Rationale

Indonesian Islamic manuscripts are tens of thousands in number, written in Arabic, Malay, Javanese, Sundanese, and other local languages, and preserved both in local and foreign institutions. A huge number of them is still kept as private collection, which is commonly not well-maintained. These manuscripts are generally difficult to locate and investigate. Catalogues are supposed to give access to them, but catalogues themselves number in the hundreds and are not always easily accessible.

In addition, there is no satisfactory research instrument available so far on Indonesian Islamic manuscripts. This causes unnecessary repetitions in studying an Indonesian Islamic manuscripts, due to the lack of research tools to confirm.

Aims

The Thesaurus of Indonesian Islamic Manuscripts (TIIM) is mainly intended to provide information as complete as possible on Indonesian Islamic manuscripts, which are written both in Arabic and local languages, including Acehnese, Buginese, Javanase, Madurese, Malay, Minangkabau, Sasak, Sundanese, Wolio and others. The TIIM also provides some other useful information such as name of author with their biographical accounts, number of copies kept in all libraries around the world, catalogues that list the related manuscripts including their pages and summaries, and all related articles and books.

The TIIM shows an even greater importance with the availability of information about the conducted, as well as the ongoing, philological works. If possible, these works are digitally available and could be downloaded. It is hoped that not only can it avoid unnecessary repetition in studying these texts but also fill the gaps found in the previous studies.

The TIIM will also be a vital source for philologists, historians, and scholars of Southeast Asian Islamic Studies who are keen to see the characteristics of local Islam through the exploration of ulamas' works in the past.