A manuscript titled 'Dala’il al-Khayrat' from the Malay Peninsula dated Feb 14, 1771. It is part of the 'Oceans That Speak: Islam And The Emergence Of The Malay World' exhibition, which opens on Dec 13 at IAMM in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: IAMM
Dive into the era of maritime trade at the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia (IAMM) in Kuala Lumpur with its upcoming exhibition, Oceans That Speak: Islam And The Emergence Of The Malay World.
Running from Dec 13 to June 15, 2025, this exhibition takes visitors on an insightful journey through the rich cultural exchanges of the Malay world. It revisits how the Malay Archipelago became a key hub for global maritime trade and intellectual exchange, shaping the spread of Islam and leaving a profound cultural and artistic legacy.
"The Malay world's role as a centre of trade, intellectual exchange and religious development is often overlooked. Through Oceans That Speak, we want to give focus to the profound contributions this region has made to Islamic history and culture, and to emphasise how that relevance carries forward into today's world,” said IAMM exhibition curator Siti Marina Mohd Maidin in a media statement.
Nestled between the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean, the Malay world has long been a hub for international trade, especially during the Spice Route era.
Strategic ports like Melaka were key meeting points for 15th and 16th-century traders, who brought not only spices like nutmeg and cloves, but also camphor, sandalwood, and tin. As the region flourished economically, it also became a gateway for Islam, introduced by scholars and traders from Hadhramaut and Gujarat.
Through artefacts, manuscripts, and artworks, the exhibition reveals how Islamic influences travelled from the Indian Subcontinent, China, and the Middle East to the Malay Archipelago, where sultans, scholars, and artists helped shape a broader Islamic civilisation.
Oceans That Speak: Islam And The Emergence Of The Malay World will be showing at Special Gallery 2 of the IAMM.
