THE ACHEHNESE - Acehbooks.org

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named Malem Itam or Pakeh Abdulwahab '), in which are collected the
principal rules of the law in regard to marriage, and the original of
which is fully a century old. Another Achehnese named Mohammad
Zain bin Jalaluddln, from whose hand there appeared in Malay an
insignificant essay on a subordinate part of the ritual, 2 ) and one of
the innumerable editions of Sanusi's small manual of dogma, 3 ) appears
also to have been the author of a Malay treatise on the Mohammedan
law of marriage, 4 ) which enjoyed the honour of being lithographed in
Constantinople in A. H. 1304 under the name Bab an-nikdh (Chapter
on marriage). I do not know in what connection this writer stands with
Jalaluddln (= Teungku di Lam Gut, see p. 28 below) who in A. H.
1242 (A. D. 1826—27) wrote the Tambiho rapilin (sec Chap. II, N°.
LXXXVl). It is probably due to chance that his works have not been
consigned to oblivion like those of so many others. They are not
specially marked by any redeeming traits and are also devoid of local
colour, with the exception of an appendix two pages in length attached
to Mohammad Zains Bab an-nikah, containing precepts designed to suit
the requirements of Achehnese life.
The most characteristic of these precepts concerns the taqlid (Ach.
teukeulii) i. c. resorting to the authority of the imam of the H anante
school in respect to the marriage of a girl who is a minor and without
father or grandfather. The object of the author is to give legal sanction
to the peculiar Achehnese custom of the bale meudeuhab. B )
Study has The study of the teaching of Islam, of what is generally described
not declined
in Acheh. •
1) I find no clear indication of the author's name in the three copies with which I am
acquainted (Berlin Royal Library, Schumann V, 6, and Malay MSS. of the Leiden library,
N os 1752 and 1774).
2) See Van den Berg's Versing, p. 7, N° 36.
3) See Van den Berg's Vcrslag, pp. 8—9, N° 45.
4) I cannot recall the source of this book, though I feel certain that I have heard or read
of it; as to its having been written by an Achehnese, that is beyond all doubt.
5) See Vol I p. 347 et seq. The passage in question runs as follows: iS-i U") O
,..Ji«jS PwS.iLS' ..-\=»lXi.- _^jl J...*! ^$>JK/> iAi L\A!.£J c«L ,.,b „l£i JCJ O^ fjOv/O c>J'