THE CONFUSED WHALE OF THE CHINA SEA: WATER SYMBOLISM IN THE WORKS OF HAMZAH FANSURI

Abstract

Perhaps the most valuable contribution of Hamzah Fansuri to the
elevation of intellectual and spiritual traditions of Islam was his
tireless efforts to create a harmonious atmosphere between the stern
followers of religious law (shari‘ah) and the Sufi ways of
self-purification (ṭariqah). The renowned 16th century Malay mystic
used simple language to communicate his thoughts to average
audience. In order to add clarity to his arguments he often resorted
to symbols and metaphors that made his discussions more appealing.
This essay begins with a brief introductory remark about the
importance of water in religious traditions, followed by a passage on
Sufi symbolism in Hamzah’s writings. Among the wide range of
symbolic expressions adopted by Hamzah, water-related-metaphors
occupy the highest place – both from the viewpoint of their frequent
appearance, and in terms of profoundness of their suggestive
meanings. Hence, the main body of the paper focuses on water
symbolism in Hamzah’s treatises and poems, which is presented
under seven headings namely: Waters of Life, Ocean of Unity,
Currents of Creation, Waves of Manifestation, Bubbles of Identity,
The Confused Whale, and The Brilliant Fish.