Tracking and Preservation of Malay Islamic Manuscript Collection At Maahad Khalil Al-Islami (Pondok Bendang Bujur), Yala, Thailand

Abstract

Malay Islamic manuscripts represent a valuable heritage left by the wise scholars and ancient scientists, which needs to be preserved and utilized. Among the locations that hold this remarkable legacy is Southern Thailand, which includes the regions of Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat. Maahad Khalil al-Islami in Bendang Bujur Village, Yala, Thailand, is a traditional Islamic education center that still houses a significant collection of manuscripts for study. This research provides a brief overview of Maahad Khalil al-Islami and identifies the efforts made to catalog the manuscripts for the benefit of humanity. The research methodology includes interviews and document analysis for data collection, followed by document analysis for data interpretation. The preliminary study revealed that Maahad Khalil al-Islami possesses approximately 18 manuscript copies, with a total of 1,117 pages. However, the majority of these are incomplete and somewhat disorganized. Most of them lack clear titles, except for seven manuscripts. Two of the manuscripts have been successfully verified and reissued through modern publishing. It is hoped that this noble effort will invigorate the preservation activities of these Malay Islamic manuscripts and benefit the wider community.