In a village located close to Krueng (River) Peusangan, Aceh today, there lived a teenage boy with an elderly mother. The child is named Ahmad Rhang Manyang. Ahmad is a young man who is diligent, obedient to worship, devoted to his mother and has a handsome face. His father has been dead for a long time, for that he earns a living as a farm laborer to fulfill his daily needs.
Ahmad knows that if he goes abroad his mother will only live alone in an
old hut. However, the situation that befell them is very worrying, like it or
not, Ahmad has to change his fate. He was eager to ask his mother's permission
to wander in order to improve his fate.
"Mom, let
me talk to you about
our fate," Ahmad asked.
"What is it, my son?" asked the mother.
“Ahmad knows that our life today is very simple. It's not that Ahmad is not
grateful for the gift of Allah SWT, but trying is necessary. Isn't work also worship?
Ahmad wants to make you happy by giving more results than Ahmad's work. For that, Ahmad asked for
permission to go abroad to improve fate,” explained Ahmad.
Hearing the explanation from the only child, the mother was surprised.
Actually she did
not allow her son
to go far. She knew
that her son had good intentions to make her happy, but she didn't want to be left alone.
“My son, let our lives be like this. Life outside is tough. I don't want
anything to happen to you. After all, I am old, do you have the heart to leave your old
mother?" the mother explained.
Ahmad was a little taken aback. Actually he didn't want to leave his mother
alone. His mother definitely needs his help. However, in order to make his mother happy, to get
proper food, proper clothes, and a comfortable place to live, Ahmad had to do
his best to find work outside his village.
“Mom, Ahmad also couldn't bear to leave you alone. But, Ahmad wants to make you happy. May you just accept life as it is? eat with simple dishes,
tattered clothes, and a house that is about to collapse. Ahmad can't stand our
situation, Mom.
Ahmad must try to make our lives better," explained Ahmad to tears.
Seeing the look on her son's face and Ahmad's strong request, the mother
could not possibly refuse Ahmad's wish. She knew that Ahmad was a pious and hardworking young man. She knows that her son loves his mother with all his heart.
Hopefully, with Ahmad's efforts to work in the overseas, it will produce
results that can make them happy.
The mother shed tears, while choked she said "Oke
my son, mother sincerely. Take care
of yourself. Don't forget to worship, always remember Allah SWT. When you have
success later, hurry home, mother misses you very much."
Ahmad smiled as he looked at his aged mother. He was grateful to get
permission from his mother. He promised that when he was successful in the
overseas, he would immediately go home to his mother and make her happy.
The next day, Ahmad rushed to the other side to migrate to improve his
fate. He prepared all the equipment, not forgetting the prayer tools to fulfill
the 5 times call. His mother provided him with a simple side dish. Ahmad was
really excited to go to make his mother happy.
At the pier in the Krueng Peusangan area, the two mothers and children
parted with each other. They wept mixed with sadness.
"My Son,
remember your mother's
advice. You don't forget to pray, do good where you are. Do not follow bad
things if they are around you, but transmit useful knowledge and good morals to
those around you," explained the mother.
"Okay Mom, I will follow your advice. Don't forget to pray for Ahmad to be successful
overseas, so that Ahmad can go home soon and meet you," explained Ahmad while holding back tears.
The ship has sounded the signal to prepare to leave. The child and mother
embraced to bid farewell. Ahmad kissed his mother's hand with tears in his
eyes. The mother could not hold back the tears. Ahmad did not forget to kneel
at the feet of the mother who had brought him into the world. The separation
made them understand the value of the togetherness they had been through all
this time. The ship finally left Krueng Peusangan. The mother always stares at
the ship that is slowly disappearing from the Krueng (River) Peusangan, leaving
a trail of ripples in the river. The mother did not stop praying for the safety
and success of her son there. She finally returned to her old hut, with feelings of sadness mixed with emotion
because her only
child left.
After arriving at the destination, Ahmad tried to find a job to make his
parents happy. Ahmad became a porter carrying goods at the pier. His diligence,
craftsmanship and decency have earned Ahmad the favor of his superiors. Ahmad
is very diligent in working, he has an honest nature, besides that Ahmad does
not forget to worship and pray.
Time after time passed, Ahmad finally got promoted and he too has become a
successful young man in that country. He became a respected person and had a
lot of wealth. Ahmad married a beautiful girl who was the daughter of a rich
merchant in the country. Ahmad became a very busy person for the sake of taking
care of worldly treasures, he apparently had forgotten the call to prayer and
other worship. Ahmad's life has been eroded by the time of worldly life. He
works and lives only for the wealth and abundance of the world's luxury.
One day, the wife came to Ahmad and said, “My husband, I want to go to your hometown. I wants to meet your parents."
Hearing his wife's request, Ahmad choked.
“I
am busy, my
wife. You don't have time to visit your
parents," Ahmad argued.
The wife sulked “In the past, you promised to bring me to your parents. Promises must be kept, my
husband. When did i meet your parents?”
Seeing his wife's strong desire, Ahmad was melted. He really misses his
hometown. He also misses his mother.
Tuanku Ahmad Rhang Manyang has prepared a luxury ship and bodyguards. The
ship was also prepared to sail the ocean to go to Ahmad's hometown. Gradually,
the ship finally touched Krueng Peusangan. The area is very beautiful and
filled with green forests around it, making Ahmad begin to miss his childhood
memories.
After arriving at the destination, Ahmad began to get off the ship along
with his wife and bodyguards. The residents began to gather to see who came in
his luxury ship. Ahmad greeted several people he knew, his friends did not
forget to welcome Ahmad with great joy. Ahmad releases longing with friends and
people he knows.
Elsewhere, Mak Minah, who is Ahmad's mother, heard of her son's arrival in
a large and luxurious ship. The mother shed tears of joy. Because the child who
had not come for a long time, finally came home safely and got success.
With footsteps that were no longer strong, Mak Minah rushed to the Krueng
Peusangan pier, in order to meet the child she loved. Don't forget to wrap
Ahmad's favorite food.
Her heart blossomed when she saw the child she loved was in front of her eyes. Ahmad looks healthy and happy with a beautiful
wife. With a voice full of affection, the mother called Ahmad to turn to her.
"Ahmad... My son, this is your mother," Mak Minah's tears melted instantly as she
called her son.
Ahmad who heard a familiar voice in his ears did not answer at all. He knew
it was his mother. Mother who looks very poor and old. In fact, he told his
wife that he was the son of a rich man. The most respected aristocrat in the
Krueng Peusangan area. It was highly unlikely that he would answer a call from
his mother with an old face and tattered clothes.
The mother did not despair, she kept calling Ahmad's name. She tried to sneak through the crowd who were happy to
receive the package given by Ahmad Rhang Manyang. Ahmad still did not look at
his mother.
The wife, who heard Mak Minah's call, then told her husband that an old
woman was calling her name. The husband then approached Mak Minah and said
loudly and rudely that she was not her son.
"I'm not your son, old woman!" said Ahmad arrogantly.
"Oh my
God, you don't admit that I am your
mother, Ahmad?" asked Mak Minah not expecting it.
"My guards,
catch this woman and throw her away in front of me!" Ahmad ordered his
guards.
Quickly, the guards forcibly seized the mother and dragged her to a faraway
place. The mother screamed in pain and cried sadly at the treatment of her
biological son. The
residents who saw the incident were shocked by Ahmad's behavior which had gone
beyond his limits to his own biological mother.
The mother finally endured the immense heartache. She finally prayed to Allah SWT. If indeed it was her only son, Ahmad, she asked God to curse her son into a hill.
Suddenly, the wind became noisy, lightning flashed, the water in Krueng
Peusangan became rippling and rolling. An ungodly son named Ahmad Rhang Mayang
was finally cursed into a hill. Ahmad received a reward for disobeying his
mother. Ahmad had regretted his actions, but it was too late. Ahmad, his wife,
and their guards and ship finally turned into a hill in Krueng Peusagan. The
hill is still visible today. By the locals, the hill was named "Glee
Kapal" or ship hill.
Ahmad Rhang Manyang is an Acehnese folk tale from the Krueng Peusangan area. This story is almost similar to Malin Kundang from West Sumatra, or the Legend of Si Kantan Island from North Sumatra. Hopefully this story can provide wisdom for readers, especially young people.
Thus the Acehnese folklore entitled Ahmad Rhang Manyang. Hopefully this story can be useful and take lessons for the readers. Thank you for visiting this blog.
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