THE NATURE AND INTERNATIONAL STANDING OF JAWI-MALAY MEDICAL MANUSCRIPTS BEFORE 1900

Abstract

There has been a staggering interest in the study of indigenous knowledge or products of local geniuses within this millennium. This includes Jawi-Malay manuscripts in the field of medicine.  The main focus of this study is to number of Malay medicines recorded in manuscripts. Thus far, the most comprehensive report on this matter is found in Harun (2019). It was noted that there are two categories of manuscripts in which the subject can be found - the tibs and the mujarobats. Interestingly, the subject matter was also found in manuscripts that are categorised as Ramalan (Prediction) by Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia (PNM). As such, it can be assumed that the majority of Jawi-Malay manuscripts are made up of Jawi-Malay Medical manuscripts (JMMM). Thus far, there are no comparative studies on the nature and international standing of the JMMM before 1900, as well as the knowledge and practice of Malay medicine. The existence of Malay medical manuscripts has been traced back to a hundred years earlier than the English medical manuscripts. Naturally, many basic medical terms and diseases are in Malay.  Findings also show that Malay or more general Malayonesian medical knowledge was internationally known between the 15^th and early 20^th centuries. There are many potential research areas in the study of the JMMM which have yet to be explored, one of which is the knowledge of medicinal floras and faunas. Three research fields have been identified. Firstly, to identify the scientific reasons behind successful treatments using flora and fauna as stated in the manuscripts.  It could also be extended to some, if not all, spiritual treatments.  Secondly, to identify scientific names or even local names for many unidentifiable medicinal flora and fauna; and lastly, to resolve a few unknown diseases mentioned in the manuscripts. The study shows that, unlike previous studies on the philosophy of Malay medical knowledge, the philosophy of knowledge concerned is neither fully Hindu-Buddhism nor fully Islamic philosophy of knowledge. This is because Islamisation, ethnicisation, indigenisation or generically self-moulding medical knowledge before 1900 were not entirely successful or completed.