Understanding the Symbolic Expressions in Islamic-Themed Malay Poetry: A Study on "Jangan Kau Simpan Dunia Itu Di Istana Hatimu"

The main challenge faced by poetry readers is to interpret the symbols contained in a poem, where the symbols have different possible meanings according to the context of culture, religion, history, and intellectual traditions. In the poem "Don't You Keep the World in the Palace of Your Heart" by H.B. Johar, contain words that are symbols of meaning based on Islamic values. Thus, this paper tries to bridge the gap between the literal meaning and the spiritual purpose contained in the poem. The four words to be analyzed are palace (istana); palm (telapak tangan); stock (saham); and expanse (hamparan). The data analysis uses symbolic interpretation contextually, through three layers of analysis. The findings of the study found that this poem has a connection with spiritual values based on Islamic teachings, it also uses symbols in people's daily lives to convey spiritual messages, understanding literal or physical meaning can simply limit the interpretation of the poem and potentially give wrong meanings. The reader's in-depth knowledge of the concepts and teachings of Islam can help the reader understand the poem well and accurately.