Who is Hamzah Fansuri?

Hamzah Fansuri is the prominent Sumatran mystic and poet of the second half of the 16th and the first half of the 17th century. He completed his religious training in Southeast Asia, in what is now Thailand.

Hamzah Fansuri’s birthplace is the subject of contention. Scholars generally agree that Hamzah Fansuri was born in Barus, a town of north west coast of North Sumatra between Singkel and Sibolga. The name “Fansuri” had been long use to refer to seamen or traders who were associated with that town.

Hamzah Fansuri’s works include:
*Syarb al- 'Asyiqin or ZinatulMuwahhidin ("The Lovers' Beverage")
*Asrar al-'Arifin fi Bayan 'Ilm as-Suluk wa at-Tauhid ("The Secrets of the Gnostics")
*Al-Muntahi ("The Adept")
*Ruba'i Hamzah Fansuri
*Kasyf Sirri Tajalli ash-Shibyan
*Kitab fi Bayani Ma'rifah
*Syair Si Burung Pingai
*Syair Si Burung Pungguk
*Syair Sidang Faqir
*Syair Dagang
*Syair Perahu
*Syair Ikan Tongkol
Who is Hamzah Fansuri?

Hamzah Fansuri

Hamzah Fansuri is a famous Sufi proponent and poet. Hamzah Fansuri was born in Barus, a town on the west coast of North Sumatra between Singkel and Sibolga. Barus was an important and prosperous trading port in the early 16th century.

The name ‘Fansuri’ had been long used to seamen or traders who were associated with that town. Fansuri was fluent in Persian, Malay and Arabic. He traveled widely both east and west.

In addition to having studied in the Middle East, he also spent time in Ayutthaya; which was known to its sizable Persian population as ‘Shahr-i Nav’ Persian for ‘city of boats and canals’.

After his travels to Siam and Arabia, Hamzah returned to Aceh and taught in that location as well as in Barus.

Most of Hamzah Fansuri’s works were written in syair verse forms. In fact, his syairs were among those first written in Malay.

As is well-known Hamzah Fansuri was the first scholar writing in Malay to have articulated the monist doctrine of Wahdat al-wujud, associated with Ibn Arabi.

Though Hamzah’s greatest legacy rests in his poetry, he also wrote various prose works:
*Sharab al-'ashiqin ("The Lovers' Beverage")
*Asrar al-'arifin ("The Secrets of the Gnostics")
*Muntahi ("The Adept")
Hamzah Fansuri