PERLAK, in Aceh Timur is called the first (oldest) Islamic kingdom in the archipelago, even in Southeast Asia. The conclusion of the Seminar on the Entry and Development of Islam in Aceh and Nusantara in 1980, in Rantau Kualasimpang was based on one of the oldest documents named Idharul Haq Fi Mamlakatil Peureulak, by Abu Ishak Al-Makarani Sulaiman Al-Pasy. That's the question for some historians about the historical truth.
Book of Idharul Haq which is the only source. Some historians doubt it. Moreover, the book of Idharul Haq which is shown in the seminar is not in the original form, no longer intact but only the loose sheet. The book itself is still a mystery, because until now it has not been found in its original form. So some say we Idharul Haq is just one historical engineering to reinforce the opinion that based on the book is the first Islamic kingdom in Aceh and Nusantara is the Islamic kingdom Perlak.
Many historically critical researchers, doubted Perlak as the first place of the great Islamic empire in Aceh. Reinforced by the absence of found artevak-artevak or the oldest sites of historical relics. So the researchers are more likely to conclude the first Islamic kingdom in Aceh and the archipelago is the Islamic empire Samudra Pasai found in North Aceh. There is much convincing evidence, both in the form of text and other archaeological objects. Like the currency dirham pasai and tombstones that read the year of the death of the Sultan of the Islamic empire Samudra Pasai.
The historians' doubt about Perlak as the first Islamic empire that only took from our source Idharul Haq Fi Mamlakatil Peureulak, needs to be examined further. There was an experience when I did social activities in Central Aceh district, precisely in Sukajadi Village, Bukit Sub-district, in 1989. At that time I was accommodated at the home of a citizen named Mitra. He is a civil servant in the sub-district office of Bukit sub-district. His house in Suka village So quite large for the size of the village house located on the top of the hill Suka So that characterizes the typical homes of Gayo land.
While I was in the village, I met an elderly person. The guest was escorted by her two children, and Mr. Mitra as the owner of the house introduced the guest to me that it was his grandfather and his teacher in guiding the science of makrifat. "His name is Tgk. Abdul Samad, but our family and people in central Aceh called him by the name of Kek Adu, "explained Mitra, adding that his grandfather was a traditional figure in Gayo land, but he has not lived in Aceh Tengah for a long time. "He now lives in Pesanten Matang Rubek Panton Labu Aceh Utara. Only occasionally return to Central Aceh to visit his grandchildren and other brothers, "said Mitra at the time.
Tgk. Abdul Samad aka Kek Adu who was sitting somewhat in the corner of the room, only occasionally affirm what his grandson described to me. We chatted about religion primarily about makrifat to the problems of the history of the Linge empire and its relation to the Perlak Islamic empire in Aceh. Kek Adu explained at length about the connection of the Islamic Kingdom of Perlak with the Linge kingdom of Central Aceh. Apparently he also participated in the seminar on the History of Entry and Development of Islam in Aceh and Nusantara 1980 in Rantau Kualasimpang East Aceh. So he took out a book from his bag. "This book is called Idharul Haq, where I go now I take it, because I am changing from Malay Jawi to Indonesian," he said while showing some of the transcripts of the contents of the book from the Jawi letter into Latin letters.
I was surprised when he called the book was called Idharul Haq. Books of 30 x 25 cm thick about the same as the Qur'an, I check. Looks from the paper is outdated, and I suspect the kitan is the result of a photo copy of the original book. Because the paper is exactly the same as the paper used today. Tgk. Abul Samad also admitted that the book is a copy of the original.The reason is because he was doing the translation, so copied for easy to carry anywhere.
Whether it is genuine or not, that the Idharul Haq book that once doubted its existence as a document that reveals the history of Perlak's Islamic empire, at least has given a bright spot. It's just that I was not allowed to copy the book by Tgk. Abdul Samad, because the book of Idharul Haq is not finished translated from Arabic letter Jawi into Latin letters.
Introducing the book of Idharul Haq is so important in revealing the history of Islam in Aceh, I once met the Head of the Aceh State Museum (then Drs Nasruddin Sulaiman), suggested that the book of Idharul Haq in the hands of a traditional figure in Central Aceh, can be copied as well as a collection and historical documents in Meseum Aceh. But the suggestion was not responded by Meseum officials on the pretext that the Aceh State MONEum did not have the funds to send his team to investigate the book.