Category: Keris

Rembrandt, the Keris, and the Warrior of Faith: Syam‘un al-Ghāzī aka Samson

12/3/2025

by ilmi Khalid

Rembrandt and the Dutch Golden Age

Rembrandt van Rijn (1606–1669) is one of the greatest painters of the Dutch Golden Age—celebrated for his mastery of light and shadow, emotional realism, and dramatic storytelling. Influenced by Pieter Lastman, Caravaggio, and Rubens, Rembrandt transformed biblical moments into vivid scenes of humanity, devotion, and tragedy.

The Blinding of Samson (1636)

One of Rembrandt’s most intense works is The Blinding of Samson, where he depicted a dramatic moment from the Biblical narrative of Samson: betrayed, overpowered, and subdued by his adversaries.

Samson thrashes in agony.
One attacker restrains him.
Another drives a dagger toward his eye.
And the betrayer, Delilah, flees in the background holding the locks of hair she cut from his head.

In the Biblical narrative, Samson was captured in the Valley of Sorek, a borderland region, before being taken to Gaza in chains.

May God protect and strengthen the people and the warriors of Gaza today. Aameen.

Rembrandt rendered the scene with explosive light, raw physical struggle, and deep emotional chaos. Few Western painters attempted this moment; Rembrandt embraced it fully, turning it into one of the strongest narrative paintings of the 17th century.

A Malay Blade in a Dutch Masterpiece: The Keris

Close Up: Keris in The Blinding of Samson (1636)

A striking detail emerges when you look closer at the weapon in the attacker’s hand:

a wavy asymmetrical blade,
an ornate hilt,
a form unmistakably tied to the Malay world.

Rembrandt painted a keris — the iconic blade of the Malay archipelago or Nusantara.

He had painted this same keris earlier in Samson and Delilah (1628), where Samson wears it at his waist. In The Blinding of Samson, the very same keris appears again — this time being used against him.

Samson and Delilah (1628)

How did a keris reach Rembrandt’s studio?

Because Amsterdam in the 1600s was the heart of the Dutch East India Company (VOC). Ships returned from Java, Malacca, and the wider Malay Archipelago carrying:

spices
textiles
ceramics
weapons
curiosities
and personal artifacts from Asia

Rembrandt was known to be a passionate collector of such items. His bankruptcy inventory lists foreign swords, daggers, armor, and Asian objects.
It is highly likely that Rembrandt owned an actual keris, which he used as a studio prop.

He even etched himself holding a curved dagger in Self-Portrait as an Oriental Potentate (1634), showing his fascination with Eastern aesthetics.

The keris in The Blinding of Samson was not a historical detail — it was an artistic choice: dramatic, exotic, symbolic.

Self-Portrait as an Oriental Potentate (1634)

Samson in Islam: Syam‘un al-Ghāzī (شمعون الغازي)

While the Qur’an does not mention Samson by name, Islamic tradition does speak of a mighty warrior among the Children of Israel known as:
Syam‘un al-Ghāzī — “Syam‘un the Warrior.”

The Hadith

In Sahih al-Bukhari (Hadith 2789), the Prophet ﷺ mentioned a man from the Children of Israel who fought in Allah’s path for a thousand months.

Classical scholars — including Ibn Kathīr — link this noble figure to Syam‘un al-Ghāzī.

His strength was a divine gift.
His perseverance was an act of worship.
His lifelong struggle in devotion inspired the revelation of Surah al-Qadr:

“The Night of Power is better than a thousand months.”

In Islam, Syam‘un is not portrayed as a tragic figure undone by desire.
He is a mujāhid, a righteous servant of Allah known for discipline, devotion, and endurance.

Lessons for the Silat Warrior

1. Strength With Purpose

Syam‘un’s power was not for pride.
It was fi sabīlillāh — aligned with divine purpose.

This reflects Silat’s true foundation: strength used to defend, protect, and maintain justice.

2. Discipline of Body and Soul

Silat demands structure, humility, and spiritual alignment.

Syam‘un’s lifelong devotion represents the balance every warrior must cultivate:
ability to use the sword in the hand, humility through the remembrance of Allah in the heart.

3. Betrayal, Hardship, and Patience

Just as Syam‘un faced betrayal, the Silat path teaches us that the greatest battles are internal:
against ego, temptation, nihilism, and doubt.

True warriorhood is tested not in victory, but in endurance.

And honestly… who among us can claim to have never faced these tribulations?

4. The Keris as a Symbol of Identity

The keris is more than a weapon.

It is a symbol of Malay heritage, craftsmanship, spiritual depth, and cultural identity.

Seeing it immortalized in Rembrandt’s painting reminds us how the Malay Archipelago culture has touched even the canvases of European masters.

Click to watch me practicing with my training Keris on YouTube

Why This Matters Today

In an age where words like jihad are misrepresented or stripped of their original meaning, retelling this story allows us to:

restore Islamic definitions
honor our Malay heritage
elevate the keris as a symbol of wisdom and responsibility
reconnect warriorhood to devotion, not violence
offer the world a more authentic understanding of Silat

This is a cultural, historical, and spiritual reclamation.
This is my voice, Ilmi's. I write to reclaim what is ours.

See the Painting in Person

Rembrandt’s The Blinding of Samson is on display at the Städel Museum in Frankfurt, Germany.

If you ever travel there, it is a powerful feeling to witness a keris painted by a European master nearly 400 years ago.

I hope that one day I’ll stand before this painting and witness its details with my own eyes.

Train Silat with Me

If you wish to learn Silat, weapons and unarmed Malay combat arts, or explore the Malay blade traditions, join me at Bladeart Studio, now open in NZX Commercial Center, Ara Damansara.

We offer a relaxed and safe space dedicated to martial discipline, where you can train in Silat, join our Tomoi Kickboxing program, and discover Hyoto Kai Jiujitsu, also known as Malaysian Jiujitsu.