Aceh Rich in Tenacious Fighters: This Female Ulama Became a War Commander Feared by the Dutch

The history of the struggle against Dutch colonialism in Aceh was not only marked by the contributions of male ulama and fighters on the battlefield.

Teungku Fakinah was one of the women who appeared on the front lines. Besides being known as an Islamic scholar and educator, she also led troops as a war commander and became one of the figures respected in the Acehnese people’s resistance against the Dutch.

Teungku Fakinah was born around 1856 AD in Lam Diran or Lam Beunot village, Aceh Besar. She was one of the Acehnese women who played an important role in the struggle against Dutch colonisation.

Besides being known as a war commander, Teungku Fakinah was also an Islamic scholar and educator.

These two roles were among the things that distinguished her from a number of other Acehnese female heroes.

Before the Aceh War broke out, Teungku Fakinah had devoted herself to Islamic education at the dayah founded by her family.

When the war raged, she took to the field of struggle and appeared as a commander respected by her opponents.

After returning from the battlefield, she resumed her role as an Islamic scholar and educator at the dayah.