“Mirrors Reflecting Truth”- Concept of Truth and Reliability in the Malay Muslim Manuscripts from the 13th to 19th centuries

Abstract

One of the most important genres of Malay Muslim writings is the writing of history. Among its main characteristics are: it is scientific (based on proper data and methodology of research); it is humanistic (the main subjects are human and human society); it is rational (based on logic and proper systems of reasoning); it is reflective and didactic (contains elements of didactic, moral guidance and instructions).

The textual analysis shows that Malays indeed have their own distinctive concept of history, which is based on the Islamic tradition and contains various philosophical elements such as the concept of God and tauhid, the concept of man and the universe, concepts of time, space and motion, concepts of adab and education, etc. This concept also defines the basic parameters of the periodization of history, the main criteria used for the data selection, the common methods for the assessment of the reliability of the sources and references, as well as the didactic elements of the text.

The analysis of Malay historical texts helps to identify the criteria of reliability, which the author uses to verify the information and to convince the reader of the veracity of the reports included therein. Among them: (1) Definitions and terms of historical source research. (2)  Criticisms regarding historical sources mentioned in the text. (3)  The author’s guidance on the aims and methods of historical writing etc.  Several textual elements are utilized (a) as a sign of truthfulness (of the information given in the text), and (b) to strengthen (the text’s) own scholarly standing (in the eyes of its readers). This is achieved by the author’s deliberate inclusion of certain information from older texts, using them as a source of history, and then utilizing terms and descriptions that show his own opinions on its veracity. These special elements demonstrate the characteristics of objectivity, intellectuality, and historical integrity of Malay Muslim chronicles, and from the viewpoint of the masses, these are signs and proofs of truth.