Islamic Heritage Dominates Cultural Heritage of West Sumatra

TEMPO.CO, Padang - Head of Conservation Hall of Batusangkar Cultural Heritage, Nurmatias, said that Islamic heritage dominates the cultural heritage of West Sumatra.

"Based on time period, Islamic heritages dominate other relics such as prehistorical and colonial heritages," he said here on Thursday (April 20).

He noted that out of the total 635 national-listed cultural heritages, the relics are dominated by Islamic heritages.

According to him, the relics consist of buildings such as mosques and small Islamic worship houses and ancient manuscripts.

He added that there were more than 40 mosques and small Islamic worship houses spread throughout West Sumatra, not to mention the ancient manuscripts containing the teachings of Islam.

Nurmatias explained that based on the location, Tanah Datar is the area that has the most cultural heritages, followed by Padang and Bukittinggi, because these are two important areas in the colonial era," he remarked.

Meanwhile, a manuscript researcher from the State Islamic University (UIN) Imam Bonjol Padang, Ahmad Taufik revealed that the ancient manuscripts are Islamic remains that can still be witnessed today.

According to him, based on the findings, there are more than 500 pieces of manuscripts which are currently stored in the museums of Leiden and Batusangkar Heritage Hall.

"The Minangkabau manuscripts are generally Islamic texts, such as the Quran, the fiqh (the Islamic practical teachings) books, and the ones related to Sufism," he highlighted.

ANTARA