A typical Aceh educational institution called a dayah is an institution that initially positioned itself as a center for cadre education. Its presence as an Islamic educational institution in Aceh can be estimated almost simultaneously with Islam in the archipelago. The word comes from the Arabic word, namely zawiyah, which means a corner.
The term zawiyah, literally meaningful corner, is believed by the people of Aceh first used the corner of the Medina Mosque when the Prophet Muhammad SAW. preaching in Islamic times. In the Middle Ages, the word zawiyah was understood to be the center of religion and the mystical life of the Sufis, therefore, dominated only by the nomadic Ulama, who had been brought into the community. Sometimes institutions are built into religious schools and at certain times zawiyah is also used as a hut for the seeker of spiritual life. It is likely that the spread of Islamic teachings in Aceh by traditional Arab preachers and Sufis; in addition, another name for the dayah is the Rangkang. The difference, the existence and role of Rangkang in the learning arena is smaller than the dayah.