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Presence of Persian Spiritual Literature in the 16th Century South East Asian Sufi Tradition: A Fresh Visit to Hamzah Fansuri’s Writings
Abstract
Maintaining a harmonious environment requires searching for common fundamental grounds upon whom the spirit of brotherhood can be developed. Persian spiritual and poetic literature, alongside Arabic sources, have been inspiring many scholars and religious figures in many cultures in the Middle East, Central Asia, the Indian Subcontinent as well as South East Asian region. This interaction has often been neglected specially in the Malay World; its exposure can develop a platform for cross cultural dialogue with the aim of reviving our common grounds. Traces of intellectual and spiritual connection between Iran and Malay World became prominent in 16th century, through the works by Ḥamzah Fanṣuri – a renowned Malay scholar and mystic who is also revered as the father of Malay literature. Hamzah Fansuri’s contributions acted as an intellectual gateway that connected Southeast Asian Muslims to the rest of the Muslim world. He often quotes Persian sources in his three outstanding treatises: 1) Asrārul-‘Ārifīn (The Secrets of The Mystics); 2) Sharābul-‘Āshiqīn (The Drink of Lovers); and 3) Al-Muntahī (The Adept). His writings exhibit a command over Arabic and Persian, in addition to his Malay mother tongue. His works had greatly influenced Muslim thinkers and Ṣūfīs in South East Asia. In between his discussions he often quotes passages and verses from Persian thinkers and poets such as Fakhr al-Dīn ‘Irāqī (d.1289), ‘Abd al-Rahmān Jāmī (d. 1492) Muhammad Ghazālī (d. 1111), Jalāl al-Dīn Rūmī (d.1207), Sa‘di (1291), and Shaykh Mahmūd Shabistari (1340). This study is aimed at identifying traces of Persian poetry and prose in Hamzah’s writing with special reference to the three treatises stated above. Keywords: Ḥamzah Fanṣūrī, Ṣūfī Literature, Persian Literature, Malay World, Cross Cultural Dialogue.
Discipline
History
Geographic Area
Indonesia
Sub Area
13th-18th Centuries