Hamka’s Thoughts on the History of Islam in Minangkabau: A Historiographical Study

Abstract

This study examines Hamka’s Thoughts on the History of Islam in Minangkabau: A Historiographical Study. This study employs a historical approach with a focus on Islamic historiography, while also utilizing discourse analysis and a hermeneutic approach to interpret Hamka’s texts. The research methods used are those of historical research, namely heuristics, source criticism, interpretation, and historiography. The sources for this study are drawn from Hamka’s major works Sejarah Islam di Sumatera, Ayahku, Dari Perbendaharaan Lama, and Antara Fakta dan Khayal Tuanku Rao as well as secondary sources such as books and scholarly articles. The results of this study indicate that Hamka’s thought was influenced by his family environment, Minangkabau culture, and the spirit of Islamic renewal. According to Hamka, Islam has existed in Minangkabau since the 7th century CE, refuting the Gujarat theory. Hamka also asserts that Islam perfected local customs, giving rise to the philosophy of “Adat Basandi Syarak, Syarak Basandi Kitabullah,” meaning that customs must conform to the teachings of the Qur’an.