A new Bruneian anthology in Arabic

MALAY literature in general and Bruneian literature in particular occupy a high position in literary world today. Brunei poetry, in my opinion, has two main features which distinguish it from Malay poetry in other Malay countries. The first feature is its remarkable and rich Islamic elements. The second feature is represented in the great number of the first class Islamic poets who belong to this century's Malay Islamic Sultanate such as Omar 'Ali Saifuddien, Shukri Zain, Yahya M S, Adi Rumi, Badaruddin H O, and Zairis M S. It is hard, I believe, to find such group of outstanding Islamic poets in any place else in this vast Malay Archipelago.

Nevertheless, it is unfortunate that this superb Malay poetry has neither been translated to universal languages, nor introduced to the world according to a systematic and scientific plan. If we take Arabic as example, we will find that none of the Malay poetry, with exception of only three anthologies, has ever been translated to this universal Quranic language. The first of these three books of poems is Damai Dalam Sentuhan ("The Touch in Peace") by Shukri Zain, a well-known Bruneian poet. This 50-poem anthology was translated into Arabic by the Egyptian poet Dr Arif Karkhi Abukhudairi and published in Cairo in 1993, and thus it became the first Malay anthology to be translated into Arabic and to be introduced to the Arab world and admired by its poetry-loving peoples. Professor Ahmad Shams Al-Haggagi, a prominent Egyptian critic and novelist hailed the book as "a profound mystic experience of a Muslim poet-philosopher meditating on the wonder of the universe, praising its creator, and searching for lasting peace for all mankind".

Being a poet-translator living in Malaysia, then Brunei for a considerable number of years, Dr Arif selected two more Malay anthologies and translated them into Arabic, his native tongue. The first anthology is Manifestasi, a Malaysian book of poems by Malaysian poets including Usman Awang, Baha Zain and Kemala expressing their anger regarding the injustice of the Zionist Israelis against the Palestinian people. The Arabic translation of this anthology was published by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) in Kuala Lumpur in 1994, and was favourably received by critics in Jordan.

The third Malay anthology which was Arabicised is Harga Waktu by Zairis M S, a celebrated Bruneian poet. The Arabic translation, entitled Qimatul Waqt ("Value of Time") (pic), was published by Islamic Da'wah Centre in 2011. The book contains 65 poems dealing with five themes, namely religion, politics, history, society and homeland. The poet depicts his homeland, Brunei Darussalam, through its past, present and future. The poems within this book have a distinct style; a sophisticated aesthetic standard, a remarkable free verse format, and a flexible rhyming scheme. Throughout this verse, the poet expresses his deep Islamic thoughts about several significant issues including creed, poetry, art, knowledge, caliphate and civilisation. He is enthralled and fascinated with his homeland which he describes as "the sweet scent of the gardens of the Malay Archipelago". Zairis M S flaming patriotic sentiments excel in his poems about Brunei Darussalam, Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saifuddien and His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah. In his poem "The Extinguishing of the Old Lamp" he describes Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saifuddien as "the Lamp" and says (the old lamp/which gave light/for half a century). Likewise, in his poem "Honour of Birthday", Zairis MS, says that love for His Majesty the sultan looks like a current that will never end, and therefore the persona in this poem addresses the beloved Sultan by saying (we uphold your love/ we lift the gifts/with obedience and content). As for Brunei, his homeland, the poet elegantly addresses it in these beautiful and touching lines (my homeland / we are the contended roses that/fall upon your chest / with eagerness).

The Arabic translation of Harga Waktu took more than four years. This translation is undoubtedly a unique experience as the Arab poet-translator and the Bruneian poet cooperated in producing as good translation as possible. Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohammad Pengiran Haji Abd Rahman, Minister of Religious Affairs, states that such translation is a fine work of art that may encourage others to produce more exquisite translations in order to develop, enhance and expand Islamic literature among the Muslim Ummah.

Dr Arif Karkhi Abukhudairi is the author of this article and of the poetry book, 'Love Poems of Arif Khudairi', Canada, (2011).

Courtesy of Sultan Sharif Ali Islamic University