Rahmah, as she is usually called, is a teacher, education fighter, founder of the first Islamic women's school in Indonesia, humanitarian activist, Indonesian woman parliamentarian, and Indonesian independence fighter.
When Rahmah attended school, mixed male and female students in the same class made women not free to express their opinions and use their rights in learning.
He observed that many women's problems, especially in the perspective of jurisprudence, were not explained in detail by teachers who in fact were men, while female students were reluctant to ask questions.
Then Rahmah studied fiqh more deeply to Abdul Karim Amrullah in the Iron Bridge Surau, and was noted as the first students who participated in learning jurisprudence, as noted by Hamka.
After that, Rahmah founded the Madrasah Diniyah Lil Banaat (Women's Diniyah College) in Padang Panjang as the first women's special Islamic school in Indonesia.
He wants women to get education in accordance with their nature and can be practiced in daily life.
His determination, "If I don't start now, my people will remain retarded. I have to start, and I'm sure there will be many sacrifices that are required of me. If men can, why can't women?"
Rahmah expanded her mastery in several applied sciences so that it can be taught to students.
He studied traditional weaving, also privately studied sports and gymnastics with a Dutch teacher.
In addition, he attended a midwifery course at several hospitals guided by several midwives and doctors to get permission to open his own practice.
He studied various other sciences such as life sciences and natural sciences from books.
The mastery of Rahmah in these various sciences which she applied in Diniyah Putri and all her knowledge was transferred to her female students.
In 1926, Rahmah also opened an illiteracy eradication program for housewives who had not received education and were known as the School of regret. During the Dutch colonial administration, Rahmah avoided activities in the political path to protect the continuity of the school he led.
He chose not to cooperate with the colonial government.
When the Dutch offered to Rahmah so that Diniyah Putri was registered as a registered educational institution in order to receive subsidies from the government, Rahmah refused, revealing that the Diniyah Putri was a school belonging to the ummah, financed by the ummah, and did not need protection other than Allah's protection. According to him, subsidies from the government will lead to the government's freedom to influence the management of the Diniyah Putri.
Rahmah's work on the education path made her get wide attention. He sat in the management of the Sumatran Mothers Union (SKIS). In 1935, he was invited to attend the Indonesian Women's Congress in Batavia. In the congress, he fought for hijab as an obligation for Muslim women to cover genitals into Indonesian culture.
In April 1940, Rahmah attended the invitation of the All Aceh Ulama Association Congress. He was seen by Acehnese clerics as a leading female cleric in Sumatra.
The arrival of Japanese troops in Minangkabau in March 1942 brought changes in government and reduced the quality of life of non-Japanese residents.
During the Japanese occupation, Rahmah participated in various activities of the Mother Area Members (ADI) engaged in social affairs. In a situation of war, Rahmah and the ADI gathered food and clothing assistance for people who were deprived.
He motivated people who could still eat to set aside a handful of rice each time to cook to be distributed to people who lack food. To his students, he instructed that all the tablecloths and door cloths on Diniyah Putri be used as clothes for residents.
In addition, Rahmah and the members of ADI opposed the deployment of Indonesian women as comfort women for the Japanese army.
This demand was met by the Japanese government and the place of prostitution in the cities of West Sumatra was successfully closed.
Affected by Hajjah Rangkayo Rasuna Said who entered politics first, and with the condition of Indonesia which was getting worse by Japanese invaders, Rahmah finally entered politics. He joined the High Minangkabau Islamic Assembly based in Bukittinggi.
He became Chairman of the Hahanokai in Padang Panjang to help the struggle of officers gathered in the Giyugun (a kind of PETA army).
As tension escalated in Padang Panjang, Rahmah brought about 100 of his students to flee to save them from the invasion of the Japanese army.
During the evacuation, he covered all the needs of his students. When there was a train accident in 1944 and 1945 in Padang Panjang, Rahmah made the Diniyah Putri school building a place to treat accident victims.
This made Diniyah Putri get a certificate of appreciation from the Japanese government.
Towards the end of the occupation, Japan formed Cuo Sangi In which was chaired by Muhammad Sjafei and Rahmah sat as a member of the observer. Indonesia proclaimed its independence on August 17, 1945. After getting the news about the proclamation of independence directly from the Chairman of Cuo Sangi In, Muhammad Sjafei, Rahmah immediately raised the Red flag White on Diniyah Putri's college yard.
He was recorded as the person who first raised the Red and White flag in West Sumatra.
News that the Red and White flag flew in his school spread to all corners of the region. When the Indonesian National Committee was formed as a result of the session of the Preparatory Committee for Indonesian Independence (PPKI) on August 22, 1945, Soekarno who saw Rahmah's work appointed him as a member.
On October 5, 1945, Soekarno issued a decree establishing the TKR (People's Security Army). On 12 October 1945, Rahmah pioneered the establishment of TKR for Padang Panjang and its surroundings.
He summoned and gathered former Giyugun members, seeking logistics and purchasing some of the weapons needed from his possessions.
Together with a former Hahanokai member, Rahmah arranged a public kitchen in the Diniyah Putri complex for TKR needs. These TKR members became the core soldiers of the Merapi Battalion formed in Padang Panjang.
When the Dutch launched the second Dutch Military Aggression, the Dutch arrested a number of Indonesian leaders in Padang Panjang. Rahmah left the city and hid on the slopes of Mount Singgalang.
However, he was arrested by the Dutch on January 7, 1949 and languished in female detention in Padang Panjang. After seven days, he was taken to Padang and detained in a house of an Indonesian Dutch police officer.
He spent 3 months in Padang as a house arrest, before being relieved as a city prisoner for the next 5 months. In October 1949, Rahmah left Padang City to attend the invitation of the Indonesian Education Congress in Yogyakarta.
He just returned to Padang Panjang after attending the Indonesian Muslim Congress in Yogyakarta in late 1949. Rahmah joined the Masyumi Islamic Party. In the 1955 election, he was elected a member of the Constituent Assembly representing Central Sumatra. Through the Constituent Assembly, he brought his aspirations for Islamic education and learning.