Jawi Script

Jawi developed from the Arabic script and was adapted to write Malay and other local languages across Southeast Asia. It became closely connected with Islam, trade, education, and royal courts.

In the Philippines, Jawi was historically used among Muslim Filipino groups such as the Tausug, Maranao, and Maguindanao peoples. It played an important role in religious learning, communication, and preserving cultural traditions in Mindanao and Sulu.

Because some sounds in local languages did not exist in Arabic, additional letters were created to represent unique sounds. Jawi is written horizontally from right to left, just like Arabic.

Historically, Jawi appeared in royal letters, religious texts, poetry, legal documents, and teachings of the Qur’an. It helped connect Southeast Asian Muslim communities through faith, scholarship, and trade.

💡 Fun Fact: Before the spread of the Roman alphabet, Jawi was one of the most widely used writing systems in the Malay world and was commonly seen in schools, mosques, and royal courts.

 Vowels (Independent Forms)
A
I
U

Common Consonant Characters (default “A” sound) 
Ba
Ta
Ja
Da
Ra
Sa
Ka
Ga
La
Ma
Na
Nga
Pa
Wa
Ya

 • Written from RIGHT to LEFT
• Based on the Arabic alphabet
• Additional letters were added for Southeast Asian languages
• Vowel sounds may use marks or helper letters

Example pattern:
با = Ba
بي = Bi
بو = Bu

Jawi combines Arabic writing traditions with local Southeast Asian languages and culture.

 • Written in ink on paper, parchment, or manuscripts
• Used in mosques, royal courts, and schools
• Found in religious texts and historical documents
• Passed down through Islamic scholarship and oral teaching

Jawi writing was deeply connected to religion, education, and leadership within Muslim Filipino communities.

 Short words like:
Ama (father)
Ina (mother)
Bata (child)

can be written phonetically using Jawi characters adapted for local languages.