Amir Hamzah, The All Too Human Hero

Abstract

In a well-known fragment of the Sejarah Melayu, it is told that the Malaccan warriors, in anticipation of a Portuguese attack on their town, held a wake and wanted to spend their time in a useful manner. I will quote here from Winstedt's translation:

It was night and all the captains and young men were on guard in the palace hall. And the young men said: "Of what use is it for us to sit here in silence? It would be better for us to read some story of battle so that we might benefit from it." "You are right", said Tun Muhammad the Camel. "Tun Indra Sagara had better go and ask for the story of Muhammad Hanafiah, saying that perhaps we may derive advantage from it, as the Franks will attack tomorrow." Then Tun Indra Sagara went into the presence of Sultan Ahmad and submitted their remarks to his Highness. And Sultan Ahmad gave him the romance of Amir Hamza, saying, 'Tell them, I'd give them the story of Muhammad Hanafiah but I fear they'll not be as brave as he; if they are like Amir Hamzah it will do, so I give them the story of Hamzah." Tun Indra Sagara came out carrying the story of Hamzah and told them all Sultan Ahmad had said, and they were silent, not answering a word. Then Tun Isak said to Tun Idra Sagara, "Tell his highness that he is mistaken. His highness must be like Muhammad Hanafiah and we like the captains of Baniar.$^2$ Tun Indra Sagara submitted Tun Isak's remark to Sultan Ahmad, who smiled and answered, "He is right." And he gave him the story of Muhammad Hanafiah too (Winstedt 1958:73).