The Code of Conduct (Adab) for Rulers in Two Malay Masterpieces

Rahimah Hamdan,Siti Nor Harmiza Ibrahim

doi:10.6007/ijarbss/v9-i5/5844

Abstract

The aim of this paper was to explain about the code of conduct (adab) as described in the Malay literary masterpiece, the Taj Us Salatin (Mahkota Raja-Raja), and to compare it with the famous epic Malay text, the Hikayat Iskandar Zulkarnain. The Taj Us Salatin (Mahkota Raja-Raja), a well-known literary work on constitutionalism written by Bukhari Al-Jauhari, was used by the Malay rulers as a guidebook on governance, starting from the time of Sultan Alauddin Riayat Shah in Acheh in the 17th century until the time of Sultan Hussein Syah of the Johore-Singapore Sultanate in the 19th century. All the procedures of government were comprehensively recorded in this book by the author. As a result, a prominent figure, Iskandar Zulkarnain, who was both a great ruler and warrior, was said to be the first in a royal line of Malay sultans, as recorded in historiographic works. Hence, this noble figure was often highly esteemed in most of the literary works and, in fact, this manifestation was even assumed to validate the sovereignty of a kingly dynasty in the Malay World. The question is, were the guidelines for rulers, as recorded in the Taj Us Salatin, in line with the code of conduct (adab) for rulers and warriors in the epic Hikayat Iskandar Zulkarnain? Therefore, by doing a text analysis of the Taj Us Salatin (Mahkota Raja-Raja) and the Hikayat Iskandar Zulkarnain, this paper compared the connection and link in the characterisation of the code of conduct (adab) for rulers between both texts. This study makes an important contribution, especially in enhancing the contribution of the Malay masterpiece, the Taj Us Salatin (Mahkota Raja-Raja), as a constitutional literature containing highly valuable knowledge, and Iskandar Zulkarnain as a famous Malay ruler and warrior. In summary, the code of conduct (adab) of a ruler was reflected in the stability and peace that prevailed in a country, so much so that this element was given serious emphasis in most of the genres of traditional Malay literature.

Highlights

The civilization of a race is reflected in the literary works produced by scholars such as M
This is reflected in their opinions that are more inclined to view epics through the lens of oral tradition as a source of useful information (Siti Hawa Haji Salleh, 2009: 117). This can be seen in historical works and epics such as the Sejarah Melayu, Hikayat Aceh, Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa, Hikayat Iskandar Zulkarnain and so on that narrate the history of the rulers and their government, while the constitutional works, comprised of the Bustanus Salatin, Tajus Salatin (Mahkota Raja-Raja), Tahamarat al Muhimmah and so on, describe the guidelines in relation to the governance procedures for rulers and state dignitaries in the Malay World
Of the 24 clauses, only 9 clauses referred to the rules and procedures of governance and were used as ‘yardsticks’ in comparing the rules of governance in the Taj Us Salatin (Mahkota Raja-Raja) with the character of the ruler, Raja Iskandar, as described in the literary work, Hikayat Iskandar Zulkarnain

Summary

Introduction

The civilization of a race is reflected in the literary works produced by scholars such as M. Of the 24 clauses, only 9 clauses referred to the rules and procedures of governance and were used as ‘yardsticks’ in comparing the rules of governance in the Taj Us Salatin (Mahkota Raja-Raja) with the character of the ruler, Raja Iskandar, as described in the literary work, Hikayat Iskandar Zulkarnain.

Objectives

Results

Conclusion