History of Islam’s Arrival in Malay Archipelago | Malay Peninsula
Prior to the arrival of Islam, the Malays in the ancient Malay Archipelago practised animism. This situation changed with the arrival of Islam, which introduced the concept of monotheism by rejecting the existence of multiple Gods or multiple Supreme Beings. Beginning with the concept of God’s oneness and broad worship, Islam has succeeded in capturing the attention of the local community. Since the advent of Islam, the community’s daily life and customs that were found to be contrary to the Islamic faith have gradually been abandoned.
The arrival of Islam in Malaya is thought to have begun in the 7th century AD. This viewpoint is based on the possibility of Islam spreading from West Asia to China via traders and preachers. Following the emergence of several Islamic kingdoms in Pasai and Perlak near the Malacca Straits in the 13th century AD, Islam grew rapidly. According to Marco Polo’s observations, Islam spread in Malaya before the 15th century. Marco Polo stopped in Sumatra on his way back from China in 1292. Perlak was his first port of call. He stated that at the time, Arab traders in the archipelago were attempting to convert the locals to Islam. He claims that it was the only Muslim country in the Malay Archipelago at the time (Hall in Ruslan Zainuddin). Whereas Ibn Battutah, an Arab traveller who stopped twice in the Ocean between 1345 and 1346 on his way back and forth from China, claimed that the king of the Ocean at the time had embraced Islam and practised the Shafie School. Other states around him, he claims, have not yet embraced Islam. During the 13th and 16th centuries AD, Islam spread throughout most of the Malay Archipelago, reducing the influence of Hinduism and Buddhism, which had been established for centuries in Malaya. Since then, Islam has grown rapidly to become the religion of the Malay Archipelago’s majority population.
From a historical standpoint, we can see that the process of Islamization in the fields of law, socio-culture, and politics has continued since the advent of Islam and the formation of the Islamic Government of Melaka. In the field of law, the Malacca Code and the Malacca Sea Code are followed by the Pahang Code, the Kota Setar Code, and others. The same goes for the Terengganu Constitution & the Johor State Constitution. Changes in the socio-cultural context apply where Malays have embraced Islamic moral values in life, which are embodied in the ethics of their lives such as manners of dress, manners of speaking, manners of neighbours, and so on. In the field of politics, the government is considered a government in which political power is a trust of God and leaders are expected to act in accordance with Islamic tenets.
Theory of the arrival of Islam to Malaya (Currently known as Malaysia)
The arrival of Islam in Malaya, unlike other religions, was welcomed by the Malay community because it occurred in an atmosphere of peace and harmony, with no wars. In general, three theories exist regarding the arrival of Islam in the Malay Archipelago:
- The arrival of Islam from Arabia/Persia
- The arrival of Islam from India
- The arrival of Islam China
Theory of the arrival of Islam from Arabia/Persia
Arab trade relations with Malaya had occurred before the existence of Islam. However, trading activity increased after Islam was introduced to the Malay Peninsula in the 7th century AD. In accordance with Islam which is universal, the Malay community comfortable with their professed Islam. In fact, it makes it easier for Arab traders to conduct their trading activities. John Crawford had put forward the theory and was supported by Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas that Islam came from Arabia through traders. The finding, according to Chinese records, is that Arabs and Persians have had business centres in Canton since 300 AD. Arab traders who went to China stopped at Southeast Asian ports especially in the Straits of Malacca because of its strategic position and these Arab traders lived for several months in Southeast Asia and some of them settled and built Arab villages. The village was also become a place for trade. There were also Arab traders who married local women and spread Islam. According to Chinese records, there have been Arab settlements in North Sumatra, specifically in Ta Shih.
As an example of the evidence of the arrival of Islam directly from Arabia/Persia that has been argued by Professor Doctor Syed Muhammad Naquib Al-Attas (1972) are:
- Influence from the point of view of Jawi writing originating from Arabic.
- Most of the scholars who came to this region were from Arabia such as Sheikh Ismail Al-Siddiq, Maulana Abu Bakr, Maulana Iskah and many others.
- The term Melaka is derived from the Arabic word ‘mulaqat’ which means meeting place.
- The Malay-Muslim kingdom of Malacca is governed by Islamic Jurisprudence, or ‘Islamic Sharia’.
The Theory of Islam’s Arrival from China and Champa
Islam itself first arrived in China or Champa around 650 AD, during the reign of the Pang Dynasty. At that time, the Canton region had become the focus of Islamic traders and preachers. In 877 AD, there was an uprising in the province of Canton which killed 120 000 to 200 000 traders who mostly came from Arabia and forcing Arab-Muslims to flee to Kalah (Kedah) and Palembang. According to records, the arrival of Islam from China began in early 977 AD. Emanuel Gadinho Eredia proposed the theory that Muslim Arab traders have visited Khan Fo or Canton (now known as Guang Zhou) since the 9th century AD, which is a well-known business centre. Islam flourished among Chinese traders in China as a result of these trade relations, and Chinese Muslim traders spread Islam to the Southeast Asian community while trading there.
S.Q. Fatimi claims that Islam originated in China based on the following evidence:
- Around 876M, Muslim traders living in Canton or Amoy migrated en masse to Southeast Asia.
- Discovery of Terengganu Inscription Stone in 1899M in Kuala Sungai Tersat, Kuala Berang, Terengganu.
- In 1953, in Kampung Permatang Pasir, Pulau Tambun, Pekan, Pahang was found a pair of tombstones with the writing of the Quran and Arabic words dated 1028M.
- Architecture in China and mosque architecture in the archipelago, such as in Kelantan, Melaka, and Java, were discovered to have similar elements.
- The use of red and yellow colours on the wooden headboards of mosque doors and windows, floor tiles, walls, stairs, and water pools in mosques, as well as the influence of Chinese tile roofs.
The Theory of Islam’s Arrival from India
Brian Harrison supporters to Snouck was a western Orientalists who have put forward the theory that the people of Malaya taking views of the Indian community for the purpose of consultation and guidance in matters of trade and culture. It aims to strengthen bilateral relations and Malaya interested in Islam professed by Indian traders. In addition, the influence of Indian words such as ‘lebai’ has been adopted in the Malay community until now.
Snouck Hurgronje, a Dutch historian, claims that Islam has spread to Southeast Asia via India, specifically the Gujarat and Coromandel Coast regions, since the 13th century. His viewpoint is supported by the following evidence:
- Muslim Indian traders have long established trade relations with communities in Southeast Asia. Gujarat was an important port during the reign of Khilji in India.
- The marble on the tombstone at Malik Ibrahim’s cemetery in Gerisik, Java and the tombstone of Malik al-Salih in Pasai both have Islamic-made features.
- Since time immemorial, elements of Hindu culture have spread into societies in Southeast Asia.
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