Book excerpt: This book constitutes a study of Southeast Asia, discussing the Malay world's long historical connection with the Muslim people including the Rumi-Turks, Hadramis and the Ottomans. These connections reflect religious, political and legal cooperations. It also discusses the Ottomans' policy of pan-Islamism and the role of Sultan Abdulhamid II in improving ties with the Malay world and their scholars, rulers and heritage, in the fight against Western colonial powers. In seven essays, the contributors to this book discuss the early religious-intellectual network in the region as well as the evolution of the judicial and political systems.