A REMOTE ISLAMIC CIVILIZATION IN INDONESIA – ACEH WITH PECULARITIES ALL ITS OWN

A REMOTE ISLAMIC CIVILIZATION IN INDONESIA
ACEH WITH PECULARITIES ALL ITS OWN

Girls from Aceh
Girls from Aceh

CONQUESTS OF HEART AND SOUL OF ACHEHNESE

Dance of Archehnese
Dance of Archehnese
Slain leader Teku Uma 1899
Slain leader Teku Uma 1899

I was looking at an old publication about the Achehnese and was surprised at some of its features, which have their own peculiar charm. An island in Sumatra, which converted over a period of time from Hinduism into Islamic way of life. No swords, no conquests. No threats of any kind. And conservative Islam took its roots there all on its own. Yes a few Saints did visit Aceh and are buried there but they came centuries after the conversion of Aceh into Islam.

Tjoet_Nya'_Dhien
Tjoet_Nya’_Dhien
Banda Aceh
Banda Aceh

We find King Erlangga ruling Java from 928 to 1049 AD. Marco Polo came here in 1292 AD and found most people idol worshippers except the petty kingdom of PARLAK which was ruled by Muslims. By 1345 AD when Ibn Battuta came here, he found it under the Sultan Al-Malik Al-Zahir. The remarkable thing is that there were no wars of any kind. Muslim had won the hearts and souls of the people of Indonesia, here Aceh.

Acehehnese Culture
Acehehnese Culture

One of its most amazing aspect is the rule of SULTANAS over Aceh. The best period of Aceh is considered to be the period when women ruled over the Island. The most famous Sultana is Sapiatodin Shah who ruled from, 1640 to 1675 in Aceh. She is remembered to this day for her ruling style. A famous Saint Abdur Rauf Teungku di Kaula wrote a book on Islam and dedicated it to her, extolling her virtues. Other Sultanas like Inayat Shah are also remembered in such a way by Arab travelers. Aceh also produced Warrior Queens.

Achehnese Bride
Achehnese Bride
People-of-Aceh
People-of-Aceh

The disgust started when the Dutch invaded Aceh for securing PEPPER and they came to be known as Pepper Wars from 1873 to 1914. Resistance was offered by many Achehnese but they died in the process as Dutch conquered the land. Many Royal monuments exist of the departed Royals but they are simple graves and are not buildings in any way. In any case an Islamic civilization developed here with many conservative aspects and yet many out of the way concepts, which can be termed as pure Secular. But that it what is missed. That Islam is in its own way approaches life in a very secular way. It is a DEEN not a religion.

Resistance fighters of Aceh 1873
Resistance fighters of Aceh 1873

One thought on “A REMOTE ISLAMIC CIVILIZATION IN INDONESIA – ACEH WITH PECULARITIES ALL ITS OWN”

  1. Our object is to give views you will hardly find elsewhere. We love Art, Pakistan, Islam and carry benign wisdom for all other ways of life.

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