ISLAM
Decorative calligraphy, one of the characteristics of Islamic art, is commonly used in mosques, as seen here at Federal Territory Mosque in Kuala Lumpur.
At the start of the 21st century there were approximately 1.2 billion Muslims worldwide, with approximately 230 million living in Southeast Asia. In Malaysia, an estimated 60 per cent of the population are Muslims, the overwhelming majority of them being ethnic Malays.
Islam was brought to the Malay-Indonesian Archipelago by Arab and Indian merchants over a period stretching from the 10th to the 15th century CE. It is significant to note that the spread of Islam in the region was carried out peacefully. Once Muslim merchants and religious teachers converted local chieftains and rajas, the rest of the population usually followed suit.
The Malay community thus became a part of the universal Muslim ummah (community or nation). Those Malays who, for example, performed the hajj (the pilgrimage to Mecca) were then able to experience first-hand the real meaning of universal brotherhood which transcends ethnicity as well as cultural and geographical barriers.
As far as the cardinal beliefs and the pillars of Islam are concerned, Islam in Malaysia is no different from Islam in the Arab world. However, what may be considered unique about Islam in Malaysia by non-Muslims and Westerners is basically the physical and cultural forms––the colourful dress of the Malays, for example, or their indigenous architectural traditions evident in the design of mosques, the manner in which religious festivals are celebrated, the social manifestations of gender relationships and the influence of Malay adat (customary law) in Malay weddings, in Islamic inheritance law and in royal ceremonies.
An important feature of Islam as practised in Malaysia is its tolerant and accommodationist spirit, thanks to the fact that Malays have been accustomed to living and interacting with people of different ethnic backgrounds with different religious beliefs for centuries.
Malaysia is one of several Muslim countries in the world in which Islam is the official religion, as enshrined in its constitution, but non-Muslims are permitted to practise their religions freely. The status of Islam as the official religion is thus not a barrier to the harmonious co-existence of other religions in the country.
With increased Islamic awareness from the 1970s, there came a noticeable change in the consciousness of Islamic identity among Malaysian Muslims. This is especially evident today from the large number of financial institutions providing Islamic banking facilities and Islamic educational institutions, the rise in the demand for halal food and products, the popularity of Islamic modes of dress among Muslim women and the growing number of Islamic professional associations involving doctors, scientists and engineers.
In 2004 the government introduced 'Islam Hadhari', an approach which comprises ten principles: faith and piety in Allah; a just and trustworthy government; a free and independent people; vigorous pursuit and mastery of knowledge; balanced and comprehensive economic development; a good quality of life for the people; protection of the rights of minority groups and women; cultural and moral integrity; safeguarding of natural resources and the environment; and strong defence capabilities; for the holistic progress of the Muslim community and the nation.