mu’minin were the plural form of the Arabic word mu’min “believer”, used in Acehnese religious literature to denote the community of faithful Muslims. The term appears in the 16th‑century Malay translation of the Burda (page 88), where it is listed among other theological vocabulary.
Definition and Linguistic Context
In the Acehnese‑Malay glossaries, mu’minin (plur. muʾminīn) is rendered simply as “believers”. It functions as a collective noun for the Ummah and is frequently paired with other Qur’anic terms such as nabi (prophet) and ahkam (law).
Usage in Acehnese Texts
The entry on page 88 groups mu’minin with other doctrinal words, indicating its importance in the theological education of Acehnese scholars. The word is employed in sermons, hikayat (narratives), and pantun (poetic forms) to stress communal piety.
Significance
The presence of mu’minin in the Acehnese translation of a major Arabic poem demonstrates the early integration of Arabic theological concepts into the Malay‑Acehnese literary tradition, reflecting the deep Islamic identity of the Acehnese sultanate.
See Also
Source
20260707_232246_DLP-54-Een_16de_eeuwse_Maleise_vertaling_van_de_Burda_van_al_Bu_s_i_ri_OCR.txt, page 88.