The Origins of Aceh History Called the Veranda of Mecca

Aceh is a province that is almost one hundred percent of its people are Muslims. Many historians, both at home and abroad who argue that Islam first entered Indonesia through Aceh.

In a number of records, including Wikipedia, that Marco Polo who stopped at Perlak in 1292 declared the country had embraced Islam. So is Samudera Pasai, based on the tomb found in the former kingdom and news sources that exist that this kingdom has become the kingdom of Islam around 1270.

On the history of the development of Islam in the region of Aceh in those early days, such as manuscripts originating from within the country itself such as the Book of Malay History, Hikayat Pasai Raja, written, a preacher named Sheikh Ismail had come from Makkah deliberately towards the Ocean to Islamize the people there.

Islam that goes to Aceh in particular, and Indonesia generally, initially follow the streets and trading cities on the beach, then then spread to the interior. Merchants and preachers have played an important role in the spread of Islam.

Historically sociologically, the entry and development of Islam into an area is very complex. There are many problems associated with it, such as where it came from, who brought, what the background and how the dynamics, both in terms of Islamic teachings and adherents.

There are several opinions that state when the entry of Islam to Aceh. Hamka, as quoted by Wikipedia, thinks Islam entered Aceh from the first century of Hijri (7th or 8th century) but it became a populist religion in the 9th century as Ali Hasjmy's opinion.

While the orientalists such as Snouck Hourgronje argue Islam entered in the 13th century CE marked by the establishment of the Sultanate of Samudra Pasai.

Zainuddin, a historian, said in Aceh Serambi Mecca that much of the historical record of Aceh before AD 400 is not clearly known. In fact, notes J Kreemer, an Islamic scholar, was quoted by Aboebakar Atjeh as saying that before 1500 Aceh's history was still unknown.

Snouck Hurgronye shows a bit of a picture that indicates the influence of Hinduism in Aceh, taking into account the dressing of Acehnese women whom he says bend at the same time as the Hindu women.

Still according to Snouck, directly or indirectly, Hinduism at one time flows into civilization and Acehnese language although this is very difficult to examine in history and adat.

Julius Jacob, a health expert who served in Aceh in 1878 stated that Hindu influence on the population at least can be found with the fact that the use of place names in Hinduism is in Aceh.

Our question, as the title of this article on the origins of Aceh is called the Veranda of Mecca, that, in the fifteenth century AD, Aceh had received a very honorable title from Nusantara Muslims with the nickname "Serambi Mekkah".

A title full of religious nuance, faith, and piety. Giving the title, according to expert historians' analysis, there are 5 reasons why Aceh holds that noble title.

1. Aceh is the inaugural region of Islam in the archipelago, precisely in the East coast, Peureulak, and Pasai. From Aceh Islam is growing very fast throughout the archipelago to the Philippines. The preachers of Aceh left their hometown to spread the religion of God to humans. Some of the Wali Songo who brought Islam to Java came from Aceh, namely Maulana Malik Ibrahim, Sunan Ngampel, and Syarif Hidayatullah.

2. Aceh region has been a mecca of science in the archipelago with the presence of Jami'ah Baiturrahman (University of Baiturrahman) complete with various faculties. Students studying in Aceh come from all over the world, from Turkey, Palestine, India, Bangladesh, Pattani, Mindanao, Malaya, Brunei Darussalam and Makassar.

3. The kingdom of Aceh Darussalam has received recognition from Sharif Makkah on behalf of the Islamic Caliph in Turkey that the Aceh Kingdom is the "protector" of other Islamic kingdoms in the archipelago. Therefore, all the archipelago sultans recognize Sulatan Aceh as their "umbrella" in performing the duties of the kingdom.

4. Fourth, Aceh has been the base / port of Hajj for the entire archipelago. The Muslims of the archipelago who pilgrimage to Mecca by ship, before traveling the Indian Ocean spend up to six months in Bandar Aceh Darussalam. The villages around Pelanggahan is now a haven for pilgrims.

5. Many similarities between Aceh (then) with Mecca, equally Islamic, Shafi'i schooled, Islamic cultured, dressed in Islam, Islamic comfort, and punished by Islamic law. The entire population of Mecca is Muslim and the entire population of Aceh is also Islamic.

Source: Wikipedia and some other sources