Aceh is a province in Indonesia which has the capital of Banda Aceh. Aceh is one of the provinces in Indonesia which is given the status of a special region and also given special autonomy authority. Aceh is located on the northern tip of the island of Sumatra and is the westernmost province in Indonesia. The province's population is around 4,500,000. It is close to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in India and is separated by the Andaman Sea. Aceh is bordered by the Bay of Bengal in the north, the Indian Ocean in the west, the Malacca Strait in the east, and North Sumatra in the southeast and south.
Aceh is considered to be the place to begin the spread of Islam in Indonesia and play an important role in the spread of Islam in Southeast Asia. At the beginning of the 17th century, the Sultanate of Aceh was the richest, strongest, and most prosperous country in the Malacca Strait region. The history of Aceh was characterized by political freedom and a strong rejection of the control of foreigners, including the former Dutch colonizers and the Indonesian government. When compared with other provinces, Aceh is a very conservative region (upholding religious values). The percentage of the Muslim population is the highest in Indonesia and they live according to Islamic sharia. In contrast to most other provinces in Indonesia, Aceh has autonomy which is regulated separately for historical reasons.
Some analysts estimate that Aceh's natural gas reserves are the largest in the world. Aceh is also famous for its forests located along the Bukit Barisan range from Kutacane in Southeast Aceh to Ulu Masen in Aceh Jaya. A national park called Gunung Leuser National Park (GLNP) was established in Southeast Aceh.
After the earthquake (2004), tsunami waves hit most of the province's west coast. About 170,000 people were killed or lost due to the disaster. This disaster also encouraged the creation of a peace agreement between the government of the Republic of Indonesia and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM).
Origin of name
The first Aceh was known as Aceh Darussalam (1511-1959), then the Special Region of Aceh (1959–2001), Nanggroë Aceh Darussalam (2001–2009), and finally Aceh (2009 – present). Previously, Acehnese names were usually written by Acheh, Atjeh, and Achin.
Prehistoric times
The clam hill from prehistoric times in Aceh Tamiang
Aceh has been inhabited by humans since the Mesolithic era, this is evidenced by the existence of the Bukit Kerang site which is claimed to be a relic of that era in the Aceh Tamiang district. Excavations were also carried out on other sites called the Pangkalan Village Site and the Mesolithic artifacts were found in the form of Sumatralith axes, human tooth fragments, rhinoceros bones, and several other simple equipment. In addition to the Aceh Tamiang district, the remains of prehistoric life in Aceh were also found in the Gayo highlands in the Mendale and Ujung Karang alcoves located around Lake Laut Tawar. The discovery of this prehistoric site reveals evidence of prehistoric human dwellings that have been going on here at around 7,400 to 5,000 years ago.
Kingdom era
The era of the Hindu-Buddhist kingdom
The Sriwijaya-style Arca Awalokiteswara found in Aceh is estimated to be from the 9th century. Now stored in the Indonesian National Museum.
As with other regions in the archipelago, Aceh has also experienced a period of development of Hinduism and Buddhism that came from the mainland of the continent of South Asia (India). At that time in Aceh it was marked by the existence of several kingdoms based on the religion, for example the Kingdom of Indrapuri, the Kingdom of Indrapatra and the Kingdom of Indrapurwa all in Aceh Besar which adhered to Hindu beliefs and were influenced by India. In addition, Aceh was also part of the Hindu-Buddhist kingdoms that had triumphed in the archipelago thousands of years ago like Srivijaya.
The entry of Islam
Location of the Samudra Pasai Kingdom
There is still a crossing of opinions regarding the issue from when Islam was first spread to Aceh. Some view it as starting from the time of the Caliphate of Uthman ibn Affan as the third caliph after the apostolate of Muhammad SAW.
Regarding Islam that came to Aceh, Snouck Hurgronje, with his Gujarat theory, said that Islam that came there was not Islam brought by Muhammad, but that Islam had developed well. It is not Islam from the Quran and Hadith, but Islam with the books of Fiqh and its dogma from 3 centuries later.
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