<![CDATA[This article examines the theological thought of Nuruddin al-Raniri as reflected in Islamic manuscripts circulating in the coastal regions of Aceh during the seventeenth century. The study focuses on the relationship between theological ideas, manuscript culture, and the socio-religious context of Acehnese coastal society. Existing studies have largely emphasized al-Raniri’s theological polemics or printed texts, while the role of manuscripts as a medium for the formation and legitimation of theological thought remains underexplored.This research employs a qualitative approach using manuscript-based library research. Primary sources consist of Islamic manuscripts containing al-Raniri’s theological works, complemented by secondary sources in the form of scholarly books and journal articles. Data analysis is conducted through content analysis and historical-contextual analysis to interpret al-Raniri’s theological ideas in relation to the social and religious dynamics of seventeenth-century Aceh.The findings indicate that al-Raniri’s theological thought was primarily oriented toward reinforcing Sunni Ash‘arite theology as a normative framework for religious life. Through the circulation and reproduction of Islamic manuscripts, these theological ideas were disseminated and institutionalized, gaining social legitimacy. Al-Raniri’s critique of wujudiyah was not merely a doctrinal debate but functioned as a means of establishing theological orthodoxy and maintaining religious stability within a cosmopolitan coastal society.This study concludes that Islamic manuscripts played a strategic role in the institutionalization of al-Raniri’s theological thought. By situating theology within manuscript culture and its social context, this article contributes to a more contextual, historical, and integrative understanding of Islamic theology in the Nusantara]]>
