Raja Ali Haji

Raja Ali Haji was a 19th-century Muslim Penyengat Bugis historian, poet, scholar, and ulama. He was the grandson of Raja Haji Fisabilillah, the Bugis warrior who fought against the Dutch colonialism. He was also the cousin of Raja Ali Kelana, the last sultan of Riau-Lingga Sultanate. Raja Ali Haji was born in Penyengat Island, part of the Riau Archipelago, in 1808 or 1809. He received his early education from his parents and the royal court. He also learned from various scholars in Batavia and Mecca, where he performed the pilgrimage with his father in 1827. He mastered several languages, such as Malay, Arabic, Bugis, Javanese, and Dutch. He was also well-versed in Islamic sciences, such as fiqh, tafsir, hadith, and tasawwuf. Raja Ali Haji was a prolific writer who produced many works in various genres, such as poetry, history, genealogy, law, linguistics, and literature. His most famous work is Gurindam Dua Belas, a poem that contains moral and ethical teachings in Malay language. He also wrote Tuhfat al-Nafis, a historical chronicle of the Malay and Bugis people, and Silsilah Melayu dan Bugis, a genealogical account of the Riau-Lingga royal family. He also compiled Kitab Pengetahuan Bahasa, a grammar book of Malay language, and Bustan al-Katibin, a collection of letters and documents. Raja Ali Haji was also a respected religious leader who taught and guided many students and followers. He was known for his piety, wisdom, and generosity. He died in his hometown in Penyengat Island in 1872 or 1873. He was buried near the mosque that he helped to build. He was posthumously declared as a National Hero of Indonesia in 2004. He is also regarded as the Father of Indonesian Language due to his significant contribution to the development of Malay language, which later became the basis of Indonesian language.