Raja Ali Haji bin Raja Haji Ahmad (1808–1873) was a 19th-century

Bugis The Bugis people (pronounced ), also known as Buginese, are an ethnicity—the most numerous of the three major linguistic and ethnic groups of South Sulawesi (the others being Makassar and Toraja), in the south-western province of Sulawe ...

Malay Malay may refer to: Languages * Malay language or Bahasa Melayu, a major Austronesian language spoken in Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore ** History of the Malay language, the Malay language from the 4th to the 14th century ** Indonesi ...

historian, poet and scholar. He was elevated to the status of

National Hero of Indonesia National Hero of Indonesia ( id, Pahlawan Nasional Indonesia) is the highest-level title awarded in Indonesia. It is posthumously given by the Government of Indonesia for actions which are deemed to be heroic, defined as "actual deeds which can b ...

in 2004. Haji has been described as one of the most important Malay writers of the 19th century.

Early life

Raja Ali Haji was born in

Selangor Selangor (; ), also known by its Arabic language, Arabic honorific Darul Ehsan, or "Abode of Sincerity", is one of the 13 Malaysian states. It is on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and is bordered by Perak to the north, Pahang to the east ...

(although some sources stated that he was born in Penyengat) in 1808 or 1809, and was the son of Raja Ahmad, who was titled Engku Haji Tua after accomplishing the pilgrimage to Mecca. He was the grandson of Raja Ali Haji Fisabilillah (the brother of Raja Lumu, the first Sultan of Selangor). Fisabilillah was a scion of the royal house of Riau, who were descended from Bugis warriors who came to the region in the 18th century. His mother, Encik Hamidah binti Malik was a cousin of her father and also of

descent. Raji Ali Haji soon relocated to Penyengat as an infant, where he grew up and received his education.''Journal of the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society'', 1994, p. 29

Career

Haji undertook a diverse education and he eventually became renowned for his learning. He was 32, Haji became a joint regent who helped administer Lingga for the young Sultan

Mahmud Muzaffar Shah Mahmud Muzaffar Shah (born 1823, Terengganu — died July 1864, Pahang), third Sultan of Riau-Lingga Sultanate Riau-Lingga Sultanate ( Malay/ Indonesian: کسلطانن رياوليڠݢ, ''Kesultanan Riau-Lingga''), also known as the Lingga- ...

Death

Most sources stated that Raja Ali Haji died in 1872 at Penyengat Island in Riau, but the date of his death was being debated as scattered evidences surfaced to oppose this claim. Among the best-known evidences was a letter written in 1872 when Raja Ali Haji wrote a letter to Herman Von De Wall, a Dutch cultural expert, who later died at

Tanjung Pinang Tanjungpinang, also written as Tanjung Pinang, is the capital city of the Indonesian province of Riau Islands. It covers a land area of 144.56 km2, mainly on the southern Bintan Island, as well as other smaller islands such as Dompak Islan ...

in 1873.

Ancestry

Notable works

Poems

* 1847: ''

Syair Abdul Muluk Syair ( Jawi: شعير) is a form of traditional Malay (also subsequently modern Indonesian and Malaysian) poetry that is made up of four-line stanzas or quatrains. The syair can be a narrative poem, a didactic poem, a poem used to convey ideas ...

'' (disputed) * 1847: ''Gurindam Dua Belas''

Books

* 1860s: ''

Tuhfat al-Nafis ''Tuhfat al-Nafis'' (; English: The Precious Gift) is a work of Malay literature written by the Bugis Raja Ali Haji in Jawi in around 1866–1870. who is of Malay-Bugis descent. It records and chronicles events, especially those of the 19th c ...

(The Precious Gift)'' * 1865: ''Silsilah Melayu dan Bugis''

Other writings

* 1857: Bustan al-Kathibin * 1850s: Kitab Pengetahuan Bahasa (uncompleted) * 1857: Intizam Waza'if al-Malik * 1857: Thamarat al-Mahammah

References

External links

Tribute website to Raja Ali Haji
*
Raja Ali Haji, in Malay world
{{Authority control 1808 births 1873 deaths People from Selangor Indonesian people of Malay descent Indonesian male poets Indonesian writers Royal House of Selangor Bugis people 19th-century Indonesian poets Linguists of Malay National Heroes of Indonesia