woensdag 2 oktober 2019

Mystic Islam or Islam light? Merle Ricklefs on his Sout Catcher, Mangkunegara I

After starting his academic career with a portrait of the first Sultan of Yogyakarta, Merle Ricklefs wrote many books, some more general ones like the classic History of Modern Indonesia since c. 1300, a serie of three books covering Islamic developments from 1830 until the modern age and a series on the courts of Surakarta. This is now again enriched with a book on the counterpart of Sultan Mangkubumi I of Yogyakarta: Prince Mangkunegara I of Surakarta.
It is a rich book covering the history of Central Java since the turbulent period beginning with the killing of some 10.000 Chinese in Batavia in 1740 by the Dutch (a 'preemptive strike!), followed by a flight of the 5.000 Chinese who fled the colonial capital to Central Java. This created a civil war in Central Java, 1743-1757.
Ricklefs gives a general picture of the period, the development of the major players in the field: the two mentioned above and the Ruler Sunan Pakubuwana II until PB IV.
Many aspects are highlighted: Dutch colonial policy and its officials, the rulers and their families. The book looks like a huge portrait of a society divided in opposing groups. The persons are described in vivid colours. The sources are from VOC archives (mostly from Indonesia) and from the various courts. It is sometimes a real entertainment to read their concise and clear poetry of the Javanese documents.
On pages 273ff Ricklefs gives a nice summary of his favourite concept of the Mystic Synthesis. It is a somewhat truncated or at least basic style of Islam (the five pillars of confession of faith, regular prayers, fast of Ramadan; paying the zakat sometimes, hajj only for few people), with a strong feeling of a Muslim identity. Besides that there is a firm belief in local spirits, attachment to the stories of Wayang performances. Only the more pious people abstained from alcoholic drinks, use of opium and gambling. Pages 295-299 describe a movement, a circle of strongly Islamic officials in the court of the Susuhunan, from 1788 until November 1790. One Santri became nominated a bupati by the young PB IV and officials who were wearing European clothes were sent away from the court. There was no more alcoholic drinks, more pious gatherings, Qur'an readings, until several thousand troops led by Mangkubumi and Mangkunegara together surrounded the palace and five leading figures were sent into exile to Sri Lanka. Ricklefs regrets that only the opponents have written this story for us and we do not have the voice of the other part. The Mystic Synthesis had his own weapons and was under strict control as well!
Was this official Islam some kind of Islam Light? I checked some sources for the now well known formula about Aceh, where the shari'a must be taken seriously, pelaksanaan syaria secara kaffah.. This is taken from Qur'an 2:208. However, most translations do not give the meaning of 'complete' as to the content, but rather 'all people together'. The verse is in the translation of Arberry: O believers, enter the peace [silm] all of you [kaffatan] and follow not the steps of Satan.
There is a story about a Jewish tribe who did not like to accept Islam/silm because they wanted to keep the quiet day of Sabbath and the taboo of eating camel meat. Anyway, there are diverse opinions also about Islam light, corrupt or truncated versus full!

Geen opmerkingen:

Een reactie posten