Salatin. 52  the Sultan of Johor used it to reject Raffles’ offer
 in an attempt to Islamize the concept   infidels.” 50  Apart from the debate about the origin   that the Sultan would be willing to trade under
                                                 Singapore. However, on the contrary, Abdullah bin
 of the “Minangkabau realm” that has   However, in an attempt to conceptualize   of this very famous book, the influence   Abdul Kadir Munshi accused the Malay kings of
 no functional political center, but also   of the Tajus-Salatin  in the formation   being decadent and outdated “Therefore, all kings
                           53
 displays a tendency towards a Sufi   the formation of an ideal society, and   should put the book Tajus-Salatin (meaning the
                                                 Crown of the all kings) and chose it at daily basis,
 cosmogony.  Sultan Malik al-Saleh’s   even a perfect personage, the role of   51.  Jones, 1985: 164-165. The oldest text of   looking for people knowing and learning that book,
 49
          this translation dates from the 18  century. But,
                                 th
 tombstone is indirectly also a token of   authorities remains important. This is   according to Jones the text has probably been   as well as taking all advice of the scholars in order
 not only reflected in the Sufis’ role in   known since the 17  century.  that Tengku know the all just kings and all the
                       th
 49.  For a complete version of the Minangkabau   accompanying kings as advisers, but   unjust monarchs check quote (Abdullah Munshi,
 legend, see Edwar Djamaris’ dissertation,   52.  Jones, 1985: 164-165.  1965: 107-8). According to Winstedt (1969: 141),
 1989; the complete version is reconstructed by   also in a “social strategy”, and of course   53.  Winstedt (1969: 137) thought that the Tajus-  Abdullah Munshi tried to read Raffles’ character
 comparing ca. 47 versions that were spread all   in political thinking. So it is not surprising   Salatin (the Crown of all Kings) is a translation   by using chapter 19 of this book. Because he liked
 over the Minangkabau. Most of these versions   of a Persian text, but other experts tend to think   Raffles very much, it seems that his reading was
 were written in the second half of the 19  century.   that the Hikayat Sultan Ibrahim ibn   that the book was composed in Aceh (Chambert-  correct. The text comprised 24 articles, but on the
 th
 Thus, they were written when the Padri War, which   Adham, the story of a king who left the   Loir: 1983: 84). The reason is that no original text   basis of the problems it discusses, it may also be
 had started as radical religious reform, had already   throne in order to become a Sufi, was   in Persian has been found. Iskandar (1965) also   divided into 8 chapters, i.e. the ideological basis
 ended. For an interpretation of the legend, see   thought that the text was composed in Aceh. The   (mystical), the ideal king, good ministers, the king’s
 Abdullah, 1972.  50.  Drewes & Brakel, 1986 : 74.  editors who transcribed the text, Khalid Husin   general tasks, the expected people’s behavior, and
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