Title: Why did Nuruddin ar-Raniri leave Aceh in 1054 A.H.?
Abstract: As is well-known, in 1637, shortly after the death of Sultan Iskandar Muda (died 1636), a Muslim scholar of Indo-Arab origin, Nuruddin ar-Raniri by name, came to Aceti. Having found favour with Sultan Iskandar Thani (1636-1641), he launched a fierce heresy-hunt against the followers of Hamzah and Shamsuddin, who were patronized by Iskandar Muda, but were now branded as adherents of the heretical Wujudiya. During the first years of the rule of the Sultana Taj al-cAlam Safiyatuddin he retained his prominent position at Court, until 1054 A.H./1643-'44 A.D., when he left Aceh abruptly and returned to his native town of ( = mod. Rander) in Gujerat (cf. Drewes 1955: 137-144). Dr. Van Ronkel, Dr. Hoessein Djajadiningrat and Dr. Voorhoeve have stated that a reference to this abrupt return to is found in the colophon of ar-Raniri's Jaw?hir al-cul?m fi kashf al-macl?m (cf. Djajadiningrat 1929:109-111; Voorhoeve 1951:353-354), where one reads, ... and when he had thus far completed this work it came about by (God's) decree that he was prevented (from completing it altogether), whereat he set out for his native town of Ranir (cf. Voorhoeve 1951: 353-354). The reason for this sudden departure is not mentioned. However, in the diary of the 'opperkoopman' Pieter Sourij, who in 1643 was sent by the V.O.C. as a commissioner to Jambi and Aceh, we read (Koloniaal Archief no. 1052, fol. 667v.-668r., dated 8 Aug. 1643, Algemeen Rijksarchief, The Hague):