Tuanku Imam Bonjol

Tuanku Imam Bonjol was one of the most popular leaders of the Padri movement in Central Sumatra. He was declared a National Hero of Indonesia. He was born in Bonjol, Pasaman, West Sumatra, in 1772, to a family of devout Muslims. His father, Bayanuddin, was a religious teacher and a descendant of the Pagaruyung Kingdom. His mother, Hamatun, was a noblewoman from the Mandailing clan. He received his early education from his father and other Islamic scholars, and learned Arabic, Malay, and Minangkabau languages. He also developed a passion for jihad and Islamic reform, and joined the Padri movement in 1803. The Padri movement, which was influenced by the Wahhabi sect of Saudi Arabia, aimed to purify Islam from local customs and traditions that were considered un-Islamic, such as gambling, cockfighting, opium, tobacco, and the matrilineal system. The movement also opposed the Dutch colonial rule and the local aristocracy that collaborated with them. The movement sparked a civil war among the Minangkabau people, known as the Padri War, which lasted from 1803 to 1837. Tuanku Imam Bonjol, who was also known as Muhammad Syahab, Peto Syarif, and Malim Basa, became the political and military leader of the Padri faction. He established the state of Bonjol, and built a fortified fortress there as his base of operations. He led several battles against the Dutch and their allies, and expanded the Padri-controlled territory. He was known for his bravery, charisma, and strategy. He also preached and taught Islamic teachings and reforms to his followers. He wrote several books, such as Kitab Mujarabat, which contained Islamic laws and medical prescriptions. He also composed poems and songs, such as Syair Perang Siak, which narrated the Padri victory over the Siak Sultanate. He was a respected and influential figure among the Minangkabau and other Islamic communities in the archipelago. The Padri War ended in 1837, when the Dutch finally managed to capture Bonjol after a long siege. Tuanku Imam Bonjol was tricked into surrendering by the Dutch, who promised him a safe passage to Mecca. However, instead of fulfilling their promise, the Dutch exiled him to various places, such as Cianjur, Ambon, and Manado. He died in exile in Lotta, Pineleng, Minahasa, Sulawesi, in 1864, at the age of 92. He was buried there with full military honors by the Dutch. He was a man of many talents and achievements, who dedicated his life to the service of Islam and his people.