Discourse On Eschatology Of Religions Other Than Islam In Selected 17th Century Malay Texts (Perbincangan Mengenai Eskatologi Agama-Agama Selain Islam Di Dalam Teks-Teks Melayu Terpilih Kurun Ke-17)

Abstract

This article analyzes the discourse on eschatology of religions other than Islam in selected 17th century Malay texts. The discourse on religions other than Islam was not common in early Malay texts. Malay scholars at that time did not discuss much about religions other than Islam. This could be due to the fact that the priority at that time was on educating the local people on Islam itself. The teachings of Islam were new to them. Among the topics that gained prominence at that time were discourses on Islamic theology (tawḥīd), Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh) and Islamic mysticism (taṣawwūf). Despite the scarcity of the discussions on religions other than Islam, it was not totally neglected. Three 17th century Malay texts namely Lubb al-Kasyf of al-Sinkilī, the Tibyān of al-Rānīrī and Hikayat Seribu Masalah were found to have elements of such discourses. The religions other than Islam discussed in these texts were the Magian, Judaism and Christianity. Analysis on these three texts shows that those other religions were included in the main discourse on the Islamic eschatological issues. The discourse on religions other than Islam in these texts is concentrating on the danger posed to the Muslims. The discourse is short and not done throughout the texts. The contents of the texts are still on Islam and its teachings. The priority of the authors at that time is not to explain about religions other than Islam in their writings but to strengthen the faiths of the Malay Muslims.

Keywords: Malay Archipelago, Islam, Magism, Judaism, Christianity, Malay texts.

Abstrak

Artikel ini menganalisa perbincangan mengenai eskatologi agama-agama selain Islam di dalam teks-teks Melayu terpilih kurun ke-17. Hakikatnya, perbincangan mengenai agama-agama selain Islam bukan sesuatu yang biasa di dalam teks-teks awal Melayu. Sarjana-sarjana Melayu pada masa itu kurang menumpukan perbincangan mengenai agama-agama selain Islam di dalam karya mereka. Salah satu sebabnya ialah keutamaan pada masa tersebut diberikan kepada kepada proses pendidikan masyarakat tempatan tentang agama Islam. Di antara topik-topik yang sering dibincangkan di dalam teks-teks mereka adalah mengenai akidah, fikah dan tasawuf. Walaupun kurang diberi tumpuan, perbincangan mengenai agama-agama selain Islam masih ada. Terdapat tiga teks Melayu kurun ke-17 iaitu Lubb al-Kasyf ditulis oleh al-Sinkilī, Tibyān oleh al-Rānīrī dan Hikayat Seribu Masalah yang tidak menyatakan penulisnya mengandungi perbincangan-perbincangan tersebut. Agama-agama yang dibincangkan ialah Majusi, Yahudi dan Kristian. Analisa terhadap teks-teks ini menunjukkan agama-agama tersebut dibincang di dalam konteks perbincangan mengenai eskatologi di dalam Islam. Perbincangan mengenai agama-agama selain Islam menjurus kepada bahayanya kepada orang-orang Islam. Penerangannya pendek dan tidak di dalam keseluruhan teks-teks tersebut. Tujuan utama penulisan teks-teks ini masih lagi untuk mendidik masyarakat Melayu Islam mengenai agama Islam tersebut.

Kata Kunci: Kepulauan Melayu, Islam, Majusi, Yahudi, Kristian, Kitab-kitab Melayu.