Western Images of Meccan Pilgrims in the Dutch East Indies, 1800-1900

Syed Muhd Khairudin Aljunied, (2005) Western Images of Meccan Pilgrims in the Dutch East Indies, 1800-1900. Sari (ATMA), 23 . pp. 105-122. ISSN 0127-2721

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Affiliations

National University of Singapore, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Dept. of Malay Studies.

Abstract

This paper examines Western images of returned Meccan pilgrims (hajjis) in the nineteenth century Dutch East Indies. I argue that the persistent presence of various Western literary works that promoted stereotypical images of the hajjis in the 19th century reflects a dominant discourse, which asserted that the version of Islam that the Arabs had practised and preached was inevitably
dangerous and should be contained. With the advent of direct imperialism in the second half of the nineteenth century, such a discourse became established as “natural truths” that had to large extent subsumed alternative viewpoints, which sought to amend it. Hence, by the turn of the century, hajjis, as a force, were essentialised as a negative influence in the Dutch East Indies.

Rencana ini mengkaji tanggapan barat terhadap golongan haji daripada Dutch East Indies pada abad ke sembilan belas. Adalah dihujahkan bahawa kehadiran pelbagai penulisan Barat yang berterusan di dalam menstereotaipkan imej golongan haji mencerminkan wacana yang dominan, iaitu Islam yang diamal dan dida’wah oleh golongan Arab mengandungi unsur yang membahayakan, lalu perlu disekat. Dengan kedatangan imperialisme pada pertengahan abad ke sembilan belas, wacana tersebut menjadi satu “kenyataan” yang menyekat
pandangan alternatif. Maka, pada akhir abad ke sembilan belas, haji digambarkan sebagai sebuah pengaruh negatif di Dutch East Indies.

Item Type:

Journal

Keywords:

Images, imperialism, orientalism, Malays, Pilgrimages, Mecca, Islam Imej, imperialisme, orientalisme, orang Melayu, Islam

Subjects:

H Social Sciences, Economics, Sociology
P Language and Literature
B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion, Islam

ID Code:

6959