Reaching Sufis on the Spice Route: Sheikh Yusuf al-Makassari Wanderlust 1644-1699
Abd. Karim, Husnul Fahimah Ilyas

Balai Penelitian dan Pengembangan Keagamaan Makassar, karimsejarah[at]gmail.com, husnullitbang[at]gmail.com

Abstract

The spice shipping and trading networks not only influenced political and economic conditions but also the formation of ulama networks. Archipelago scholars who traveled to deepen their religious knowledge were also within the network structure. This article aims to reveal the wandering of a Sufi, namely Sheikh Yusuf al-Makassari 1644-1699. This means that the spice route is the main factor supporting this ulama journey. Syekh Yusuf is known as far as South Africa, giving an indication that this cleric used the spice route as a route to reach his magic. Starting from Makassar, Banten, Aceh, India, Yemen and Mecca he made his way. The question is how the journey and how it relates to the spice route. This article will look at this phenomenon using historical methods and philological approaches. The historical method is to reveal the process of Sheikh Yusuf odyssey and a philological approach to explore Sheikh Yusuf knowledge through his legacy manuscripts.

Keywords: spice route, ulama, Sufis, wandering

Topic: Humanities