Tracing Persian Sufi Literature in Ḥamzah Fanṣūrī’s Writings

by Amir H. Zekrgoo, Leyla H. Tajer

Traces of intellectual and spiritual connection between the Persian and the Malay world became prominent in 16th century, through the works of Ḥamzah Fanṣūrī—a renowned Malay scholar and mystic who is also revered as the father of Malay literature. Ḥamzah’s contributions may be regarded as an intellectual gateway that connected Southeast Asian Muslims to the rest of the Muslim world. His writings exhibit a command over Arabic and knowledge of Persian language, in addition to his mother tongue, Malay.

In his three outstanding 1) Asrāru’l-‘Ārifīn (The Secrets of The Mystics); 2) Sharābu’l-‘Āshiqīn (The Drink of Lovers); and 3) Al-Muntahī (The Adept), there are numerous references to the writings of Persian poets and thinkers. In between his discussions he often quotes passages and verses from renowned personalities such as Fakhr al-Din Iraqi (d. 1289), Abd al-Rahman Jami (d. 1492) Muhammad Ghazali (d. 1111) Jalal al-Din Rumi (d. 1273), Sa‘di-e Shirazi (d. 1291), and Mahmoud Shabestari (d. 1340).

In 2018 the first ever translation of Ḥamzah Fanṣūrī’s works into Persian by the present authors, was published. The translation provides a platform upon which the Persian reader could familiarize himself with Ḥamzah’s thoughts, and realize the extent of presence of Persian sources in the formation of such literature. This book presents the outcome of a detailed survey of Ḥamzah’s aforesaid treatises, highlighting the remarkable presence of Persian poetry and prose in his writings. It will also discuss the context in which such passages were used, and how they fit in Ḥamzah’s worldview and teachings.

85 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 22, 2023

Reviews

[Abdullah Hussaini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dalam buku ini, penulis mengungkap jejak dan pengaruh pengarang-ilmuwan Farsi dalam karya-karya pujangga Melayu, Hamzah Fansuri. Tiga karya tersebut adalah Sharabu'l- ‘Ashiqin, Asraru’l-‘Arifin dan Al-Muntahi. Ada tiga belas sosok yang disorot, mempengaruhi karangan pujangga tersebut iaitu Bayazid Bistami, Abu Said Abu al Khayr, Abdul Rahman Jamī, al-Ghazali, Ayn al-Quzat, Farid alDin Attar, Shams Tabrizi, Jalaluddin Rumi, Shirazi, Fakhrudin Iraqi, Mahmud Shabestari, Shah Nimatullah, dan Syeikh Maghribi.

Ulasan-ulasannya pendek, dan saya fikir kalau dapat diluaskan lagi tentu lebih menarik.

“Sailan itu ombaknya kisah
banyak akan ke sana berpindah
taufan dan ribut terlalu azamah
perbetuli pedoman jangan berubah.”

— Syair Perahu, Hamzah Fansuri