Other material aspects of Islam in Malaysia have incorporated elements of local culture, which are evident in colourful dress attire, the ways in which religious festivities are celebrated, and the incorporation of Malay adat (customary law) at Malay weddings and other ceremonies. Many Muslim festivities and events are also national holidays, such as the end of Ramadan, the end of hajj and the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad. For instance, this is visible in the media (with daily reminders of prayer during television programs), the provision of prayer rooms in buildings, emphasis on halal in food preparation and consumption, as well as the application of Muslim norms and practices in medical, educational and financial institutions. The influence of Islam in Malaysian is evident in various aspects of society and culture. Most are Sunni and follow the Shafi’i school of thought and law. Today, nearly two-thirds of Malaysia’s population (61.3%) identify as Muslim. Since the Malacca Sultanate (15th century), Islam as been the most widely followed religion. The spread and influence of Islam mainly occurred with the conversion (rather than conquest) of local chieftains and rulers, which was followed by other members of the population. Islam was first introduced to the region of present-day Malaysia by Arab and Indian traders and merchants from the 10th century through to the 15th century. The issue of conversion can surface tensions, but such tensions are more so directed towards the state rather than religious communities or individuals. Meanwhile, non-Muslims who marry a Muslim are required to convert to Islam.
The dual-court system presents challenges for Muslims wishing to convert, which is rarely granted. The syariah courts are only concerned with the activities of Malaysia’s Muslim community, and primarily focus on religious and family matters such as marriage, inheritance, divorce, apostasy, conversion, and child custody. Malaysia has both civil courts and shari’a (known as syariah in Malaysia) courts, which cover different aspects of law. Islam also plays a notable role in Malaysia’s legal system. 3 This has seen Christian and Sikh groups come under pressure to avoid the use of the word ‘Allah’ in their religious texts.
One instance is the prohibited use of the word ‘Allah’ (‘God’) in non-Muslim publications. Though relations between religious communities tend to be harmonious, the state’s elevated status of Islam does occasionally surface tensions. Debates generally revolve around the government’s role in the religious life of citizens and whether the state should further promote Muslim beliefs through legal regulations, such as placing limits on gambling, pork-rearing and availability of alcohol.
Given the status of Islam as the official religion of Malaysia, much of the government’s attention is oriented towards the Muslim majority. 1,2 At times, the term ‘Muslim’ may be used synonymously with ‘Malay’ because of this legal and social correlation. This link is solidified politically by Malaysian law, which defines “Malay” as someone who identifies as Muslim, speaks Malay and conforms to Malay customs. While an individual’s ethnicity does not always necessarily reflect their religious affiliation, such correlations tend to be emphasised – especially in regards to Malays and Islam. The religious pluralism of Malaysia means that religious identity is often an important aspect of an individual, especially due to the association between ethnic and religious identity. Religious holidays, particularly those celebrated in open public spaces such as Ramadan (Islam) and Diwali (Hinduism and Buddhism), further blend the religious experiences of the population. There is a rich religious history visible in architecture, and it is not uncommon to find various places of worship all in close proximity to one another. Religion is also more publicly visible in Malaysia than it is in most English-speaking Western countries. For instance, 19.8% identify as Buddhist, 9.2% identify as Hindu, and 6.3% identify with traditional Chinese religions (such as Confucianism and Taoism). Because of this, nearly all the major world religions have a longstanding notable presence in Malaysia today. The geographic position of Malaysia on the main historical shipping routes between Indian, Arab and European regions on the one side and China and Japan on the other has made Malaysia a meeting ground of cultures and religions for thousands of years. Islam is the official religion of Malaysia and has the largest following among the population.
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