Acehnese Sufism: The Transformation of Islamic Spirituality and Social Identity from the Classical to the Contemporary Era
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22373/arj.v5i2.32381Keywords:
Acehnese Sufism, Islamic Spirituality, Social IdentityAbstract
This study examines the transformation of Acehnese Sufism as an expression of Islamic spirituality and a foundation of social identity from the classical to the contemporary era. Aceh, known as the Veranda of Mecca, possesses a distinctive and deeply rooted Sufi tradition within the history of Islam in the Malay Archipelago. The research aims to explore how Sufi teachings and practices in Aceh have evolved, adapted, and contributed to shaping the region’s socio-political and cultural dynamics. Employing a historical-phenomenological approach, this study investigates the works of classical Sufi figures such as Hamzah Fansuri, Syamsuddin al-Sumatrani, and Abd al-Ra’uf al-Sinkili, as well as the changing role of Sufism during the colonial, post-independence, and digital eras. The findings reveal that Acehnese Sufism has transformed from contemplative spirituality into an engaged spirituality (sufisme engagé), actively participating in political resistance, post-conflict reconstruction, and digital religious movements. This revitalization demonstrates that Acehnese Sufism serves not only as a religious heritage but also as a dynamic source of moral and social identity amid the challenges of modernity. The study contributes to the broader discourse on Islam Nusantara by offering new insights into the integration of spiritual and social dimensions in the development of Islam in Aceh.
References
AR, N. (2023). LITERASI MANUSKRIP TASAWUF. An-Nahdah Al-’Arabiyah, 3(1), 59–77. https://doi.org/10.22373/nahdah.v3i1.2331
Asmanidar, A., & Fazal, K. (2022). History of Babul Mukarramah and The White Robe Movement in the New Order Era. JUSPI (Jurnal Sejarah Peradaban Islam), 6(1), 56. https://doi.org/10.30829/juspi.v6i1.11447
Asmanidar, A., Liata, N., Muhammad, M., Anhar, F., Gunandar, A., Syahriyal, M. T., Ilyus Nanda, A., & Saputra, S. (2024). Peningkatan Partisipasi Masyarakat dalam Program Bakti Sosial: Pendekatan Sosiologi Organisasi HMP Studi Agama-Agama di Aceh Jaya. LaKaspia: Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat, 1(1), 15–23. https://doi.org/10.69548/mnh72k54
Fauzi, R. (2023). Tipologi Thariqah Sufiyyah di Indonesia. Hikamia: Jurnal Pemikiran Tasawuf Dan Peradaban Islam, 3(2), 119–130. https://doi.org/10.58572/hkm.v3i2.37
Hadiat, & Rinda Fauzian. (2021). Perkembangan Pemikiran Tasawuf Dari Periode Klasik Modern Dan Kontemporer. SALIHA: Jurnal Pendidikan & Agama Islam, 5(1), 41–60. https://doi.org/10.54396/saliha.v5i1.232
Hamdi, S. (2017). GERAKAN TABLIGHI DI KALIMANTAN TIMUR: DEMAZHABISASI ISLAM, EKONOMI “KETUHANAN” DAN NARASI KONFLIK. AKADEMIKA: Jurnal Pemikiran Islam, 22(2), 267. https://doi.org/10.32332/akademika.v22i2.813
Hudaeri, M. (2007). TASAWUF DAN TANTANGAN KEHIDUPAN MODERN. ALQALAM, 24(1), 21. https://doi.org/10.32678/alqalam.v24i1.1654
Ikramatoun, S. (2017). RESPON MASYARAKAT ACEH TERHADAP ATURAN DAN IMPLEMENTASI SYARIAT ISLAM PASCA TSUNAMI. Jurnal Sosiologi Reflektif, 11(1), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.14421/jsr.v11i1.1261
Jajat Burhanudin and Kees van Dijk (eds.). (2013). Islam in Indonesia: Contrasting Images and Interpretations. Amsterdam University Press.
John L. Esposito and John O. Voll. (2001). Makers of Contemporary Islam. Oxford University Press.
Mahmudin, A. S. (2021). PENDEKATAN FENOMENOLOGIS DALAM KAJIAN ISLAM. At-Tajdid : Jurnal Pendidikan Dan Pemikiran Islam, 5(01), 83. https://doi.org/10.24127/att.v5i01.1597
Muhammad, M. (2020). Hubungan Agama dan Budaya pada Masyarakat Gampong Kereumbok Kabupaten Pidie, Provinsi Aceh. Substantia: Jurnal Ilmu-Ilmu Ushuluddin, 22(2), 85. https://doi.org/10.22373/substantia.v22i2.7769
Muis, M., Agustang, A., Idkhan, A. M., & Rifdan, R. (2021). STRATEGI PEMERINTAH ACEH DALAM MENGIMPLEMENTASIKAN UNDANG-UNDANG PEMERINTAH ACEH (UUPA). Publik: Jurnal Manajemen Sumber Daya Manusia, Administrasi Dan Pelayanan Publik, 8(2), 337–348. https://doi.org/10.37606/publik.v8i2.255
Nurlaila, N. (2022). TRADISI DAN BUDAYA TOLERANSI DALAM TINJAUAN SEJARAH DI ACEH. Abrahamic Religions: Jurnal Studi Agama-Agama, 2(2), 116. https://doi.org/10.22373/arj.v2i2.13892
Pisa Aulia, Muhammad Saleh, & Ahmad Zaki. (2023). Analisis Konsep Pendidikan Islam Al-Mawardi Dalam Kitab Adab Ad-Dunya Wa Ad-Din. Journal of Student Research, 1(1), 329–339. https://doi.org/10.55606/jsr.v1i1.1029
Presilawati, F., Nuzulman, N., Surya Fatma, S., & Maidita, S. (2022). PENGEMBANGAN OBJEK PARIWISATA HALAL MELALUI SUMBER DAYA MANUSIA DI BANDA ACEH. JSI: Jurnal Saudagar Indonesia, 1(1), 28–40. https://doi.org/10.37598/jsi.v1i1.1319
Purwadi, Y. S. (2023). Metafisika Keterbatasan dan Pluralisme Agama Menurut John Hick. Hanifiya: Jurnal Studi Agama-Agama, 6(1), 25–38. https://doi.org/10.15575/hanifiya.v6i1.24854
Putra, A. (2014). Khazanah Tafsir Melayu (Studi Kitab Tafsir Tarjuman Al- Mustafid Karya Abd Rauf Al- Sinkili). Jurnal Syahadah, 2(2).
Rohmaniyah, I. (2013). Women’s Marginalization and the Androcentric Religious Interpretation in the History of Aceh Kingdom. Jurnal Ilmiah Sosiologi Agama, 5(2).
Rosyadi, I. (2020). Syekh Abd al-Ra’uf al-Sinkili: Profil Ulama Nusantara Yang Mengharmonikan Antara Ajaran Tarekat dan Syariat. Al Qalam.
Sasmanda, S. (2018). SEJARAH PERKEMBANGAN DAN PEMIKIRAN TASAWUF DI ACEH PADA ABAD KE-16 M. Kalpataru: Jurnal Sejarah Dan Pembelajaran Sejarah, 2(2), 67–77. https://doi.org/10.31851/kalpataru.v2i2.1600
Shadiqin, S. I. (2018). Tasawuf di Era Syariat: Tipologi Adaptasi dan Transformasi Gerakan Tarekat dalam Masyarakat Aceh Kontemporer. Substantia: Jurnal Ilmu-Ilmu Ushuluddin, 20(1), 66. https://doi.org/10.22373/substantia.v20i1.3406
Sudrajat, A. (2019). PEMIKIRAN WUJUDIYAH HAMZAH FANSURI DAN KRITIK NURUDIN AL-RANIRI. HUMANIKA, 17(1), 55–76. https://doi.org/10.21831/hum.v17i1.23123
Sugiyono. (2019). Metode Penelitian Kuantitatif, Kualitatif, dan R&D. Alfabeta.
Tumanggor, R. O., & Dariyo, A. (2021). Peran Spiritual Well-Being Untuk Menumbuhkembangkan Kesehatan Mental Demi Mewujudkan Ketahanan Sosial Pada Masyarakat Korban Konflik Sosial Di Aceh Singkil. Jurnal Ketahanan Nasional, 27(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.22146/jkn.64606
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Damanhuri Basyir

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish in this Journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0) allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work. (See The Effect of Open Acces)










