Singapore: Illuminated frontispiece from a mid-19th century Christian text in the Malay language and Jawi script.
From 'Cermin mata bagi segala orang yang menuntut pengetahuan' (Spectacles for Those who Seek Knowledge). <br/><br/>
Jawi is an adapted Arabic alphabet for writing the Malay language. It developed in and around Malaya from about 1300 CE about the same time as Islam arrived. <br/><br/><br/>Jawi is an adapted Arabic alphabet for writing the Malay language.
However, nowadays it has all but been replaced by a Roman script called However, nowadays it has all but been replaced by a Roman script called Rumi; Jawi is usually only seen as a script for religious and cultural purposes. Day-to-day usage of Jawi is maintained in more conservative Malay- populated areas such as Sulu in the Philippines, Pattani in Thailand and Kelantan in Malaysia.