In the 15th century AD, Aceh had earned a very honorable title from the Muslim nation. The country is nicknamed "Veranda of Mecca" a title full of religious nuance, faith, and devotion. According to expert historian's analysis, there are 5 reasons why Aceh holds that noble title.
First, Aceh is the first place to enter Islam in the archipelago, precisely in the East coast, Peureulak, and Pasai. From Aceh Islam is developing 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.
Map Ancient Ocean
Secondly, 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.
Jami'ah Baiturrahman (University of Baiturrahman)
Thirdly, the Aceh Darussalam Kingdom has received recognition from Sharif Makkah on behalf of the Islamic Caliphate 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.
Kingdom of Aceh Darussalam
Fourth, Aceh has been the base / port of Hajj for the entire archipelago. Moslems of the archipelago who pilgrims to Mecca with sea ships, before wading through the Indian Ocean spend up to six months in Bandar Aceh Darussalam. The villages around Pelanggahan are now a haven for pilgrims.
Port Haji
Fifth, 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 Makkah is Muslim and the entire population of Aceh is also Islamic.
The Acehnese belong to Islam in kaffah (totality), there is no mixture of customs with the teachings of Islam, but now it is beginning to fade.
Indeed, hearing the word mecca porch, may already be familiar to us, but do you know who first gave the name aceh with the name of the porch of mecca?
- what is the father of the first president of Indonesia, soekarno?
- what is b.j habibie?
- or other fighters from aceh, teuku umar for example?
Called '' Porch of mecca '' all started when the guardian of Muhammad SAW's grave named Sheikh Ismail, he is also still the nephew of the prophet. One night he dreamed of meeting the Messenger of Allah, and the Messenger of Allah warned him
"O my brother, take the five letters that are in the Ka'bah, and look for the human child who can read and give meaning to the contents of the letter"
It was not like they believed that dream, then he did not just believe in the dream, the next night he returned dreaming as before, and continued until the third time, finally he decided to ask the clerical friends and scholars there about the truth of the dream, which He also suggested that he immediately carry out what was ordered by the Prophet, he finally went to explore all the continents in this world, from Africa to america, from america to europe and continue continent to the other continent,
Keep in mind when traveling to become a traveler to the world when he was 20 years old, no one human child who can read the letter from the Ka'bah written by the Prophet, everyone he met he explained the purpose of his arrival and he ordered read and Interpret the letter, but no human child can read it.
He was almost desperate, and once he was about to return to his country, when he was about to board a boat near the waters of the Malacca Strait, at that time the Malacca Strait was still in the power of the kingdom of Aceh, he met a very gallant young man, he asked the origin Youth and explain the purpose of his wanderings that he had stepped on the 80th year.
At that time he thought he was 100 years old, then the young man tried to read and interpret the meaning of the contents of the letters, how shocked sheikh ismail when he heard the young man with the smooth translate the contents of the letters in the entrusted Messenger of Allah, then he asked What is the name of the young man, yes he MEURAH SILEU. Or when interpreted in Indonesian means red glare, which is now more familiar with the name MAULANA MALIK IBRAHIM. And more familiar with the name MALIKUSSALEH. He is a mighty young man who not only rely on his good looks, but he can read and interpret the important letter of the Prophet Muhammad. Really proud, so it is not arbitrary people who give the name aceh porch mecca, but the prophet Muhammad SAW themselves who gave the noble name, this is all apart from the pros and cons among our society, but nowadays is aceh what is now still called the porch of mecca because Seen from the decline of morality in some societies and young people.