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MUSLIM-CHRISTIAN RELATIONS IN MALAYSIA: ISSUES AND SOLUTIONS
Corresponding Author(s) : Abd Hakim Mohad
Humanities & Social Sciences Reviews,
Vol. 7 No. 1 (2019): January
Abstract
Purpose: The issue of Muslim-Christian relations in Malaysia is often in the limelight of the mass media, domestic and foreign. Within recent years, there have been incidents directly related to this topic of discussion. This paper discusses these the issues and challenges faced by the Muslim and Christian communities in Malaysia.
Methodology: This is a qualitative study, and the data were collected from library sources such as books, journals, newspapers, periodicals, websites, and detailed interviews with members of the Muslim and Christian faiths. The data was then analysed through a documentary analysis technique.
Main Findings: This study found that Muslim-Christian relations often go through ebbs and flows. Generally, incidents involving religious sensitivities are fanned further by the mass media and interested politicians, although these issues are not as serious as reported. These situations then create an uneasy tension between the two communities, thus negatively affecting foster unity in diversity within the plural societies in Malaysia. What should be encouraged as an alternative is dialogue between adherents of different religions for them to know one another, and to promote religious harmony.
Implications: In the New Malaysia era, room of dialogue seems to flourish with the inclusive approach of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government. This is a positive development, which hopefully would be a catalyst to building a Malaysia society united in diversity.
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- Ahmad Tarmizi Talib (et.al). (2013). Toleransi Sosio-Agama di Sabah dan Sarawak (Research Report, Universiti Putra Malaysia).
- Alhabshi, S. O. and Agil, S. O. S. (1994). The Role and Influence of Religion in Society. Kuala Lumpur. Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (IKIM).
- Aljunied,S.M.A.(2011). ReligiousFreedominMalaysia’s“IslamicStateâ€: Comparison with the Islamic State of Medina. Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs. Institute o Muslim Minority Affairs. Routledge Publication, 31. Issue 1. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13602004.2011.556892
- Ariï¬anto, A. R. (2009). Explaining the Cause of Muslim-Christian Conflicts in Indonesia: Tracing the Origins of Kristenisasi dan Islamisasi. In David Thomas. Islam and Kristian-Muslim Relations. volume 20, pages 73–89, New York. Routledge. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09596410802542144
- Badron, M. S. (2012). Ibn Al-Arabi’s Conception of Religion. Kuala Lumpur: Institut Kefahaman Islam. IKIM, Malaysia.
- Bakar, O. (1997). Islam and Civilizational Dialogue. Kuala Lumpur. University of Malaya Press.
- Census, P. (2010). Deparment of Statistics.
- Habib, M. (2009). Inter-Faith Understanding and the Koran. Islam and the Modern Age. Zakir Husain Institute of Islamic Studies, New Delhi.
- Khatami, M. (1998). Membangun Dialog Antarperadaban. Penerbit Mizan, Bandung.
- Kim, K. K. (2001). Kaum, Bangsa dan Agama dalam Peradaban Malaysia. In Kongres Peradaban Malaysia Anjuran Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, Kuala Lumpur.
- Mohad, A. H. (2015). Dialog dan Masa Depan Masyarakat Majmuk di Malaysia. Hubungan Etnik di Malaysia: Warisan, Watan dan Wawasan. Pulau, Pinang: Universiti Sains Malaysia.
- Mohad A. H & Azmi. (2009). In Malaysian and Islam in the Global Context: Psychological, Social and Cultural Perspectives. Kota Kinabalu. Universiti Malaysia Sabah.
- Rawa Y, Mujahid (2013). Berdialog Dengan Gereja Sebuah Travelog Kedamaian. Kuala Lumpur. Ilham Books.
- Muzaffar, C. (2005). Global Ethic or Global Hegemony? Kuala Lumpur. Asean Academic Press.
- Nor, R. M. (2011). Religious Tolerance in Malaysia: An Overview. Middle-East Journal of Scientiï¬c Research, 9(1). IDOSI Publications.
- Omar, M. N. (2003). Christian & Muslim Ethics. Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.
- Pratt, D. (2009). The World Council of Churches in Dialogue with Muslims: Retrospect and Prospect. volume 20, pages 21–42, New York. Routledge. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09596410802542110
- Raï¬abadi, H. N. (2008). Interfaith Dialogue: A Muslim Perspective. In Akhtarul Wasey (ed.). Islam and the Modern Age. Husain Institute of Islamic Studies. Vol, 1(23-30):15–21.
- Rahimin Affandi Abd Rahim. (2011). Dialog Antara Agama: Realiti dan Prospek di Malaysia. In Jurnal Kajian Malaysia, Vol. 29, No.2, Pulau Pinang: Penerbit Universiti Sains Malaysia. Pp. 91–110.
- Sariyan, A. and Anjuran Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka. Kuala Lumpur (2001). Resolusi Kongres Peradaban Malaysia.
- Swidler, L. (2003). Dialogue in Malaysia and the Global Scenario. Kuala Lumpur. University of, Malaya.
- Troll, C. W. (2008). Towards Common Ground between Christians and Muslims. In Akhtarul Wasey (ed.). Islam and the Modern Age. Zakir Husain Institute of Islamic Studies, New Delhi.
- Troll, C. W. (2009). A new Beginning in Muslim-Christian Dialogue. In Akhtarul Wasey (ed.). Islam and the Modern Age, volume 1. New Delhi.
- Winarno, B. (2011). Isu-Isu Global Contemporer. Yogyakarta. Center for Academic Publishing Service.
- Yaacob, A. M. (2012). Islam dan Kebebasan Beragama Menurut Perlembagaan Persekutuan. Kuala Lumpur. Technologic Trading Sdn Bhd.
- Extra Readings:
- https://www.astroawani.com/berita-malaysia/terima-keputusan-kes-kalimah-allah-dengan-hati-terbuka-menteri-23829.
- https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2013/11/03/why-get-emotional-allah-not-exclusive-to-muslims-saysoxford-theologian/555257.
- https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/265733
- https://www.mstar.com.my/lokal/semasa/2013/01/09/bukan-islam-boleh-guna-kalimah-allah--hadi.
- https://www.mstar.com.my/lokal/semasa/2013/10/17/jangan-sampai-berpecah-dalam-isu-kalimah-allah--ahmad-zahid.
- https://www.mstar.com.my/lokal/semasa/2013/10/21/keputusan-isu-kalimah-allah-tidak-libat-kristian-di-sabah--sarawak-najib.
- https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2018/07/393834/religious-and-racial-hatred-act-pipeline.
- https://www.reuters.com/article/us-malaysia-religion/malaysias-islamic-authorities-seize-bibles-as-allah-row-deepens-id USBREA010C120140102
- https://www.statistics.gov.my/censusatlas/images/ReligionEN.pdf
- https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/malaysias-top-court-dismisses-catholic-churchs-bid-to-use-the-word-allah.
- https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2013/10/14/allah-the-herald-catholic-muslim/.
- https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2013/10/15/decision-in-line-with-edict-fatwa-council-allah-is-sacred-word-spec ific-to-islam-and-muslims/
- https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2015/04/19/protest-agaist-church/.
- https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2015/04/20/50-stage-protest-against-cross-on-new-church/.
- https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/07/27/mujahid-jail-for-those-who-insult-religion-and-race/.
References
Ahmad Tarmizi Talib (et.al). (2013). Toleransi Sosio-Agama di Sabah dan Sarawak (Research Report, Universiti Putra Malaysia).
Alhabshi, S. O. and Agil, S. O. S. (1994). The Role and Influence of Religion in Society. Kuala Lumpur. Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (IKIM).
Aljunied,S.M.A.(2011). ReligiousFreedominMalaysia’s“IslamicStateâ€: Comparison with the Islamic State of Medina. Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs. Institute o Muslim Minority Affairs. Routledge Publication, 31. Issue 1. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13602004.2011.556892
Ariï¬anto, A. R. (2009). Explaining the Cause of Muslim-Christian Conflicts in Indonesia: Tracing the Origins of Kristenisasi dan Islamisasi. In David Thomas. Islam and Kristian-Muslim Relations. volume 20, pages 73–89, New York. Routledge. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09596410802542144
Badron, M. S. (2012). Ibn Al-Arabi’s Conception of Religion. Kuala Lumpur: Institut Kefahaman Islam. IKIM, Malaysia.
Bakar, O. (1997). Islam and Civilizational Dialogue. Kuala Lumpur. University of Malaya Press.
Census, P. (2010). Deparment of Statistics.
Habib, M. (2009). Inter-Faith Understanding and the Koran. Islam and the Modern Age. Zakir Husain Institute of Islamic Studies, New Delhi.
Khatami, M. (1998). Membangun Dialog Antarperadaban. Penerbit Mizan, Bandung.
Kim, K. K. (2001). Kaum, Bangsa dan Agama dalam Peradaban Malaysia. In Kongres Peradaban Malaysia Anjuran Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, Kuala Lumpur.
Mohad, A. H. (2015). Dialog dan Masa Depan Masyarakat Majmuk di Malaysia. Hubungan Etnik di Malaysia: Warisan, Watan dan Wawasan. Pulau, Pinang: Universiti Sains Malaysia.
Mohad A. H & Azmi. (2009). In Malaysian and Islam in the Global Context: Psychological, Social and Cultural Perspectives. Kota Kinabalu. Universiti Malaysia Sabah.
Rawa Y, Mujahid (2013). Berdialog Dengan Gereja Sebuah Travelog Kedamaian. Kuala Lumpur. Ilham Books.
Muzaffar, C. (2005). Global Ethic or Global Hegemony? Kuala Lumpur. Asean Academic Press.
Nor, R. M. (2011). Religious Tolerance in Malaysia: An Overview. Middle-East Journal of Scientiï¬c Research, 9(1). IDOSI Publications.
Omar, M. N. (2003). Christian & Muslim Ethics. Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.
Pratt, D. (2009). The World Council of Churches in Dialogue with Muslims: Retrospect and Prospect. volume 20, pages 21–42, New York. Routledge. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09596410802542110
Raï¬abadi, H. N. (2008). Interfaith Dialogue: A Muslim Perspective. In Akhtarul Wasey (ed.). Islam and the Modern Age. Husain Institute of Islamic Studies. Vol, 1(23-30):15–21.
Rahimin Affandi Abd Rahim. (2011). Dialog Antara Agama: Realiti dan Prospek di Malaysia. In Jurnal Kajian Malaysia, Vol. 29, No.2, Pulau Pinang: Penerbit Universiti Sains Malaysia. Pp. 91–110.
Sariyan, A. and Anjuran Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka. Kuala Lumpur (2001). Resolusi Kongres Peradaban Malaysia.
Swidler, L. (2003). Dialogue in Malaysia and the Global Scenario. Kuala Lumpur. University of, Malaya.
Troll, C. W. (2008). Towards Common Ground between Christians and Muslims. In Akhtarul Wasey (ed.). Islam and the Modern Age. Zakir Husain Institute of Islamic Studies, New Delhi.
Troll, C. W. (2009). A new Beginning in Muslim-Christian Dialogue. In Akhtarul Wasey (ed.). Islam and the Modern Age, volume 1. New Delhi.
Winarno, B. (2011). Isu-Isu Global Contemporer. Yogyakarta. Center for Academic Publishing Service.
Yaacob, A. M. (2012). Islam dan Kebebasan Beragama Menurut Perlembagaan Persekutuan. Kuala Lumpur. Technologic Trading Sdn Bhd.
Extra Readings:
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/265733
https://www.mstar.com.my/lokal/semasa/2013/01/09/bukan-islam-boleh-guna-kalimah-allah--hadi.
https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2018/07/393834/religious-and-racial-hatred-act-pipeline.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-malaysia-religion/malaysias-islamic-authorities-seize-bibles-as-allah-row-deepens-id USBREA010C120140102
https://www.statistics.gov.my/censusatlas/images/ReligionEN.pdf
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2013/10/14/allah-the-herald-catholic-muslim/.
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2013/10/15/decision-in-line-with-edict-fatwa-council-allah-is-sacred-word-spec ific-to-islam-and-muslims/
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2015/04/19/protest-agaist-church/.
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2015/04/20/50-stage-protest-against-cross-on-new-church/.