The history of the development of Islam in Aceh

Islam in Aceh is the religion embraced by the majority of the Acehnese population. Many historians both at home and abroad are of the opinion that Islam first entered Indonesia through Aceh.

The testimony of Marco Polo who stopped in Perlak in 1292 stated that the country had embraced Islam. Likewise Samudera-Pasai, based on the tombs found in the former kingdom and the news sources that exist as we have described that this kingdom has become an Islamic kingdom around 1270.

Baiturrahman Mosque in Banda Aceh

Regarding the history of the development of Islam in the Aceh region in the early days, the instructions that exist other than what we have mentioned in the previous sections are in manuscripts originating from within their own country such as the Malay History Book, Hikayat Raja-Raja Pasai. According to the two books, a preacher named Sheikh Ismail had come from Mecca on purpose to the Ocean to Islamize the people there. After spreading Islam as necessary, Svekh Ismail returned to Mecca. It should also be mentioned here that the two books also mention other countries in Aceh that were also converted to Islam, including: Perlak, Lamuri, Barus and others