الشيخ برهان الدين أولاكان
Burhan al-Din Ulakan (RH)
Shaykh Burhan al-Din Ulakan
Also known as: Syeikh Burhanuddin Ulakan, Burhanuddin Ulakan
c. 1066–c. 1116 AH · c. 1646–c. 1704 CE
Da'wah Shafi'i Sufism
Al-Singkili's student who spread Islam and the Shattari path through the Minangkabau highlands.
Burhan al-Din was born near Pariaman on the west coast of Sumatra and went to Aceh, where he studied for many years with 'Abd al-Ra'uf al-Singkili and was initiated into the Shattari Sufi path.
Returning home, he founded a surau at Ulakan, which became the first great centre of Islamic learning in Minangkabau. From it, Islam and the Shattari path spread from the coast into the highlands. His tomb at Ulakan is still visited, especially in the month of Safar.
Life journey
- c. 1646 CE Ulakan (Pariaman) اولاكنBorn near Pariaman on the west coast of Sumatra.
- 1666 CE Banda Aceh آتشيهStudied with 'Abd al-Ra'uf al-Singkili in Aceh for many years; the dates are approximate.
- 1680 CE Ulakan (Pariaman) اولاكنDied c. 1704 CE · c. 1116 AHReturned to Ulakan and founded the surau from which Islam and the Shattari path spread through Minangkabau.
Teachers
- Abdul Rauf Singkel (RH) c. 1615–1693 CEBurhan al-Din studied with al-Singkili in Aceh for many years and received the Shattari path from him.
Places in their life
Photo: ROFIQOHHASAN, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Sources
- Azyumardi Azra, The Origins of Islamic Reformism in Southeast Asia (2004)
- Oman Fathurahman, Tarekat Syattariyah di Minangkabau (2008)
Draft, awaiting scholarly review.
Dates are approximate.