The Controversy of "Nur Muhammad" Concept in Malay Manuscripts: Tajalliy and Faidhun's Perspective Study

Abstract

The issue of the concept of "Nur Muhammad" in the general perspective still cannot resolve the nature of beings and life. This research is intended to explore the controversy surrounding the concept of "Nur Muhammad", focusing particularly on the manuscript Hikayat Nur Muhammad but also considering other Malay manuscripts to explore how "Nur Muhammad" was understood. In the context of Islamic philosophy, the concept of tajalliy (emanation) holds that everything in the universe, including human beings, originate from the "Nur Muhammad", the Almighty, viewed as the source of all light. Disagreement over the process through which the universe and its contents were created, including human beings, has created conflict between the Ahlu Wachdatil-Wujūd (Syaikh Hamzah Fansuri, Syaikh Syamsuddin As-Samatrani, and their followers) and the Ahlu Wachdatisy-Syuhūd (Syaikh Nuruddin Ar-Raniry and his followers). This research has found that the Ahlu Wachdatil-Wujūd have held that the process through which "Nur Muhammad" spread from ta`ayyun tsāniy (second reality) or a`yān tsābitah (fixed reality) to a`yān khārijiyyah (reality outside Dzāt, Wujūd, and His essence) was not a process of creation, but rather one of radiance or tajalliy. Meanwhile, the Ahlu Wachdatil-Syuhūd held that "Nur Muhammad" was not a radiance or tajalliy of light, but the bestowing of full power or faidhun, such that the light remained strong even as the beings granted power became increasingly distant.