Qur’ans and other Muslim devotional texts

Maluku has long had a tradition of copying Qur’an manuscripts and religious texts. The oldest known manuscript was copied on Manipa Island in 1697 and is currently part of the Leiden University collection in the Netherlands. From previous research, it is known that, in addition to the Manipa manuscript, there are 18 ancient manuscripts registered in Maluku, consisting of manuscripts and early printed editions from Singapore and India. The largest collection comes from Central Maluku Regency, specifically with 1 manuscript in Hitu, 1 in Seith, 1 in Wakasihu, 2 in Hila, 5 in Morella, and the largest number in Kaitetu, with 8 manuscripts. Due to the humid climate and inadequate care, these ancient manuscripts are in dire condition. Most of the paper is extremely fragile, and many of the manuscripts are incomplete with detached pages.

The existence of several ancient manuscripts in Maluku and early prints shows that Maluku was part of a network of Islamic development in the archipelago. The Manipa manuscript, dated 1697, is a very rare Qur’an manuscript, as most Qur’an manuscripts in Indonesia were copied in the 19th century. Several Qur’an manuscripts in Kaitetu and the surrounding areas also indicate that the development of Islam in this region in the past was very dynamic. The copying of the Qur’an seems to have been carried out over time—even copying religious texts such as sermons appears to have continued until recently. Meanwhile, the Singapore-printed Qur’an at the Old Mosque of Kaitetu, which was printed around the 1860s-1870s, suggests that during that time, the Muslims of Kaitetu were already performing the hajj through Singapore, which in the 19th century was a transit point for those travelling to and from Mecca. Similarly, a Qur’an printed in India in 1870-1871 in Seith—presumed to have also been obtained from a hajj journey—shows that the Muslims of Maluku were already part of the global network of hajj pilgrimage.

Qur’an manuscripts from Kaitetu

Manuscript 1

This Qur’an manuscript is kept in the collection of the Old Hatuwe clan house, Kaitetu, where it was passed down through generations. It measures 27 x 20 cm and is 5.5 cm thick. The manuscript is in relatively good condition, though it lacks a cover. The front pages are complete, but some sections at the end of the manuscript are missing. From beginning to end, the calligraphy is consistently written by a well-trained scribe. The writing surface used is European paper, slightly thick, with a watermark “C & I HONIG,” which is estimated to date from the late 18th or early 19th century. This manuscript, along with several other religious texts, was exhibited at the Istiqlal Festival in 1991 in Jakarta.

Manuscript 2

This Qur’an manuscript is kept in the collection of the Old Hatuwe clan house, Kaitetu. It measures 30 x 21 cm and is 7 cm thick. The condition of the manuscript is damaged, with many pages detached and lacking binding. The paper used is European, but the watermark is unclear. The middle pages feature black and white floral illumination, without any color.

Manuscript 3

This Qur’an manuscript is kept in the collection of the Old Hatuwe clan house, Kaitetu. The manuscript is in very poor condition, incomplete, with some pages detached. The paper used is European, but there is no visible watermark.

Manuscript 4

This Qur’an manuscript is kept in the collection of the Wapauwe mosque, Kaitetu. It measures 33 x 19.5 cm and is 5.5 cm thick. The paper used is European, with an unclear watermark and with a countermark “LVG,” estimated to date from the late 18th century. The condition of the manuscript is poor, with the binding coming apart. The pages of the manuscript are disordered and incomplete.

Manuscript 5

This Qur’an manuscript is kept in the collection of the Wapauwe mosque, Kaitetu. The local community refers to this Qur’an manuscript as the “Mushaf Wahabillah.” It measures 33 x 20.5 cm and is 6 cm thick. The paper is European, with a countermark “SS & Z.” The condition of the manuscript is damaged and incomplete, and the binding is coming apart. Based on comparisons with other manuscripts, it has been confirmed that this manuscript is a Singaporean print from the early 1870s.

Qur’an manuscript from Manipa Island

1697. This manuscript is part of the collection of the Leiden University Library, the Netherlands. (photos: Amiq and Jan van der Putten)

François Valentijn, Oud en Nieuw Oost-Indiën (1724-1726), plate XXVI and XXVII.

MANUSCRIPT COLLECTIONS

As a historical center of Islam in Maluku, Kaitetu is the repository of a number of Islamic manuscripts including Qur’ans and other Muslim devotional texts in Arabic and Malay. Click here to access a selection of Kaitetu manuscripts digitized by the Maritime Asia Heritage Survey (MAHS).