Hamzah Fansuri

Hamzah Fansuri al-Fansuri (c. 960–1027 AH / c. 1550–1620 CE) was an Islamic scholar and poet from Barus (Fansur), Aceh in northern Sumatra. He is considered the earliest significant Malay poet and the father of Malay Islamic mystical literature. He wrote extensively in Malay on Islamic theology and spiritual themes, producing the first systematic Malay Islamic poetry. His works include Asrar al-Arifin (Secrets of the Gnostics). His later writings were condemned by the Shafi'i scholar Nuruddin al-Raniri as containing pantheistic ideas influenced by Ibn Arabi. Note: Some of his theological positions were criticized; include only his role as a pioneering scholar of Malay Islamic literature.