Friday, 23 July 2021

Ahmad Rhang Manyang, Aceh Folklore

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 Rhang Manyang, Aceh Folklore


According to folklore from Aceh, Ahmad is a young man who is always grateful to Allah SWT, but he can't bear to see the condition of his mother who is old and has a very simple life. Ahmad wants to make his parents happy. He wanted to make his mother's heart safe with proper clothes, healthy food, and a good place to live. It is said that Ahmad and his mother only live in a bamboo hut that is unfit for habitation. Moreover, they only eat rice and side dishes. They had only a handful of clothes, and that too was filled with patches and stitches. With this condition, Ahmad wanted to go far away to make his mother happy.

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.

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“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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