Islamic Palm-Leaf Manuscripts from Lombok

Abstract

The religious background of manuscripts and texts from Lombok is not always certain. Nevertheless, in view of the overwhelming Muslim population on the island, many texts in manuscripts are inspired by Islam. Most manuscripts in Lombok are written on palm leaves, and these lontar manuscripts used to be kept by the people in great numbers, especially among the Waktu Telu, Muslims who adhere to a local variety of Islam, distinct from mainstream Sunni Islam. Material and non-material aspects of the lontar manuscripts from Lombok are discussed here. Apart from the Sasak inhabitants of Lombok, the Balinese community in West Lombok is also familiar with Muslim texts, and some aspects of the materiality of the lontar manuscripts from both communities containing Islamic texts are discussed here. The examples of the manuscripts highlighted here offer wider insights about these so far ill-studied manuscripts from Lombok in Indonesia.