Mano's Animism

He oversees several clan/tribal leaders, such as Mano. This research seeks to explore the elements of animist and dynamism within Acehnese Muslim society, from birth to death, as well as the beliefs that are still maintained. This study found that Acehnese Muslims still practice and believe in the religious teachings and beliefs left behind by their ancestors.

However, the messages conveyed contradict Islamic teachings, as these teachings are based on animist and dynamist beliefs. It is known that the people of Lhokseumawe City and North Aceh still adhere to animist beliefs, despite having fundamentally embraced Islamic teachings spread by traders and merchants arriving from Arabia. The people of Lhokseumawe City and North Aceh Regency, who live in rural areas, also still believe in animist elements, which emphasize supernatural powers other than humans.

Before the arrival of Islam in Lhokseumawe City and North Aceh Regency, the community adhered to animist and dynamist beliefs. However, these beliefs in animism and dynamism did not last long in Aceh. At the same time, the people of the Acehnese hinterland still adhered to animism and dynamism, eventually converting to Islam, although their original beliefs were still practiced and even influenced their Islamic practices.

Despite this, the people of the Acehnese hinterland remained deeply entrenched in Hinduism and cultural beliefs, as well as in large trees, objects, and supernatural powers associated with animism and dynamism. According to Durkheim, primitive religious systems such as animism and dynamism exist in very simple societies, and these religious systems can be explained without first explaining other elements of older religions. There are numerous definitions of animism.

The main characteristic of animism is the belief in the existence of spirits. Among these beliefs, adherents believe that the spirits of the deceased wander about as if without a master, disturbing them, and even returning to visit them. Therefore, they hold rituals for these spirits on the third, seventh, and hundredth days.

In this context, animists worship these spirits, led by a shaman. The term dynamism comes from the Greek word dunamos. In English, it's called dynamic, meaning strength, power, or efficacy.

They also believe that the spirits of those who have died through murder, bleeding to death, drowning, or falling from trees will reincarnate as ghosts. They also believe that if someone has committed evil deeds during their life and then dies, their spirit will take the form of a pig or a monkey, emerging from their grave. According to their beliefs, Rabu Abeuh is performed to exorcise evil spirits, as they could destroy the community.

Peusijuk comes from the word "sijuk" (literally "peu"), which is added to the initial word "peusijuk," meaning "cooling." The ritual of shaving a baby's hair is performed when the baby is around 6 months old. The exchanging of rings is not an Islamic cultural tradition or teaching, but rather a European practice approved by the church council.

For example, Imran's wife wished that her unborn child would be pious and serve in the Baitul Maqdis (Bayt al-Maqdis). Based on the above description, it can be concluded that the Muslim community of Lhokseumawe and North Aceh Regency still practices practices with nuances of animism and dynamism. Before accepting Islam, the people of Lhokseumawe City and North Aceh Regency adhered to animism and dynamism, believing in various supernatural powers and spirits.

In this regard, many elements of Shia teachings remain in local beliefs and rituals, such as the celebration of Hasan Husain Day in the month of Muharram. This is because these communities still accept and practice animist and dynamist teachings and beliefs.