Translation help, please

[Spunjer]

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/v484/Spunjer/99bfd012.jpg


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

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/Spunjer/e3df020a.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/Spunjer/70a2fa00.jpg



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

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/Spunjer/4ff7acf0.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/Spunjer/c3eb37e0.jpg

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

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/Spunjer/91eb4fed.jpg



thanks in advance!

[Flavio]

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

[Spunjer]

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.

[Flavio]

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

[Spunjer]

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.

[Rick]

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

[Spunjer]

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.

[Rick]

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

[sipakatuo]

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...

[sipakatuo]

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

[Dom]

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

[Battara]

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!

[Spunjer]

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

[Battara]

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

[Spunjer]

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/v484/Spunjer/837f5f8f.jpg

[Flavio]

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.



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 :)