Ottoman Connections to the Malay World Islam Law and Society — Saim Kayadibi

Southeast Asia especially the Malay Archipelago has enjoyed a long historical connection with Muslim Rūmī Turkish Ḥaḍramī Arab and Ottoman traders as can be seen in the two regions framework of religious political and legal cooperation The Ottomans pan Islam policy and the mission of Sultan Abdulhamid II enabled the archipelago to play an active role and thus increase its relationships with Muslim scholars rulers and legal heritages elsewhere when it was confronted with European colonialism The network of Johor Ottoman and Ḥaḍramī Muslim relationships as well as the role of Sultan Abu Bakar of Johor strengthened bilateral connections The translation of the Majallah al Aḥkām Ottoman Legal Codes into Malay also served to develop legal practice of Islamic law in Malay Sharī ah courts