Perlak Sultanate

1. History

The history of the coming of Islam to Indonesia can be traced using many theories. Aji Setiawan, for example, scrutinizes the arrival of Islam to the archipelagos of Indonesia from three theories; the Gujarat, the Arabian, and the Persian. The theory of Gujarat sees the coming of Islam to Indonesia originally by the trade route from Gujarat, India, at the 13th - 14th century. This theory is usually conducted by the Dutch experts. W.F. Stuterheim, one among those experts, explains that Islam started to come to Indonesia at the 13th century. This is based on the evidence from the tombstone of the first king of Samudera Pasai Empire, King Malik Al-Saleh in 1297. According to this theory, Islam comes to Indonesia through the trade route from Indonesia to Cambay (India) and then to the Middle East and finally to Europe (Indonesia-Cambay/India-Middle East-Europe.

The Persian theory emphases more on the cultural similarities  between Indonesians and Persians during that period. The similar concept of wahdatul of Hamzah Fanshuri and al-Hallaj for instance. The Arab theory sees the history in contradictory to the former. T.W. Arnold, one of the experts who embrace the theory, argues that Arabian merchants who dominated the West-East trade at the 7th  or  8th century also spread the Islamic teachings in Indonesia while doing the trading in the area. Another scientist, Naquib al-Attas, views the evidence of the coming of Islam  to Indonesia by the special characteristics of Islam in the area known as the “common theory of Islamisation in Indonesia" which is based on Indonesian the literature and Malayan perspective of  world. Beside the three theories mentioned above, there is also another theory that believes that the coming of Islam to Indonesia was  from China, know as the `Chinese theory.

Based on the theories above, it can be estimated that Islam had stepped into Indonesia from the  7th or 8th century A.D. In the 13th century, Islam had grown rapidly. According to A. Hasyami, the Perlak Empire was the first Islam Empire in Indonesia that was founded at 1st Muharam 225 H or 804 A.D. This empire was located in Perlak, East Aceh, Nangroe Aceh Darussalam, Indonesia.

The name of the Perlak Empire was not very well known by the public in the beginning of the history of Islam in Indonesia, it is different to the Empire of Samudera Pasai. Nevertheless, the name of the Perlak Empire  is exactly famous in Europe because of the visiting of Marco Polo in 1293.

a. The history of the coming of Islam in Indonesia

The Perlak Empire was founded in 840 to 1292. The founding process was inseparable from the influence of Islam in Sumatra. There had been a state named Perlak in the area before the Perlak Empire was founded. The people of Perlak, including the King, were believed to be the descendants of the  Emperor Pho He La( Meurah Perlak Syahir Nuwi) and his followers.

A team of 100 people led by Captain Khilafah from the Mid-East came to the Sumatra`s coastal areas in the year 840. This team aimed to trade and at the same time brought a number of da`Is  (preachers) who were commissioned to bring and spread Islam in Perlak. In less than a half century, the King of Perlak and the people left their religions ( Hindu and Buddha), and then voluntarily embraced Islam.

The next growth indicated that one of the crews of Captain Khalifah, Lai bin Muhammad bin Ja`far Shadiq was married to Makhdum Tansyuri, who was Syahir Nuwi`s sister, the king of Perlak Country who was a Parsian. Sultan Alaiddin Sayyid Maulana Abdul Aziz Shah who later  became the first king of Perlak Empire since year 840 was born from the marriage. The capital city of Perlak was initially called Port Perlak then turned into Port Khalifah as an appreciation to the generosity of Captain Khalifah.

b. The Period of Sunni-Syiah Hostility

The history of Islam in Perlak Empire history was related to the rivalry between the Sunni and the Syiah. The coup between these two Muslim groups caused the deaths of many  and the civil war. The winner took over the authority from the competitor.

The Syi`ah came to Indonesia via the merchants from Gujarat, Arab, and Persian. They entered Indonesia for the first time through the Perlak Empire with full supports from  the Fatimiah dynasty in Egypts. When the dynasty collapsed in 1268, the relation between the Syi`ah in the coastal Sumatra and the Syi`ah in Egypt started to break. This condition changed the politics of the Egypt. The Mamaluk Dynasty commanded a team led by Syaikh Ismail to go to Sumatra`s  eastern coasts  to wipe out the Syi`ah followers in the Perlak Empire and Samudera Pasai Empire.

For additional information, the first king of the Empire of Samudera Pasai, Marah Silu who was entitled Maliku Saleh, converted from Hindu to Islam Syi`ah. Persuaded by Syaikh Ismail, Marah Silu then embraced Syafii. Two followers of Marah Silu, Seri Kaya and Bawa Kaya also embraced Syafii, later on their names were changed into Sidi Ali Chiatuddin and Sidi Ali Hasanuddin. Marah Silu was known as a King who was a strong anti Syiah during his ruling period.

The Sunni started to enter the Perlak Empire when the third King,  Sultan Alaiddin Syed Maulana Abbas Shah, was ruling. After he died in 363 H (913AD), a civil war took place between Syiah and Sunni, which brought the empire without a ruler. In 302 H (915AD),Syi`ah won the war. Sultan Alaiddin Syed Maulana Ali Mughat Shah from the Syi`ah later ruled the empire as the fourth king (915-918 AD). When his reign ended, there was a chaos among the Syi`ah and Sunni again, but for this time it was won by Sunni.

There wasn`t any important upheavals happened from the year 918 until 956. But, in 362H (956 AD), after the 7th king, Sultan Makhdum Alaiddin Abdul Malik Shah Johan Berdaulat died, there was again a clash between the Sunni and the Syi`ah that took place for around 4 years. However, this problem ended by the conviction of peace between the two groups. The empire was separated into two parts; the Perlak Pesisir (Syiah) which was led by Sultan Alaiddin Syed Maulana Shah (986-988), and the  Perlak Pedalaman (Sunni) which was led by Sultan Makhdum Alaiddin Malik Ibrahim Shah Johan Berdaulat (986-1023).

Both of the leaders were united when one of them, Sultan Alaiddin Syed Maulan Shah, died. He died when Perlak was successfully defeated by Sriwijaya Empire. This war raised the unity of the two leaders in the Perlak Empire. Sultan Makhdum Alaiddin Malik Ibrahim Shah Johan Berdaulat, who only ruled the Perlak Pedalaman in the beginning, then was enacted the eighth King of the Perlak Empire. He continued to fight against Sriwijaya until the year 1006. The 8th king was actually a Sunni. Unfortunately, historical data on the clash between the two groups cannot be found.

2. The Genealogical of the Kings

Before the foundation of the Perlak Empire, Perlak Country had had a king, Meurah Perlak Syahir Nuwi. Nevertheless, the complete data of the leaders of  the country has not found yet. Whereas, this is the list of the Kings who ruled the Perlak Empire:

1. Sultan Alaiddin Syed Maulana Abdul Aziz Shah (840-864)
2. Sultan Alaiddin Syed Maulana Abdul Rahim Shah (864-888)
3. Sultan Alaiddin Syed Maulana Abdul Abas Shah (888-913)
4. Sultan Alaiddin Syed Maulana Abdul Ali Mughat Shah (915-918)
5. Sultan Makhdum Alaiddin Malik Abdul Kadir Shah Johan Berdaulat (928-932)
6. Sultan Makhdum Alaiddin Malik Muhammad Amin Shah Johan Berdaulat (932-956)
7. Sultan Makhdum Alaiddin Malik Abdul Malik Shah Johan Berdaulat (956-983)
8. Sultan Makhdum Alaiddin Malik Ibrahim Shah Johan Berdaulat (986-1023)
9. Sultan Makhdum Alaiddin Malik Mahmud Shah Johan Berdaulat (1023-1059)
10. Sultan Makhdum Alaiddin Malik Mansur Shah Johan Berdaulat (1059-1078)
11. Sultan Makhdum Alaiddin Malik Abdullah Shah Johan Berdaulat (1078-1109)
12. Sultan Makhdum Alaiddin Malik Ahmad Shah Johan Berdaulat (1109-1135)
13. Sultan Makhdum Alaiddin Malik Mahmud Shah Johan Berdaulat (1135-1160)
14. Sultan Makhdum Alaiddin Malik Usman Shah Johan Berdaulat (1160-1173)
15. Sultan Makhdum Alaiddin Malik Muhammad Shah Johan Berdaulat (1173-1200)
16. Sultan Makhdum Alaiddin Abdul Jalil Shah Johan Berdaulat (1200-1230)
17. Sultan Makhdum Alaiddin Malik Muhammad Amin Shah II Johan Berdaulat (1230-1267)
18. Sultan Makhdum Alaiddin Malik Abdul Aziz Johan Berdaulat (1267-1292)

Notes: The kings above are divided according into two dynasties; the dynasty of Syed Maulana Abdul Aziz Shah and  the dynasty of Johan Berdaulat who was the descendant of Meurah Perlak (Syahir Nuwi).

3. The Governmental Period

The 17th king of the Perlak Empire, Sultan Makhdum Alaiddin Malik Muhammad Amin Shah II Johan Berdaulat, did a friendly political attitude with neighboring countries. He blessed the marriages of his two daughters; Princess Ratna Kamala who was married to the king of the Malaka Empire, King Muhammad Shah (Parameswara), and Princess Ganggang who was married to the king of the Samudera Pasai Empire, al-Malik al-Saleh.

The Perlak Empire ended after the 18th king, Sultan Makhdum Alaiddin Malik Abdul Aziz Johan died in 1292. After that, the Perlak Empire united with the Samudera Pasai Empire under the control of the king of Samudera Pasai who was ruling at that time, King Muhammad Al Zahir, who was also the son of  al-Malik al-Saleh.

4. The Region

Before being united with the Samudera Pasai Empire, the regions of the Perlak Empire covered the areas around Perlak only. This empire locates on the  east cost of Aceh, exactly in Perlak, East Aceh, Nangroe Aceh Darusslam, Indonesia.

5. The Governmental Structure

(In the process of collecting the data)

6. The Social-cultural Life

Perlak is well known with the natural resources and its strategic location. Moreover, Perlak is  very famous as the producer of perlak timber, a kind of wood which is so good to make boats or ship. This is the reason the traders from Gujarat, Arab, and Persia were interested to come to this place. The coming of the traders was also to spread Islam in this place. Their arrival influenced the social-cultural life of the people of Perlak during the period. The citizens started to have contacts with trading since the moment on. In the beginning of 8th century, Perlak was recognized as a very developed commercial port.

Mixed marriages also occurred as the consequences of the assimilation between the citizens and the foreigners. The foreigners intended to spread the mission on Islamisation by marrying the local women. The marriages were also aimed to strengthen their trades in the area.

(EV/3/12-07/TM)

Translated from Indonesian version by (MA)

Sources:

• Setiawan, Aji. 2006. “Islam Masuk ke Indonesia”, www.islamlib.com
• Smith Alhadar, “Sejarah dan Tradisi Syiah Ternate”, www.fatimah.org
• www.osdir.com
• Wikipedia.org

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