This book by Jelani Harun is rich in knowledge and fresh ideas, new findings and earlier unknown facts. From now on it will be impossible to write about Islamic literature of the Malay world without reference to this thoughtful and erudite book– Professor Vladimir Braginsky SOAS, University of London
This book examines two central themes—universal history and adab (mirror for rulers)—as the foundational elements of Bustan al-Salatin. The discussion of universal history primarily draws on Books I–II of the text, while the concept of the “mirror” is explored through Book III. To present a more comprehensive understanding of the author’s perspectives, selected elements of adab writing from Books IV–VII are also considered. Through this broader scope, the work analyses Nuruddin al-Raniri’s views on history and adab in a more holistic manner. A key idea that underpins the entire text is the notion of a Divine Plan in history. Based on this framework, al-Raniri systematically addresses historical and adab narratives—from the Creation to the Day of Resurrection—presenting history as the manifestation of God’s will within a metaphysical dimension.
Bustan al-Salatin: A Malay Mirror for Rulers also gives significant attention to its author, Nuruddin al-Raniri, a scholar of Indian origin. During his time at the Aceh court (1637–1644), where he served as an advisor to Sultan Iskandar Thani and later Sultanah Safiatuddin Tajul Alam, he introduced important developments in Malay historical, didactic, religious, and Sufi writings. His contributions, particularly through Bustan al-Salatin, had a lasting impact on traditional Malay literature and influenced subsequent historians and adab writers. As such, the book closely examines his intellectual background, as well as his capabilities as both an adab writer and a historian. It also explores his influence on later Malay scholars and considers whether any can be regarded as his successors in these fields.
The study is based on five key manuscripts: MS Raffles Malays (Royal Asiatic Society, London), MS UM 41 (Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur), MS SOAS 36500 (University of London), MS Klinkert 14, and MS Cod. Or. 1694 (University of Leiden).
Given the complexity of Bustan al-Salatin, which not only records historical events but also interprets them within a theological framework, careful analysis is essential. Al-Raniri’s discussions on the duties of rulers and court officials, along with his moral teachings and emphasis on divine reward and punishment, are fundamentally theological in nature. Therefore, a proper understanding of his work requires interpretation from a religious perspective. This theological approach is crucial for uncovering the deeper spiritual and didactic meanings embedded in his narratives, and it constitutes one of the primary aims of Bustan al-Salatin: A Malay Mirror for Rulers.
About the Author
Jelani Harun is a lecturer at the School of Humanities, Universiti Sains Malaysia. He was born in Perak and received his early education in Teluk Intan. He obtained his B.A. from Universiti Sains Malaysia and his M.A. as well as Ph.D. from School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London. His area of expertise is Classical Malay Literature and he has published several books including Ilmu Kesusasteraan Abad ke-21 (ed.) in 2004 and Undang-Undang Kesultanan Melayu dalam Perbandingan in 2007, both published by USM Press.
