Malaysia, a Southeast Asian nation known for its diverse cultural heritage and picturesque landscapes, has a rich history deeply intertwined with Islam. Islam’s arrival and subsequent spread in Malaysia played a pivotal role in shaping the nation’s identity, culture, politics, and society.
The arrival of Islam
The history of Islam in Malaysia can be traced back to the 13th century when Islam was introduced to the region through trade contacts with the Middle East and India. Merchants and traders from these regions brought not only their goods but also their faith, leading to the gradual conversion of the local population. This early phase of Islam’s spread in Malaysia was peaceful and driven by trade relations.
One of the first regions in Malaysia to embrace Islam was the state of Kedah, where the Sultanate of Kedah officially converted to Islam in the 13th century. The Sultanate of Malacca officially embraced Islam in the 15th century. The exact year of this conversion is traditionally dated to 1414 during the reign of Sultan Iskandar Shah (also known as Parameswara), who was the first ruler of Malacca to convert to Islam. This conversion marked a significant turning point in the history of the Malacca Sultanate and contributed to the Islamic heritage and influence in the region. Over time, Islam continued to spread across the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and other nearby islands.
During the 15th century, Sufism began to take root in Malaysia. Sufi orders like the Naqshbandiyya and Qadiriyya played a significant role in the spiritual and cultural development of the Malay[1]Muslim community. Sufism contributed to the syncretic nature of Islam in Malaysia, blending indigenous customs and beliefs with Islamic teachings.
Islam in modern Malaysia
In 1957, Malaysia gained independence from British colonial rule, and Islam played a prominent role in shaping the newly established nation. The Federation of Malaya, later renamed Malaysia, adopted Islam as the official religion, while safeguarding the rights of other religious communities. Today, the Constitution of Malaysia guarantees freedom of religion to all its citizens.
Contemporary Malaysia is known for its vibrant Muslim community, and Islam is an integral part of the nation’s identity. As of 2023, Malaysia’s population is 33.4 million. According to the Population and Housing Census 2023 figures, approximately 63.7% of the population practice Islam, 17.7% practice Buddhism, 9.4% Christianity, 6.0% Hinduism and 1.2% practice Confucianism, Taoism and other traditional Chinese religions. The predominant majority of Muslims in Malaysia adhere to the Sunni-Shafi’i school of jurisprudence, with approximately 18% of the population identifying as non-denominational Muslims.
Administration of Islamic Affairs in Malaysia
Malaysia is a parliamentary democracy based on a Federal Constitutional Monarchy. It consists of 13 states ( Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Kelantan, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Pulau Pinang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor and Terengganu) and one central state consisting of three federal territories (Wilayah Perseketuan: Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, Putrajaya). The head of state is the King (Yang di[1]Pertuan Agong-Paramount Ruler). The King is also Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and head of religious institutions. The King is elected every five years by rotation by the “Malay Sultans’ Conference” (established: 1 July 1896) consisting of the sultans of nine states (except Melakka, Pulau Penang, Sabah, Sarawak, which had no sultans during the British rule). The governors of the four states (Melakka, Pulau Penang, Sabah, and Sarawak) are also members of the Sultans’ Conference; however, they do not participate in the election of the King. The highest authority for religious administration in Malaysia is therefore the “Conference of Sultans” and the King elected by this council. The decisions of the Sultans’ Conference, especially the dates of the beginning of Ramadan and the dates of Eid, are announced to the public by the Keeper of the Great King’s Seal (the office was established in 1948), who acts as the secretariat of the council. While the highest religious authority in the internal affairs of the nine states, each of which is ruled by a sultan, is the sultan of that state; at the federal level, the Minister of Religious Affairs on behalf of the Prime Minister within the cabinet is the highest authority in terms of executive power. The Conference of Sultans shapes the MKI (National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs Malaysia), the highest council for religious affairs at the national level, while official organizations such as JAKIM (The main body for execution of religious affairs in federal level), JAWHAR (coordinates the affairs of Waqf, Zakat, Property and Hajj/Umrah), YADIM (Malaysian Islamic Dawah Foundation), and TABUNG HAJI (Hajj Fund) which carry out executive activities, operate as offices under the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
Each state has its own Islamic Religious Council, mufti, sharia courts, and religious administrative officials, as well as its own justice administration officials. At the state level, three main authorities are the actors of religious administration:
1. The Islamic Affairs Council (Majlis Agama Islam): This is the provincial supreme council that assists the Sultan by being responsible for Islamic religious affairs other than fatwa and Islamic law.
2. State Mufti: The provincial mufti and deputy mufti are appointed by the Sultan of the province in charge of fatwa affairs at the provincial level to exercise the Sultan’s authority in Sharia matters.
3. Sharia Courts: It has jurisdiction over the application of Islamic law, particularly family law, waqf law, and some religious punishments.
Religious architecture
Malaysia has more than 6800 mosques. Almost every neighborhood has a small masjid called surau in the local language. One of the most visited mosques among them is The Federal Territory Mosque, which is located in the central area of the Segambut district in Kuala Lumpur. This mosque’s architectural design was influenced by the Ottoman Empire of the 16th century, with a particular focus on Sultanahmet Camii (the Blue Mosque) in Istanbul. It features 22 domes of different sizes, all beautifully adorned with stunning turquoise tiles. The Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Mosque in Shah Alam district, also known as the Blue Mosque, stands out as the largest mosque in the country in terms of its seating capacity with 24.000 people. It captivates the visitors with its splendid blue-and-silver dome and the four grand minarets that reach an impressive height of 142.2 meters at each corner. Other than these The National Mosque, Putra Mosque, and the Crystal Mosque are attracting visitors.
The Presidency of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye in Malaysia appointed its first counsellor of religious affairs in Malaysia in August 2022. Although the Turkish population in the country is not big, the increasing partnerships on different levels between the two countries necessitated the presence of religious diplomacy. The religious counselor’s office builds bridges with counterpart institutions in Türkiye in the field of religious administration of the country and academic institutes focusing on Islamic sciences. In this context, it proceeds with the procedures concerning different memoranda of understanding, particularly those involving the Presidency of Religious Affairs, JAKIM, and academic institutions. Furthermore, the religious counselor’s office has launched a Values Education Course at the Yunus Emre Institute in Kuala Lumpur for Turkish children in the age groups of 4-6 years and 7-15 years, and it is currently ongoing with considerable success.
