A Review of Factors Influencing Conversion to Islam Among Orang Asli in Malaysia

Ainuddin Kamaruddin; Ahmad Effat  Mokhtar

doi:10.33102/uij.vol36no02.613

Authors

Ainuddin Kamaruddin Faculty of Islamic Studies Universiti Islam Pahang Sultan Ahmad Shah, 25150 Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0009-0001-3604-027X
Ahmad Effat Mokhtar Faculty of Islamic Studies Universiti Islam Pahang Sultan Ahmad Shah, 25150 Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33102/uij.vol36no02.613

Keywords:

Conversion, Islam, orang asli, indigenous people

Abstract

The indigenous population residing across Peninsular Malaysia traditionally adhered to animistic beliefs, and a portion remained non-religious. With the establishment of various Islamic propagation bodies, both governmental and non-governmental, efforts toward Islamization among the indigenous population commenced. While the rate of indigenous people embracing Islam remains relatively low, the numbers have steadily increased over the years. This study aims to explore the factors driving the adoption of Islam within the indigenous community by employing a literature review methodology. Previous studies have revealed a dynamic array of factors influencing the adoption of Islam among indigenous communities, including marriage, continuous efforts by preachers, personal interest, dream inspirations, peer influence from family members, neighbors, village heads (Tok Batin), personal interests, and more. Future studies are encouraged to delve specifically into factors influencing the adoption of Islam and factors resisting Islamic propagation within indigenous communities based on village, state, or ethnic group differentiations.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Ahmad, N., Marpuah, S., Zahari, W. A. M. W., Saparudin, I. F., Zainol, N. Z. N., Masruri, M., & Muhammed, N. K. W. (2022). Kepercayaan, Adat Budaya Dan Amalan Keagamaan Orang Asli Kanaq Di Kota Tinggi, Johor. Jurnal Kemanusiaan, 26-32.

Aini, Z. & Sabri, N. S. (2019). Bentuk-bentuk Gerakan Kristianisasi Dalam Masyarakat Orang Asli di Perak. Al-Irsyad Journal of Islamic and Contemporary Issues, 4(2), 125-141.

Casey, P. M. (2019, September). Conversion to Islam: Narratives of awakening, continuity, and return. In Sociological Forum (Vol. 34, No. 3, pp. 752-773).

Collins (n.d.). Conversion. In Collins Dictionary. Retrieved November 28, 2023, from https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/conversion

Corbin, T. (2023). A Convert or a Revert? How It Does Matter. Retrieved from: https://aboutislam.net/reading-islam/living-islam/convert-or-revert-how-does-it-matter/

Department of Orang Asli Development Malaysia. (2023). Pecahan kumpulan etnik orang asli mengikut peratus dan negeri tahun 2022. Retrieved from: https://www.jakoa.gov.my/orang-asli/carta-taburan-etnik-orang-asli-mengikut-negeri/

Department of Statistics Malaysia. (2022). Penduduk Mengikut Agama 2010-2020. Retrieved from: https://www.mycensus.gov.my/index.php/ms/125-newsletter-infographics/344-infografik#gallerycb7652dfe1-5

Don, A. G., Puteh, A. Kawangit, R. (2017). Isu dan Cabaran Dalam Dakwah Saudara Baru. Modul Literasi Undang-Undang Untuk Mualaf. Retrieved from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/319477805_Isu_Dan_Cabaran_Dalam_Dakwah_Saudara_Baru

Huda. (2018). Does One "Convert" or "Revert" When Adopting Islam? Retrieved from: https://www.learnreligions.com/convert-or-revert-to-islam-2004197

Hussain, C. N. H. C., Majid, M. A., Abdullah, M. Y. M. (2018). Persepsi Masyarakat Orang Asli Terhadap Islam Di Kampung Genting Peras, Hulu Langat, Selangor. Jurnal Hal Ehwal Islam dan Warisan Selangor, 2(1). Kamaruddin, A., Nordin, N., Bakar, W. H. R. W. A., & Nuri, S. M. M. (2023). Challenges of Da’wah to The Semai Community in Pos. Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 13(9), 1363–1372.

Junoh, N., Mustapha, A. M., Zin, M. N. M., Ismail, A., Majid, W. Z. N. A., & Mustafa, Z. (2022). Pembangunan Akidah Orang Asal di Malaysia: Isu dan Cabaran. Proceedings Science, Ethics & Civilization, 1, 96-102.

Lofland, J., & Stark, R. (2018). On becoming a world-saver: A theory of conversion to a deviant perspective. In Cults in Context (pp. 159-180). Routledge.

Malaysia's Official Open Data Portal. (2018). Agama yang dianuti oleh masyarakat orang asli. Retrieved from: https://beta.data.gov.my/data/hu/dataset/agama-yang-dianuti-oleh-masyarakat-orang-asli-mengikut-negeri

Mohamad, A. (2003). Pengislaman Masyarakat Orang Asli di Negeri Kelantan Dari Perspektif Undang-Undang. Kuala Lumpur: Jabatan Syariah dan Undang-Undang, Akademi Pengajian Islam, Universiti Malaya

Mulyana, D. (2004). Santri-santri Bule: Kesaksian Muslim Amerika, Eropa, dan Australia. Bandung: PT. Remaja Rosdakarya.

Nasril, N. (2015). Melacak Konsep Konversi Agama. Al Irsyad: Jurnal Bimbingan Konseling Islam, 6(1), 23-42.

Oxford University Press. (n.d.). Conversion. In Oxford English Dictionary. Retrieved November 28, 2023, from https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/ english/ conversion?q=conversion

Rambo, L. R. (1993). Understanding religious conversion. New Haven: CT: Yale University Press.

Sahad, M. N., & Sa'ari, C. Z. (2005). Islamisasi dan Kristianisasi di Kalangan Orang Asli Temuan, Broga. Afkar: Jurnal Akidah & Pemikiran Islam, 6(1), 37-54.

Shahar, A. F., Abdullah, M. Y. M., Arshad, M. H., A’toa’Mokhtar, A., & Aini, Z. (2017). Faktor Tarikan Masyarakat Orang Asli Memeluk Islam Di Selangor. Persidangan Antarabangsa Pengajian Islamiyyat Kali Ke-3 (IRSYAD2017) Kolej Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Selangor pada, 1-2.

Shikongo, A. E. (2022). Prophetic Psychology: Academic Impressions of An African Convert/Revert To Islam.

Sintang, S., & Hambali, K. M. (2016). Rational factors in the spiritual journey of embracing Islam. Journal of Advanced Research in Social and Behavioural Sciences, 5(1), 56-67.