Overview
This volume provides a window on the religions practised in Malaysia. It shows how Malaysians of all faiths worship freely in harmonious co-existence, and illustrates the country's diversity of religious beliefs and practices.
The first section is devoted to Islam, the official religion of the country. Covering the expansion of Islam in the Malay Archipelago from the 13th century to the present day, the volume explores all aspects of Islam as practised in Malaysia, with particular regard to the central themes––the pillars of faith, the pillars of Islam, the hajj and Islamic rites of passage.
The second, third and fourth sections document in turn Buddhism and Chinese religions; Hinduism; and Christianity.There are articles on history, world-views, places of worship, organizations, festivals, rites of passage and the ways these traditions have evolved. The fifth section covers Sikhism, the youngest of the major world religions, which has an active following in Malaysia. There follows a section on indigenous belief systems, rituals and practices. The volume concludes with coverage of interfaith issues and the ways in which Malaysia's national ideology serves as a guide to peaceful and harmonious living.
Some 600 full-colour illustrations, including specially commissioned cutaway drawings, complement the text, which is written by a team of distinguished academics and other specialists in their fields.