Antique bark Koran in Alor

A small village in the western part of East Nusa Tenggara's Alor island was once to be one of the centers of Islamic propagation -- the Kingdom of Alor Besar. It's proven by the presence of an antique Al-Qur'an which is still now well kept there.

The Islamic holy book, made of bark and written in traditional ink, is over 800 years old.

The village is just some 15 kilometers from Kalabahi, the capital of Alor regency.

According to 76-year-old Saleh Panggo Gogo, the 14th descendant of local religious figure Iang Gogo, Alor Besar's Al- Qur'an was penned from the 12th century to the 15th century in North Maluku, when Ternate's Sultan Baabullah reached the peak of his glory for introducing Islam to the entire sultanate.

In 1522, the Sultan of Ternate, Hairun, was killed in a Portuguese invasion to conquer the sultanate. Prince Baabullah, Hairun's son, carried on the struggle against the Portuguese. The prince succeeded his father after defeating the invaders.

At that time, Iang Gogo along with his four brothers, Ilyas Gogo, Djou Gogo, Boi Gogo and Kimales Gogo, decided to leave Ternate, North Maluku, and wander over Alor Island. Each of the five brothers carried an Al-Qur'an and a circumcision knife.

Iang Gogo finally settled in Alor Besar and married a woman named Bui Huki, while his siblings roamed to Tuabang, Baranusa, East Pantar, Solor, East Flores and Larabaing, Southwest Alor. With the holy book and knife, Iang Gogo propagated Islam and managed to convert the King of Alor Besar, Baololong I, who had embraced animism.

The eight centuries old book is preserved intact in its ebony box. According to H. Ruslan Laba, lecturer of the Islamic science, Indonesian Islamic University, Malang, the genuineness of an antique Al-Qur'an is shown by the Arabic letters it contains, which are hand written and not as neat as printed ones.

At present, the old Al-Qur'an is kept in the home of Saleh Panggo Gogo, who has been in charge of taking care of the treasure since 1987. The Gogo family limits the use of this book to the commemoration of Nuzulul (descent of) Qur'an, the holy month of Ramadhan, circumcision ceremonies and other religious holidays.

-- Yemris Fontuina