Tuanku Imam Bonjol

Tuanku Imam Bonjol (1772 – 6 November 1864), also known as Muhammad Syahab, Peto Syarif, and Malim Basa, was one of the most popular leaders of the Padri movement in Central Sumatra. He was declared a National Hero of Indonesia.

Biography

Tuanku Imam Bonjol was born in Bonjol, Pasaman, West Sumatra. His family came from Sungai Rimbang, Suliki, Limapuluh Koto. His parents name were Bayanuddin (father) and Hamatun (mother). He was immersed in Islamic studies as he grew up, studying first from his father and later under various other Muslim theologians.

After founding the state of Bonjol, Syarif became involved in the Adat-Paderi controversy as a Paderi leader. The Paderi movement, which has been compared to the Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaah (Sunni) school of Islam in the now Saudi Arabia, was an effort to return the Islam of the area to the purity of its roots by removing local distortions like gambling, cockfighting, the use of opium and strong drink, tobacco, and so forth. It also opposed the powerful role of women in the matrilineal Minangkabau culture. The Adat, or traditionalist, position was that local custom that pre-dated the arrival of Islam should also be respected and followed.

Bonjol

Bonjol is name of a subdistrict (kecamatan) in the Pasaman Regency (kabupaten Pasaman), province West Sumatera, Indonesia. It is famous especially for its location as it lies just at the equator line. Bonjol is also the place of birth of Tuanku Imam Bonjol, a national hero in the struggle against Dutch rule. Almost 75% of the population are farmers.

Bonjol lies around the Trans-Sumatran Highway, approximately 60 km north of Bukittinggi. Every bus going on the route between Medan and Bukittinggi (or Padang) goes through it and crosses the equator there.