The Bayr Al-Madh7 of Shan'kh Idris Al-Marbanni and the Ja Wthiral-Bukhari of Tuan Haji Husayn: Significance 4Adith Texts Formalaynil'sli
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THE BAYR AL-MADH7 OF SHAN'KH IDRIS AL-MARBANNI AND THE JA WTHIRAL-BUKHARI OF TUAN HAJI HUSAYN: SIGNIFICANCE 4ADITH TEXTS FORMALAYNIL'SLI. MS AS TOOLS FOR RELIGIOU'S, POLITICAL AND SOCIAL TEACHING DURING TWENTIETH CENTURY LATIFAH BINTI ABDULMAJID Submitted to University of Wales in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy University of Wales, Lampeter 2008 ABSTRACT This thesis sets out to investigate on the specific Hadi-th texts, Bahr al-AIJAT al-sharh mukhtasar TirmTdhi Shaykh ldri TazkTr 5'il Am'(7hir Tuan ,5upTý al- of s a]-Marbawi and al- qab, al-BukhtiFi of Haji Husayn as religious, social and political teachings for Malay Muslims during the twentieth century. These texts are selected for two reasons: firstly, both provide invaluable data for analyses-,secondly, both ýNereopenly acknowledged by the Malay community until recently as highly esteemedsources of revelation from the Prophet t The research is therefore undertaken on several premises, as folloxvs: Al-Marbawl and Husayn's translations and commentaries are held to have been serviced by the great Ijadi-th scholars - al-Tinii-idhi and al-Bukhiiri - and should therefore be esteemed accordingly. In line with this, the present study aims to demonstrate a]-Marbawi and Husayn's deep condemnation at that time of the misconduct of Malay Muslims and of the ideology held by the Kawn Tua and Kaum Muda (political polemics) for instance. As a criticism of Malay Muslims, their teaching and condemnation is absolute. This study believed that these Mo great scholars were independent authorities who would respond to key existing problems (including disunity, unjust leadership, and conflicts between religious scholars) as their mission to uphold the truth as guided bý' the Prophet iý-:in Yach-th. Furthermore, this study intends to show that al-Marba,,N71 and Husayn Oa these texts may provide the clearest examples of the use of exegesis as a tool for religious, social and political teaching. In the light of their strong influence upon such esteemed Ijadi-th scholars (al-Tirni-idhi and al-BukHiri), it is argued that the writings of al-Marbawi and Husayn represent a vital resource for the purposesof educating the Malay people on the subject of the Ijadi-th. In the interests of validity and reliability, the study provides multiple sources of evidence. These include tape-recorded in-depth interviews with specific researchers (in particular with an expert educationalist in the twentieth century social, political and religious affairs in Malaysia) and academicians who are biographers of this great scholar. Also included are data-gathering techniques such as library and document research.Research methods used to examine the original writings of al-Marbaw'l and Husayn are largely qualitative, and consist of approaches such as hermeneutic and the inferential technique of content analyses. The study's hypotheses are therefore two-fold: Firstl,,I,, the writing of al-Marba-ýN1 and Husayn are seen as crucial to the purity of fundamental Islamic political principles which may also significantly act as transmitters of authoritative Hadi-th teachings to the Malay community. Secondly, if social, religious and political discourse is based on the purity of these translations I and commentaries, then all such discourse will be legitimized as deriving directly from the savings of the Prophet W- hence, polemics and conflicts may be resolved. II Signed .... .. Date .. -�-� .... .... � ............. STATEMENT 1 This thesis is the result of my own investigation, except where otherwise stated. Other sources are acknowledged by footnotes giving explicit references. A bibliography is appended. Signe Date ............--.. Ua...-. -��,.,- STATEMENT2 1 hereby give consent for my thesis, if accepted to be available for photocopying and for interlibrar for the summary to be made available to outside organizations. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Praise be to Allah the almighty for enabling me to complete this humble \\ork. blessing and peace be upon His messengeOý,,. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my supervisor Dr. Da\\oud El- Alami for his constant support and immeasurable help throughout these past few years. Without his tremendous knowledge of Islamic Studies, encouraging comments and suggestions this study would not have been possible. Expressions of gratitude are also extended to the Faculty and staff I have worked with at the department of Theology, Religious and Islamic Studies (TRIS) especially Kate El-Alami for her invaluable help, and all of the TRIS postgraduate students (particularly Welayu Lampeter') for their suggestions throughout meetings and discussions. I would also like to thank Carole RusselI-Wi Iliams, Stephen Darlington and Martine Robson for their help, especially in proofreading this thesis. Special appreciation also goes to all the participants in my study. Their willingness to share their valuable time, particularly in delivering information regarding al-MarbaWi and Husayn and their invaluable account of ulama', inspired me to be always dedicated in this study. This work is also especially dedicated to the soul of Wan Mohd. Saghir Wan Abdullah for sharing his tremendous knowledge of 'Islam in Malay world'. I would like to express my appreciation to the Public Services Department of Malaysia and the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia for providing me with financial assistance to further my studies in the United Kingdom. Sincere thanks go to all the librarians from the University of Malaya, the University of Kebangsaan Malaysia, the National Museum of Malaysia, the Khazanah Fataniyyah, the University of Durham, the University of Edinburgh, SOAS and Kathy Miles at the University of Wales, Lampeter for helping me in providing materials needed. My heartfelt thanks go to my dearest husband Shahidi A. Hamid, my children, 'Ammar Muhammad Shahmie, Nawrah Afhan Kamilia and 'Ammar Aiman Akmal, for their patience and ongoing support throughout the period of study. Countless heartfelt thanks are particularly due to my beloved parents, Abdul Majid Abdul Rahman and Rohani Osman, my mother-in-law Sa'adiah Thambi, my brothers and sisters for their prayers for my success. Finally, this work is especially dedicated to the souls of my grandmother and father-in-law for their loving care and who during their life always encouraged me to in Allah. Their achieve my ambitions the name of compassionate understandingb of and feelings for rny 'way of character' will always remain fresh in my heart. Latifah Abdul Majid Department Theology, Religious Islamic Studies of ý1 and Universitv of Wales, Lampeter SA48 7ED United Kingdom. IV TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract Dec laration/Statements Acknowledgments Table of Contents iv Notes on Transliteration x Abbreviations xi INTRODUCTION I CHAPTER ONE: A BRIEF HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF YADITH DOCUMENTATION IN EARLY ISLAM 26 1.0 Introduction 26 1.1 Early development of HaXith commentaries written in the Malay world 27 1. L(i) The Islamization of the Malay world 27 1.L(ii) The earliest Ijaari-th written by Malay scholars 31 I. I. ii. (a) Hiddyat al-habTbfial-targh7b wa al- tarhTb of al-Raniri 34 i i. (b) The commentary of Sharý lqtTf 'ala arbd7n Ijadi-th li al-Imam an-NawaWi of al-Sinkili 38 I. ii (c) The al-Mawaciz al-badicahby al-Sinkili 45 1.I. ii (d) The contentsof thesetexts 46 1.1. (i i i)The early compilation of the Ijadi-th by Malay scholars in Malaysia 49 CHAPTER TWO: SOCIAL BACKGROUNDS AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF AL-MARBAWI AND IfUSAYN 52 2.0 Introduction 52 2.1 AI-Marbawi: his life and his intellectual activities 53 2.1.1 Al-Marbawi's background 53 2.1.2 Al-Marbawi's educationalj ourney 55 2.1.2. (i) Al-Marbawi's early education 55 2.1.2. (ii) Al-Marbawi's teachersin Egypt 60 2.1.3 Al- Marbawi's akhlaq (etiquette) 63 2.1.4 The activities and the contributions of al-Marbawi in Islamic studies 64 2.2 Husayn: his life and intellectual activities 69 2.2.1 Husayn's background 69 2.2.2 Husayn's educational journey 71 2.2.2. (i) Husayn"s early education 71 2.2.2. (i i) Husayn's teachers in MasjTd al-Haram, Mecca 74 2.2.3 Husayn's academic career within the Malaysian context 83 2.2.4 Husayn's akhlaq (etiquette) 85 2.2.5 The activities and the contributions of Husayn in Islamic studies 86 2.3 Al-Marbawi and Husayn attitudes concerning Tariqah (Sufi spiritual path) 89 2.4 Summary 90 CHAPTER THREE: THE WRITING OF BAHR AL-MADHIAND JA WfHIR AL-BUKH, fRl-. THE PURPOSE, THE CONTENT, THE STRUCTURE, AND THEIR IMPORTANCE IN THE MALAYSIAN CONTEXT 3.0 Introduction 94 3.1 The rationale of writing the books (Baýr al-MddhTand Jawdhir al-BukhdFi) 95 3.1.1 The rationale of writing the Babr al-MddhT 95 3.1.2 The rationale of writing the Jawdhir al-BukhdFi 100 ýI 3.2 The date of the BaO al-Mddfli and Jawdhir al-BukharT 103 3.2.1 The date of the BaO al-Mddhi 103 3.2.2 The date of the Jawdhir al-BukhdrT 105 3.3 The content of the Baýr al-MddhT (of al-Marbawi) and Jawdhir al-BukharT (of Husayn) 106 3.3.1. The content of the Bahr al-Mddhi of al-Marbawi 106 3.3.1. (a) The 'introduction' (muqaddimah)of Bahr al-MddhT 115 3.3.2 The content of Jawdhir al-Bukhar7 of Husayn 118 3.3.2. (a) The 'introduction' (muqaddimah) of Jawdhir al-Bukhdri 122 3.4 The techniques of writing Bahr al-Mddh7 and Jawdhir al-BukhdFi in order to facilitate a better understanding of the ffadi-th to Malay readers 125 3.4. (i) Malay translation via Jawi script 126 3.4 (ii) Short commentary and simple translation 128 3.4 (iii) Glossary offfadi-th Methodology 130 3.4 (iv) The structure of the chapter headings 132 3.4.