Indonesia possesses good old local cultures such as a Malay culture which has adopted and been influenced by Islamic values. The acculturation of the Malay culture and Islam can be noticed on Gurindam Dua Belas (a Malay poem) by Raja Ali Haji, who is a cleric, historian, and poet in the 19th century as well as a Bugis and Malay descent. Malay people often use the Gurindam Dua Belas as a life principle.
A student of Doctoral Program of Psychology of Islamic Education of Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY) Nurliana was interested in conducting research examining the Gurindam Dua Belas. She wrote a dissertation entitled ‘Psychological Values of Islamic Education on Gurindam Dua Belas Manuscripts by Raja Ali Haji’. At her dissertation defense on Monday (17/9) at Amphitheater of Kasma Singodimedjo, Nurliana conveyed that Gurindam is dakwah. “There are three aspects to consider the Gurindam Dua Belas as dakwah. First, it is a rhetoric dakwah meaning delivering a message to people. Second, it tries to instill Islamic values in social lives. Third, it encompasses various life aspects,” she stated.
Nurliana presented that Islamic education provides physical and spiritual guidance based on Islamic rules. “The Gurindam Dua Belas mentions a concept of Islamic education that education is light and whoever gets it will not fall into the darkness of life. For instance, article one tells ‘barang siapa tiada memegang agama, sekali-kali tiada boleh dibilang nama’. The statement means that everyone should believe in religion since, if they shouldn’t, they do not have a life principle. The first article talks about tauhid,” she explained.
Nurlina revealed that Gurindam Dua Belas contains a lot of educational psychology values in accordance with Islam. “The poet comprises of religious values, self-actualization, charity, and good deeds. Indeed, the Gurindam Dua Belas has closed relationship with people, particularly Malay people so that it gives many contributions to Islamic education,” she said.
Besides, Nurlina believed that the Gurindam Dua Belas can be one of the media to enhance the nation’s intelligence through integrating it in a national curriculum.
