mutah is the Acehnese word for “pearl”. It appears in the lexical list on page 88 of the Burda translation, linked to the Arabic durr.

Definition

In Acehnese maritime culture, mutah denotes the precious gem harvested from the seas surrounding Aceh, symbolizing both material wealth and spiritual purity.

Cultural Context

Pearls were prized in the Acehnese court and featured in diplomatic gifts to foreign powers, such as the Dutch East India Company.

Significance

The entry reflects the blending of Arabic lexical influence with local economic terminology.

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.