Book of Adat Makuta Alam contains laws and regulations in the administrative system of Aceh Darussalam Sultanate. Adat Makuta Alam was formulated by Sultan Iskandar Muda who ruled from 1607 to 1636 AD. The laws which are based on Islamic canon law regulate many respects related to the administration and living in Aceh Darussalam Sultanate, not to mention the administrative system, administrative formation arrangement, candidacy and appointment for Sultan Aceh Darussalam and his subordinates, salary for sultanate officials and officers, commercial arrangement, sultanate interpersonal position, civil position before sultanate administration, the position of fellow sultanate administration member, and so on.

Adat Makuta Alam still serves as the administrative base of Aceh Darussalam Sultanate in the times after Sultan Iskandar Muda era. Moreover, many other countries adopt and apply the laws and regulations in Adat Makuta Alam. This is due mainly to Adat Makuta Alam contains some elements inspired by Islamic rules. Therefore, Adat Makuta Alam is a book of regulations which is based on the canon law, or, the state law applicable in Aceh Darussalam Sultanate is based on the Islamic and customary laws.

(Iswara NR/ensi/17/12-2009)

(Translation by Apri Widiastuti/trns/12/02-10)

Reference:

• A. Hasjmy. 1961. Ichtisar susunan dan sistem Keradjaan Atjeh di Zaman Sultan Iskandar Muda. Banda Aceh: Unpublished.
• Marwati Djoened Poesponegoro & Nugroho Notosusanto. 2008. Sejarah Nasional Indonesia III, Jaman pertumbuhan dan perkembangan kerajaan Islam di Indonesia, cetakan kedua. Jakarta: Balai Pustaka.