The dayah is Aceh's traditional institution of Islamic learning and the principal site where ulama are reproduced. In principle it parallels the pesantren of Java, the surau of Minangkabau, the pondok of Malaysia and the pho no of southern Thailand. A dayah is headed by a Teungku Chik and organised through a clear ladder of teachers and students. Many movements led by Acehnese ulama, from the war against the Dutch to post-peace political mobilisation, were organised from the dayah.