Hamka selaku ulama tersohor Nusantara adalah juga seorang sasterawan. Kedudukan dan perananHamka dalam pembentukan awal sastera Islam di Indonesia adalah signifikan. Sebagai seorangsasterawan dan ulama, Hamka telah menyediakan batu asas dan panduan awal untuk sastera Islam diIndonesia berkembang pesat. Hamka misalnya telah terlibat membuka gelanggang perbahasan mengenaikesan imaginasi dan kreativiti dalam proses penciptaan seniman. Ternyata, kebebasan imaginasi dankreativiti tanpa batas ditolak, sementara al-Quran dan hadis Nabi Muhammad SAW dijadikan panduandalam proses penciptaan karya. Perbincangan ini timbul ekoran kehebohan mengenai Langit MakinMendung karya Kipandjikusmin yang didebatkan dengan HB Jassin serta tokoh-tokoh sastera Indonesiayang lain. Wacana tersebut amat penting kerana Hamka berjaya meletakkan ciri-ciri asas sastera Islamyang disepakati umum. Selain itu Hamka adalah orang yang bertanggungjawab meletakkan prinsipprinsipsastera Islam di Indonesia menerusi rumusan Amanat Putih yang mengandungi lapan perkara.

Hamka as a renowned cleric in the Malay world is as well, a literary figure. His position and role informating the early discourse on Islamic Literature in Indonesia is significant. As a literary figure anda Muslim scholar, Hamka has provided the foundation and guide to Muslim authors, and boostedIslamic Literature in Indonesia to be accepted rapidly in the mainstream. Hamka had been involved inopen debate on imagination and creativity in artistic creation. Apparently, freedom of imagination andcreativity without limits are rejected, while the Holy Quran and the sayings of the Prophet Muhammadwere embraced as a guide in the process of creating. The discussion arose following a noisy furor a bout ashort story entitled Langit Makin Mendung by Kipandjikusmin. The particular work is debated betweenHamka, HB Jassin and other Indonesian literary figures. The discourse is very important because Hamkamanaged to place basic features of Islamic Literature. Besides that, Hamka is also responsible for puttingthe principles of Islamic Literature in Indonesia through the formulation of the Amanat Putih that linedeight points.