A Comparison of the Poets Yahya M.S. and Suhaimi Haji Muhammad: Hablun Minallah in Preaching

Syahwal Nizam Haji Yani; Maslin Haji Jukim

Syahwal Nizam Haji Yani Fakulti Sastera dan Sains Sosial, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei.
Maslin Haji Jukim Fakulti Sastera dan Sains Sosial, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei.

Abstract

Yahya M.S. is a prolific Bruneian religious poet who has produced numerous poems addressing various universal issues. In Malaysia, a comparable prolific religious poet is Suhaimi Haji Muhammad. In the early stages of their literary careers, both poets were known for producing abstract poetry. Over time, they adopted a more accessible approach to their audiences. However, Suhaimi Haji Muhammad continues to maintain a linguistic style that is relatively challenging to comprehend. Despite their elevated poetic styles, both poets actively explore religious themes. Clearly, Yahya M.S. and Suhaimi Haji Muhammad use literary discourse as a medium for preaching. This indirect mode of religious expression reflects the concepts of hablun minallah (the relationship between humans and Allah) and hablun minannas (relationships among human beings). Nevertheless, this study focuses specifically on poems themed around hablun minallah. Therefore, this research compares the poems of Yahya M.S. and Suhaimi Haji Muhammad to examine their respective poetic styles in conveying religious messages. Although both poets have opened avenues for audiences to better understand their poetry, Suhaimi Haji Muhammad still retains a language style that is difficult to interpret.

Keywords: Comparison, dakwah, hablun minallah, poet, Yahya M.S., Suhaimi Haji Muhammad

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