Pseudo-Sufism in Tuhfat al-Nafis: regarding the misinterpretation of one term
The Malay tradition of History and Historiography represents an important part of Islamic intellectual tradition and from this point of view; it shares the same elements of intellectualism, rationalism and scientific worldview, which are inherent in the best masterpieces of Islamic historiography. The Malay-Islamic historical texts of the 16th to the 19th century are crucial historiographical sources in researching the history of the Malay throughout the ages. One of the famous Malay Islamic chronicles is Tuhfat al-Nafis (The Precious Gift) written by Johor’s aristocrat Raja Ali Haji in 1865/66. This text contain information on the various aspects of life of the Malay community, including religious and intellectual life of Malays, distinguished ulama, shaikhs, syeds and other spiritual leaders and their role in Malay Muslim society. The author give paid special attention to plots about Sufism and its doctrine and practice among Malay rulers and elite. Tuhfat al-Nafis described s also errors and mistakes in the tasawwuf practicing as well as stories about those who could be identified as so called pseudo-sufis. One of the plots is a very interesting story about one Lebai (some kind of cleric). The textual and content analysis of this plot helps to clarify the right name of his doctrine (ISI not ISA) and identify Lebai Tamat as a pseudo-sufi, based on ar-Raniri’s classification.