The terms below are mostly Indonesian, although some of them are originally derived from Arabic words. Other terms are noted as Acehnese (Ac.), Arabic (Ar.) or Dutch (D.). Terms that only appear once or twice in the book, and always with translation, are not included.

adat custom or tradition: it may include legal norms and practices of social life.

baitul mal Islamic treasury: in Aceh this institution is present at multiple levels: village, sub-district, district and provincial governments.

BAL Basic Agrarian Law (Undang-Undang Pokok-PokokAgraria).

BPN Badan Pertanahan Nasional (National Land Agency).

BPS Badan Pusat Statistik (Central Statistics Agency).

BRR Badan Rekonstruksi dan Rehabilitasi (Board of Rehabilitation and Reconstruction).

‘cina buta’ a popular phrase in Aceh to describe a person who helps both ex-husband and ex-wife to remarry after triple divorce. He is also known as muhallil.

Darul Islam ‘abode of peace’: Islamic territory where Islamic law is in force.

dayah (Ac.) Islamic boarding schools in Aceh; in Java they are known as pesantren.

diya (Ar.) blood money or death compensation.

DPRA Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Aceh (Aceh's House of Representatives).

DSI Dinas Syariat Islam (Bureau of Islamic Sharia). This state institution is available in both district and provincial governments in Aceh.

erfpacht (D.) a right to fully enjoy the property belonging to others (usually adat communities or state) with the obligation to pay an annual tribute in the form of money, results or outcome to the owner.