Hamzah Fansuri
Encyclopedia
Hamzah Fansuri was a famous Sumatra
n Sufi writer, the first known to pen
mystical
panentheistic ideas in the Malay language
. He wrote both prose and poetry, and worked at the court of the Aceh Sultanate
.
Fansuri's panentheism derived from the writings of the medieval Islam
ic scholars. He perceived God
as immanent within all things, including the individual, and sought to unite one's self
with the indwelling spirit of God. He employed the doctrine of seven stages of emanation (martabat) in which God manifests Himself in this world, ending in the Perfect Man, a doctrine widespread in Indonesia at the time. However, his works were later deemed heretical by Nuruddin ar-Raniri
, for upsetting the Islamic belief that God remained unchanged by his creation.
Hamzah was one of the first Southeast Asians to complete the hajj
.
Sumatra
Sumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538...
n Sufi writer, the first known to pen
Pen
A pen is a device used to apply ink to a surface, usually paper, for writing or drawing. Historically, reed pens, quill pens, and dip pens were used, with a nib of some sort to be dipped in the ink. Ruling pens allow precise adjustment of line width, and still find a few specialized uses, but...
mystical
Mysticism
Mysticism is the knowledge of, and especially the personal experience of, states of consciousness, i.e. levels of being, beyond normal human perception, including experience and even communion with a supreme being.-Classical origins:...
panentheistic ideas in the Malay language
Malay language
Malay is a major language of the Austronesian family. It is the official language of Malaysia , Indonesia , Brunei and Singapore...
. He wrote both prose and poetry, and worked at the court of the Aceh Sultanate
Aceh Sultanate
The Sultanate of Aceh, officially the Kingdom of Aceh Darussalam was a sultanate centered in the modern area of Aceh Province, Sumatra, Indonesia, which was a major regional power in the 16th and 17th centuries, before experiencing a long period of decline...
.
Fansuri's panentheism derived from the writings of the medieval Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
ic scholars. He perceived God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
as immanent within all things, including the individual, and sought to unite one's self
Soul
A soul in certain spiritual, philosophical, and psychological traditions is the incorporeal essence of a person or living thing or object. Many philosophical and spiritual systems teach that humans have souls, and others teach that all living things and even inanimate objects have souls. The...
with the indwelling spirit of God. He employed the doctrine of seven stages of emanation (martabat) in which God manifests Himself in this world, ending in the Perfect Man, a doctrine widespread in Indonesia at the time. However, his works were later deemed heretical by Nuruddin ar-Raniri
Nuruddin ar-Raniri
Nuruddin ibn Ali ar-Raniri was an Islamic scholar from Gujarat, India, who worked for several years in the court of the sultan of Aceh in what is now Indonesia...
, for upsetting the Islamic belief that God remained unchanged by his creation.
Hamzah was one of the first Southeast Asians to complete the hajj
Hajj
The Hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is one of the largest pilgrimages in the world, and is the fifth pillar of Islam, a religious duty that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so...
.
Works
- Sharab al-'ashiqin ("The Lovers' Beverage")
- Asrar al-'arifin ("The Secrets of the Gnostics")
- Muntahi ("The Adept")
Further reading
- Muhammad Naguib al-Attas. The mysticism of Hamzah Fansuri. Kuala Lumpur: University of Malaya Press, 1970.
- G.W.J. Drewes and L.F. Brakel (eds. and tr.). The poems of Hamzah Fansuri. Dordrecht and Cinnaminson: Foris Publications, 1986. ISBN 90-6765-080-3