FACULTY OF INFORMATION MANAGEMENT

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE INFORMATION (HONS)

MANAGEMENT OF MANUSCRIPTS AND PERSONAL PAPERS (IMR 659)

ASSIGNMENT 1: ARTICLE SUMMARY

PREPARED FOR:

MADAM NIK AZLIZA BINTI NIK ARIFFIN

PREPARED BY:

ERNI SUHAIREEN BINTI ZULKIFLI (2016705781)

SUBMISSION DATE: 13/6/2021

Abstract ......................................................................................................................................................... 3

Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 3

Objectives..................................................................................................................................................... 3

Discussions in the Article............................................................................................................................ 4

Conclusions .................................................................................................................................................. 6

Bibliography ................................................................................................................................................ 6

2
 Abstract. Jawi manuscript plays an important role in knowledge. Jawi writing has been
warmly accepted in all over the world including Western scholars. The discoveries made by the
outsider researchers such as A.D. by Dutch scholars, followed by British and other European
Scholars has uncovered the true treasures of knowledge. The main objective of the researcher in
the study of Jawi manuscript is to understand the style of thinking and way of life of the Malays
and use this knowledge to expand their colonial rule in Malaya. Most of the works on Islam
produced in the Malay Archipelago still in manuscript form and there are more than 28 countries
in the world that holds the manuscript of Jawi. Although the number of manuscripts Jawi script
are less than others, researchers have more focus on Jawi manuscripts Islam because Islamic
Studies is the basis for learning Malay and this was important to expand their colonization.

Introduction

This article explores many issues regarding the way and about Jawi manuscripts were
created. Among the topics discussed in this article are the influence of Islam and Arabic in the
writing of the Jawi Manuscript, the culture of reading and writing, the format of the Jawi
Manuscript, the name of the author, title, date and writing format of the Jawi Manuscript. Other
than that, this manuscript also explores topics regarding function and the role of the Jawi
Manuscript. At the end discussion of this article, the writer explores about how the Jawi Manuscipt
was printed.

Objectives

The main objective of this article was to highlight the Jawi manuscript about its definition,
writing history and culture, the influence of Arabic language and Islam on its writing culture and
instruments, its role and function in the Malay World.

3
 Discussions in the Article

The first discussion in this article writer explores about the influence of Islamic and Arabic
on Jawi Manuscript Writing and how they are interconnected. It is clear and undeniable that Arabic
language is the foundation to the existence of the Jawi Manuscript. According to the writer
(Yahaya, D. M.,2016), it is impossible to separate these two aspects because the main source of
Islam is the Holy Qur`an, which is written in Arabic. For purposes of propagation and education,
the missionaries had to write and translate the Qur`an and other religious books from Arabic to
Malay and thus the Jawi manuscripts were born. The main element of the Holy Qur’an is paper.
The Arabs had known paper since the mid-7th century. Another writing instrument used in
producing Jawi manuscripts was the ink. Another writing instrument used in producing Jawi
manuscripts was the pen.

Another topic discussed in this article is the reading and writing culture of the Jawi
Manuscript. Islam is widely spread through reading and writing of the the Holy Qur`an. Follower
of Islam accepted the culture of learning brought by Islam for this territory, i.e., the culture of
reading and writing. This interest and interest are inspired by the teachings of Islam itself written
knowledge can be read and subsequently disseminated for the benefit of society. The first The
Qur`anic verses revealed by Allah to Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. expressed by the word "iqra"
(read!). According to the writer (Yahaya, D. M.,2016), the process of writing Jawi manuscripts
was already well developed in the 15th century and reached its peak in the 17th century.

Writer also states that the name, title and date of the Jawi Manuscript are not clearly written
in the manuscript. Most Jawi manuscript do not state the name of the writer, transcriber or
translator because Islam teaches its followers to be tawaddu`(humble) and not to draw attention to
oneself. The tittle and the date of the manuscript on the other hand was either stated in the
beginning or at the end of the book.; and sometimes it was not stated anywhere because it is secret.
However, due to the lapse in time and changes in the transcription process, the book title and dates,
which was already widely known, was deemed no longer important. To the follower of Islam, what
more important is the knowledge and the information that were to be convey to the reader.

Format of the Jawi Manuscript were also explored in this article. According to (Yahaya,
D. M.,2016), the text format in Jawi manuscript is the same with printed books, its contains

4
introduction, content and conclusion, and they were written either in the form of a poetry or a
prose. The introduction begins with “basmalah” (bismillahi al-Rahmani al-Rahim) and praises to
Allah and His Messenger. The writer (Yahaya, D. M.,2016), also states that the book/Jawi
manuscript, did not contain illustrations or diagrams because Islam prohibits its followers to draw
pictures of human beings to be made into statues.

In a study conducted by the writer (Yahaya, D. M.,2016), Malay manuscripts were first
catalogued in 1696 by Melchione Leydecker, followed by Valentyn (17270 and Werndly (1736).
Work on the documentation and cataloguing of Malay books/manuscripts was seriously
undertaken at the end of the 19th century and in the beginning of the 20th century. The main
function of Jawi manuscripts had played an active and effective role in developing the minds and
the attitudes of the Malays in the fields of religion and literature also called ‘Aqidah‘(faith).
(Yahaya, D. M.,2016).

The printing and publication of Jawi books/manuscript began at the end of the 19th century
and was being organized by the Turkish Uthmaniyah government with the help of the Malay
scholars in Makkah called “Rectification Board”. The function of this board was to rectify mistakes
and errors found in works that were to be printed.

5
 Conclusions

In conclusion, the Jawi manuscripts in the Malay Archipelago has given contribution and
can be taken as a lesson and exemplar for the point of view of religious education and also
linguistically, historically and literarily. It is recommended that all national and university libraries
in this region add more Jawi manuscripts covering various areas of Islamic sciences to the
collection. These manuscripts should be well preserved and conserved to guarantee their safety
so that their quality would not be affected because today, many manuscripts have been damaged
by worms. It is recommended that these manuscripts be catalogued and arranged according to
their field by having a manuscript synopsis. The next steps are to validate, edit and then print the
manuscripts for the benefit of the Muslim society in this region.

Bibliography

Yahaya, D. M. (2016). The Jawi Manuscript: Its History, Role, and Function in the Malay
Archipelago. Journal of Islamic Studies and Culture, 4(1). doi:10.15640/jisc.v4n1a7