Translation help, please
 

this was Datu Uto's flag, a Maguindanaon datu. one of the last powerful datus to resist against the spaniards.
here he is pictured sitting next to the future president taft.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...r/99bfd012.jpg


i was wondering is someone can help me translate the writings on this flag

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...r/e3df020a.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...r/70a2fa00.jpg



btw, as i was inspecting this flag, i noticed these stains.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...r/4ff7acf0.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...r/c3eb37e0.jpg

here's the close up of how the lettering was produced:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...r/91eb4fed.jpg



thanks in advance!

I can't help with traslation, but I can say that this is REALLY FASCINATING!!!! :) :cool:

yes indeedy, flavio. at first i thought it was a small flag. when it was laid out in front of me, i was surprise to see it was about 5ft by 10 ft or so.

Do you think that the stains can be blood.....?

it kinda looks it, but then again, it could just be grease. i guess unless it's subjected to a CSI type test, we may never know.

Try a bit of hydrogen peroxide on an area; if the stain disappears it may well be blood .

hi rick,
the flag actually belongs to a museum which i was fortunate enough to be given access to take a close up picture of.

Well, so much for that idea . :shrug: :D

It's written in an Arabic language.
'Laa ilahailallah Muhammad rasulallah fatu ala aliallah bi huwa inni fanuj saraf shulton Muhammad salim. As kinalu qudrattillah faharuddin.'

Translation in English :

'There is no God but Allah and Muhmammad is the prophet, victory is destine by Allah and so saviour to Muhammad's followers.'

Translation in Indonesia :

'Tiada Tuhan selain Allah dan Muhammad adalah utusan Allah, kemenangan adalah atas kehendak Allah SWT dan keselamatan bagi para pengikut Muhammad SAW.'



I hope it helps...

One of muslim stronghold in Phillippine since ages ago...

Hi Spunjer

just a "try" because, it's not in clear Arabic language
but may be that will give ideas to some Man of Letters ;)

I put a translation, or what seems to us, straight on the pic
as it's a mix between arab/occidental writting, and english

here what "should be "the sense" of those sentences
Allah, there's only one God and Muhammed
is his Messenger, « faitoo » ( ?) on (upon) Ali
Allah ?????????????????????? Ashraf
Sultan Mohammed ???????? Skandar ????
God respecting him for his pride of the religion

Ashraf, Skandar should be names, but to be confirmed :p

sorry, to don't be better

à +

Dom

What a fantastic piece of history. Thanks for sharing it here with us! :D

I'm going to have to visit this musuem - seen it on internet, but they must have more than they show!!!!

BTW - Skandar is another name for Alexander.......

Spunger, would you show us a picture of the entire flag?

Once read a history of Datu Uto. Once strong enough to be a Sultan!

Sipakatuo and Dom,
thank you! any information i can get is really a big help! i'm assuming some of the words are in maguindanaon. the translation that was added to this flag's description in the museum's records, i felt was incomplete.

Battara, actually that's all that was on the flag. the second picture is the most complete one i got, lol. i had to stand on a chair and raise the camera just to get that image :o

W :eek: W! So how big is this puppy?

lol, it was huge. guesstimating around 5x10 feet but i think it was bigger. we had to put four long tables together so we can decently spread the flag.
here's a better view of the flag:


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...r/837f5f8f.jpg

Spunjer, if the flag belongs to a museum I think they can ask a collaboration with police for a CSI analysis to see if the stains are blood... Here in italy sometimes the museums ask the police for some particular analiysis an they made them for free... it's a collaboration between institutions. Even if, IMHO, to discover if the stains are blood does not add nothing to the story of the flag

Regards
FLavio :)