Hamzah Fansuri, the Indonesian Mystic, and His Influence from Persian Mystical Literature

Document Type : Original Article

Author

PhD Candidate in Contemporary Muslim Thought, Higher Education Complex for Language, Literature, and Culturology

Abstract

Hamzah Fansuri, the renowned Indonesian mystic of the tenth century AH, is regarded as the father of Islamic mysticism in the Malay language, having promoted the principles and foundations of Islamic Sufism in that linguistic and cultural context. This great mystic undertook numerous journeys, traveling to West Asia, including the Hijaz, Iraq, and Jerusalem. During these travels, he benefited from various scholars and Sufi masters—particularly those of the Qadiriyya order—and in terms of mystical thought, he was a follower of Muḥyī al-Dīn Ibn ʿArabi. He articulated his mystical ideas through poetry and mystical prose, and for this reason is also recognized as the founder of mystical literature in Malay-speaking societies. One of his most significant characteristics was his mastery of Persian and Arabic mystical literature. Consequently, his works demonstrate extensive reliance on Persian mystical texts, to the extent that his treatises contain numerous references to the poetry of Persian-speaking mystics such as Rumi, Jami, Shabestari, and most extensively Fakhr al-Din ʿIraqi, the celebrated Iranian mystic and poet. This article seeks to review his personality and key mystical features while examining the influence of Persian literature on his works.

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Scientific Biannual Journal of Language and Culture of Nations
Volume 8, Issue 16
December 2025
Pages 199-210

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