Indonesian Historical Figure Went Viral in Arab Regions, Once Lived During Prophet Muhammad's Era

Jakarta — A historical figure once lived during the era of Prophet Muhammad and became renowned across the Arab region. She was Queen Shima of the Kalingga Kingdom. Queen Shima was born in 611 CE in South Sumatra, when Prophet Muhammad was 41 years old and had just been appointed as the Messenger of God.

Queen Shima was the daughter of a Hindu scholar who relocated to Jepara after marrying Kartikeyasinga of the Kalijangga Kingdom. When her husband was appointed King of Kalingga in 648 CE, Queen Shima’s position became increasingly influential.

In 678 CE, circumstances changed dramatically. Kartikeyasinga died, and Queen Shima became the sole ruler, as her children were still too young to assume the throne.

It was during this period that the Kalingga Kingdom reached its golden age, particularly in the trading sector. The book “Islamic Thought Traditions in Java” (2006) reports that the queen, bearing the title Sri Maharani Mahissasuramardini Satyaputikeswara, transformed Jepara harbour into a major trading centre and meeting point for merchants from throughout the region.

Simultaneously, Kalingga is said to have established trade relations with the Tang Dynasty of China. The “Chinese Records” (2009) mention that Chinese merchants themselves witnessed Queen Shima’s prosperity, and they noted that Kalingga’s wealth derived significantly from salt.

Queen Shima’s reputation extended beyond her kingdom’s borders, reaching as far as the Arabian Peninsula during the caliphate era.

Her fame was notably linked to her strict enforcement of anti-theft laws. An Arab king named Ta-Shih, curious about her reputation, visited and placed a sack of gold on the street.

However, no one was tempted to take it. Even several months later, the sack of gold remained in place, serving as evidence of the kingdom’s inhabitants’ fear of Queen Shima’s punishments.

The position of the sack shifted slightly only because of Queen Shima’s most beloved son, Prince Narayana, who accidentally moved it. However, Queen Shima subsequently issued an order for capital punishment.

The punishment turned out to be amputation of the foot, deemed the guilty limb for moving the gold sack.

Queen Shima died in 695 CE. The Kalingga Kingdom collapsed in 752 CE, whilst Islam in the Arabian Peninsula had already flourished rapidly, entering the Umayyad era.