How did countries like Malaysia and Indonesia become Islamic?

Question

I mean, there don't seem to be alot of cultural similarities there.

Answer 1

Records of Admiral Cheng Ho's visit to Melaka in 1409 indicate that Parameswara was then still ruler of Malacca, and there are references to the ruler and the people of Malacca as being already Muslims.

In 1414, Parameswara officially converted to Islam after marrying a princess from Pasai. After his conversion, he assumed the title Sultan Megat Iskandar Shah. His conversion also encouraged his subjects to embrace Islam and this is how Malacca became a sultanate.

The Sultanate of Malacca was the centre of Islam in the eastern sphere, where imams and "ustaz"s came to discuss religion and the like. Muslim missionaries were also sent by the Sultan to spread Islam to other communities in the Malay Archipelago, such as in Java, Borneo, and the Philippines. Most of South East Asia at that time was Hindu.

Since 1957, The Federation of Malaysia is considered an Islamic country because its official religion is Islam.

# Do take note that Malaysian historian debates heavily until today that whether Parameswara and Sultan Megat Iskandar Shah was actually the same person or Megat Iskandar Shah was actually the son of Parameswara.

# According to the Sejarah Melayu, in fact, is quite explicit in stating that Melaka only converted to Islam during the reign of Raja Tengah and not during the reign of Megat Iskandar Shah.

# Some Malaysian historians felt that Islam has reached the Terengganu kingdom even before the 14th century with the discovery of Batu Bersurat Terengganu (The Terengganu Stone tablet) which was inscripted in Arabic Jawi and believed to be written on the 22nd February 1303 (702 Hijrah). Among the inscriptions on the stone are the listing punishments for individual crimes according to the Shariah (Islamic law contained in the Quran holy book) and spells out the obligation of the ruler to enforce them upon his subjects, with inscription that states Islam as the official religion of the state. The tablet is a profound statement on Terengganu's Islamic past.

# frankbobo, Malaysia is NOT mainly Buddhist.

# Do also read more information from the following Online reference on this subject matter that I've gathered:

1. Islam and Politics in Southeast Asia [PDF]
http://china.sciences-po.fr/fr/actions/cours_bertrand_2004.pdf

2. http://www.sabrizain.demon.co.uk/malaya/islam.htm

Answer 2

Islam came to Indonesia via the Indian invaders. Indonesia means "Indian Islands" and they were once part of the INdian empire. The Indians brought Buddhism and Hinduism which survives today in Bali. Arab traders brought Islam. Buddhism inexplicably died on the islands, and Islam grew as the Hindu and Buddhist kingdoms collapsed.
Islam in Indonesia tends to be very different than the rest of the world. The mosque near our house when we lived there had women or children singing the call to prayer sometimes. Many people (especially those from the countryside) still have some animistic beliefs and most Indonesians a well versed in Hindu mythology. From what I understand Malaysian Islam tends to be more strict.

Answer 3

My, My, My, How the truth really is speaded in this world. You will be surprised when you really find out how many countries are Islamic. This country will never tell the truth when it comes to numbers. Also, look at China, Japan, Russia, and India. Now, How many Muslims do you think are in this world?

Answer 4

Malaysia is 50% Muslim. There was a period in time when Muslims were overtaking a lot of countries.

Answer 5

It seems that people in these areas were ready to get rid of the caste society that came with the Hindu religion.


from the web page
Before the coming of Islam, the indigenous Malays embraced an ancient religion with various forms of belief with some of the population belonging to the Hindu/Buddha religion. Life was structured and arranged in ways that showed the influence of more than one religion. This can be seen not only in the Malay's cultural patterns but is also part of the 'power' structure of state dignitaries and princes.

At the political level, the royal ruler and the head of state in most communities in the Malay world embraced the Islamic religion. The people were impressed and attracted by the provision in the Qur'an and the Hadith that mankind should be ranked on a basis of interpersonal equality. Those who for so long had been considered of low caste saw how the different strata of Islamic society were laid before them. They were no longer imprisoned within a religious caste system and the notion of living in "classes". In Islam there was no discrimination, or division on the basis of colour, class tribal affiliation, race, homeland and birthplace, all of which gave rise to problems. Equal rights seemed the right human solution, which in practice meant the acceptance of rights and obligation as a member of the Islamic Community. The pious person achieved sublimity and nearness to God.

The local population saw that Islam could extricate them from this bondage and provide the means for the extirpation of social evils. The new religion gave the small man a sense of this individual worth - the dignity of man - as a member of an Islamic community.
The efforts of the ulama' in implementing Islamic teachings gradually reached rulers, officials, community leaders and the ordinary people. Their efforts left its mark in such places as Banten (formerly Bantam), East Java, Macassar, Kalimantan, the Southern Philippines, Southern Thailand, Malacca, Trengganu and elsewhere. The ulama' also played a part in the administration, and some of the powerful sultans held firmly to the teachings of Islam.

Spread of Islam
After the initial introduction of Islam, the religion was spread by local Muslim scholars or ulama' from one district to another. Their normal practice was to open a religious training centre called "pondok" or hut from the small sleeping quarters constructed for the students. In addition to giving lectures in houses, prayer houses, or mosques, they also performed tasks such as working in padi fields, gardening and craftwork and other jobs according to each individual's capabilities. The role of these ulama' was not merely that of a teacher but also that of advisor for the village families and communities. The role they played was fairly broad one by reason of their expertise and capability in more than one field of human activity. After graduating, the pupils would go back to their homeland, often in some remote corner of the country, forming a link in the chain between one ulama' and another.

Islam in the Malay Archipelago in general and Malaysia in particular follows the Shafie Mazhab. However there are many Muslims in Malaysia who do not follow any particular school. In Perlis, the state constitution specifies that Perlis follows the Qur'an and Sunnah and not a particular mazhab. Many Muslims in Perlis therefore do not follow any mazhab, as is the case with the followers and members of the Muhammadiyah Organisation in Indonesia.

One noteworthy feature in the religious education scene is the close relationship between the Pondok schools, the teachers and even the pupils although the distance between them may be quite considerable as from Kubang Pasir for example, or Kedah to Achen, Java, Kalimantan, Kelantan and Terengganu. The unifying factor that makes strong ties among them is the uniformity of the system of instruction, for not only are the Holy book and the language used the same but also the socio-political problems, even though in Indonesia the Dutch were the colonial power and in Malaysia (or Malaya) the British. The colonisers whether Portuguese, Dutch or British attempted Christionisation by various means, in particular through their educational systems.

There were, however, a number of Muslims who felt that the pondok schools could not deal with the challenge of colonial education institutions. In order to overcome the problems, the Madrasatul Mashoor al-Islamiyah was established in Pulau Pinang in the year 1916 using Arabic as the language of instruction. The madrassahs taught Fiqh as well as secular subjects. This institute of learning was not merely intended to enhance the position of Muslims in Penang and northern Malaya but in Southeast Asia as well. This school chose as its inspiration the name of Syed Ahmad Al Mashoor, alternatively known as Ayid Mashoor, a leader of Arab descent on that Island.

Answer 6

well, they sent missionaries on boats and landed there ...

Malaysia is still mainly Buddhist, though.