South asia has the largest population of muslims in the world, with about onethird of all muslims being from south asia. While the mineralsoda beads were made in south asia, it appears likely that at least some of the plant ash beads were made in south or southeast asia from imported raw andor scrap middle eastern. Barry desker, islam and society in southeast asia after 11 september, australian journal of international affairs, 2002, 56, 3, 38394. The ancient maritime trading links enabled by the seasonal monsoons between east africa and china, via the arabian, indian and southeast asian ports, have played an important but overlooked role in the history of human civilization. The most significant islamic kingdom to emerge in southeast asia at this time was the sultanate of melaka, which was founded around 1400 by a local prince who converted to islam. This has had an effect on moderate as well as radical muslims. The prosperous justice party pks is the most interesting phenomenon in contemporary indonesian politics. A short history of south east asia1 stanford university. I acquired this book, militant islam in southeast asia, in order to do some background research for a novel i am writing. Studies reinforced the notion that unlike in the middle east, islam in southeast asia facilitated the development of civil society and democracy.
Learn south asia southeast asian ap world history islamic with free interactive flashcards. A contemporary sourcebook fealy, greg, hooker, virginia on. Pdf the spread of islam in india and southeast asia. Islam in southeast asia, institute of southeast asian studies, singapore. If you have a manuscript on any of the above areas, we welcome you to publish with us. Encompassing over 5,000 az reference entries, chapters from scholarly and introductory works, quranic materials, primary sources, images, maps, and timelines, oxford islamic studies online offers a multilayered reference experience designed to provide a first stop for anyone needing information and context on islam. Reflections and reconsiderations with special reference to the role of sufism anthony h. A more subtle but complex source of dis content with the united states lies in us policy paradigms for muslim southeast. The spread of islam outside of the arabian peninsula and. My book is a longterm project with no projected publication date as yet.
By extrapolating through islam and the waqf islamic charity in different. Islam and politics in southeast asia pdf countries. Metcalf sri lanka and the southern coasts for long centuries, india, in a memorable phrase, was on the way to everywhere abu lughod 1989. At that time it had seemed that there was a simple explanation to. Established along the straits of melaka on the western malay peninsula, the sultanate became the main entrepot for merchants traveling between india and china, and was noted for its safe harbor and effective administration. Rajaratnam school of international studies rsis, nanyang technological university ntu, singapore. Johns in 1961 i published a paper on the islamization of peninsular and insular southeast asia johns 1961j. In some areas of southeast asia where islam later would be adopted, elaborate carvings of stories from the lives of the buddha or the gods and heroes of the ramayana and mahabharata epics adorned the temple walls from the earlier hindubuddhist period. Islam and peacebuilding in the asia pacific should be required reading for all policymakers, academics, and religious and civic leaders concerned about the need to develop and sustain balance and equity between all faiths in southeast asia.
Asia is home of 65 percent of the worlds muslims, and indonesia, in southeast, is the worlds most populous muslim country. These generalized characteristics of southeast asian islam should not lead us to ignore the various internal and external forces. Underpinning this is a belief, held in many quarters of the regions vast and diverse muslim populations, that islam is not just a religion, but an organising principle for modern society. Michael davis, laskar jihad and the political position of conservative islam in indonesia, contemporary southeast asia, 2002, 24, 1. The region has been the target of numerous terrorist attacks over the past decade, but the character and motivation for these attacks varies widely. Islam is the most widely practiced religion in southeast asia, numbering approximately 242 million adherents which translate to about 42% of the entire population, with majorities in brunei, indonesia and malaysia as well pattani in thailand and parts of mindanao in the philippines respectively. Muslim political activism and engagement is increasing across southeast asia. Taken together, indeed with indonesia alone, these lands hold by far the largest muslim population in the world. Islam in southeast asia muhamad ali southeast asia, a region below the winds, is a crossroad of world and local beliefs, but is today home to about 230 million muslims, almost half of the regions population 550 million, in 2002 and about 20 percent of the worlds estimated 1. The diversity of muslims in asia from the middle east to southeastern asia, from central asia to the pacific islands, the diversity in asia is striking. This essay looks at the spread of islam into southeast asia and how religious belief and expression fit with extant and modern polictical and economic infrastructures.
Muslim traders went to precolonial indonesia, malaysia, brunei, and southern. The muslim world of asia has been experiencing an islamic revival. It is and will remain a tactic of the weak against their government, and southeast asia. Islam in the southeast asia research papers academia. This connection to the sea means also that islam made its initial impact and took root most extensively in the archipelagic region of southeast asia, in modernday indonesia, malaysia and the philippines. Animistic beliefs, or those indigenous to southeast asia prior to the impact of hindu or theravada buddhist beliefs, had no such written legacies. Islam in china with a muslim population conservatively estimated at twenty million, china today has a larger muslim population than most of the arab countries of the middle east. Acknowledging the challenge of radical islam to the generally moderate approach of southeast asian muslims, analysts have been inclined to locate the origins of. Muslim and christian minorities in mainland southeast asia myanmar, thailand, cambodia, laos and vietnam, it is in the island areas singapore, malaysia, philippines, indonesia, brunei and timor loro sae where christianity and islam are most strongly established. The arab spring and islamist activism in southeast asia.
Faith, philanthropy and politics routledge contemporary southeast asia series rajeswary ampalavanar brown this book addresses the complexity of islam in thailand, by focusing on islamic charities and institutions affiliated to the mosque. He discussed the relationship between islam and the west, the prospects for democratic transition in the muslim world and the implications for u. Not only is it growing rapidly in membership and electoral support, it is also bringing a new and markedly different approach to islamic politics, one which has no precedent in indonesian history. Indian traders, adventurers, teachers and priests continued to be the dominating influence in south east asia until about a. An example of the social studies approach is the 1986 study of taufik abdullah and sharon siddique on islam and society in southeast asia. It had also spread across central asia and into china via the silk road, as well as to what is now malaysia, indonesia, and the southern philippines via the indian ocean trade routes.
By the year 1500 ce, or 878 of the hijra, islam in asia had spread to turkey with the conquest of byzantium by the seljuk turks. Choose from 171 different sets of south asia southeast asian ap world history islamic flashcards on quizlet. Animistic beliefs, or those indigenous to southeast asia prior to the impact of hindu or theravada buddhist beliefs, had no such. They were an important part of the spread of islam into the region, as all southeast asians respected the words of holy men or ascetics.
Students are asked to turn in a research question and tentative bibliography for the paper during week 8. Iseas publishing specializes in scholarly publications on politics, economics and social issues in southeast asia and the asia pacific. There are more than 240 million muslims in this subregion of asia, counting for about 42 per cent of the total southeast asian population, or about 25 per cent of the total world muslim population estimated at 1. Foreword, preface, notes, introduction, bibliography. Islam in southeast asia k s nathan, mohammad hashim kamali published by iseasyusof ishak institute nathan, k s and mohammad hashim kamali. Pdf repoliticisation of islam in southeast asia researchgate. Islam and society in southeast asia after september 11 the terrorist attacks of 11 september 2001, the ensuing war in afghanistan and the recent revelations of the existence of alqaeda networks in southeast asia have drawn attention to the challenge posed by radical islamic ideologies to global and regional security.
Chinese influence is stronger in the north and east and indian in the west and south, but both are widely felt. Apr 01, 2004 while alqaeda absorbed the attention and energies of american and western security and intelligence agencies globally in the wake of the horrifying terrorist attacks on september 11 2001, for many analysts bali heralded the lethal emergence of militant islam in southeast asia, as exemplified by jemaah islamiyah. Islamization in southeast asia cseas journal, southeast. Article information, pdf download for southeast asia and islam. Islam has been a significant factor in this region for at least seven centuries, yet in a longer and larger global geostrategic perspective, southeast asia comprises a uniquely varied and extensive range of ethnic, historical, economic, cultural, and psychological dimensions beyond that of. Islam began in asia in the 7th century during the lifetime of muhammad. Islamic extremism in southeast asia has moved beyond a matter of local concern to one of global significance as the events of the past decade have so clearly demonstrated. Sufi movement in southeast asia had a leader, or sheik, who acted as spiritual teacher. Trade brought arabs to indias southern seacoasts and to the coasts of sri lanka, where small muslim communities were established at least by. Islam is said to have arrived in manipur northeast india in 615 ad via chittagong which is. Islam in southeast asia cambridge university press.
Tolerance and radicalism religious life is often colored by myths. Asia is home to the largest muslim population, with west asia, central asia, south asia and southeast asia being particularly important regions. Revealed religions like islam, christianity and judaism t he. Islam in the classical age since the 7th century, muslim traders from india, persia, and south arabia frequented the harbors of insular southeast asia. Southeast asia is the most populous islamic region in the world yet has. It is a rather ambitious undertaking a retelling of the odyssey set as an al qaeda terrorist story that takes place partly in indonesia. Indic islamic overlay and temples and mosques in some areas of southeast asia where islam later would be adopted, elaborate carvings of stories from the lives of the buddha or the gods and heroes of the ramayana and mahabharata epics adorned the temple walls from the earlier hindubuddhist period. Islam is the second largest religion in south asia with about 600 million muslims, forming about one third of south asia s population. Islam in southeast asia in the context of the arab spring. Often called the muslim archipelago, southeast asia is one of the most populous parts of the islamic world. Often called the muslim archipelago, southeast asia is home to more than 240 million muslims about 42 percent of southeast asians, and about 25 percent of the worlds 1.
The successful spread of islam in indonesia malaysia and the philippines owed much to the introduction of the noble quran and other islamic books and references. View islam in the southeast asia research papers on academia. Ill make this quick since this type of answers are long 1. Islam became widespread in island1 southeast asia from the th. The collection of articles also serves to reflect the broad thematic interest of scholars not only indigenous and foreign, but also muslim and nonmuslim who have contributed to an understanding of islam in southeast asia. Islam teaches the oneness of god known to muslims as allah, who has revealed his message through a succession of prophets and finally through muhammad ca. Gender and vernacular islam in south asia, excerpts from ch. Political, social and strategic challenges for the 21st century. Excerpted from militant islam in southeast asia crucible of. Understanding pks and analysing its political behaviour presents challenges. Islamic teachings began to spread in southeast asia from around the thirteenth century.
Islam is the dominant religion in half of all south asian countries which are afghanistan, bangladesh, maldives and pakistan. Drawing on intensive ontheground investigation and interviews with key militants, zachary abuza explains the emergence of radical islamist groups in the region, examines alqaidas role as organizational catalyst, and. Southeast asia comprises the present day countries of burma myanmar, thailand, laos, cambodia, vietnam, the philippines, malaysia, brunei, singapore, and indonesia. To understand southeast asian islam, one must distinguish between situation in majority and minority. A historical overview of islam in south asia barbara d. In indonesia, sufis were the source of early indigenous movements to purify islam from indigenous animism. For southeast asia, after the arrival of european explorers, european trading bases and then colonies began to be established. Islam in southeast asia muhamad ali southeast asia, a region below the winds, is a crossroad of world and local beliefs, but is today home to about 230 million muslims, almost half. Hashim february 2015 military studies programme, institute of defence and strategic studies idss, s.
Southeast asia was always considered the islamic fringe, home to mostly secular muslims who shunned the radical variants of islam found in the middle east. Islam in the malay world of southeast asia or islam nusantara, as it has come to be known, had for a long time been seen as representing the more spiritual and sufi dimension of islam, thereby striking a balance between the exoteric and the esoteric. Indonesia and malaysia appear, prima facie, to be gaining popularity in. Topics will be determined in close consultation with the instructor. Islam is the most widely practised religion in southeast asia, numbering approximately 242 million adherents which translate to about 42% of the entire population, with majorities in brunei, indonesia and malaysia as well pattani in thailand and parts of mindanao in the philippines respectively. To aid policymakers in this regard, the stanley foundation organized a roundtable on islam in southeast asia in san francisco in november 2004. Yet, despite cultural differences, the religion of islam forms a common thread across asia. Without discounting the significance of such transnational connections in politicising islam in southeast asia in a direction away from moderation, this paper, citing examples mostly from malaysia and indonesia as muslimmajority states of the region, seeks to deconstruct the phenomenon in a way. Events and developments since 11 september 2001 have added greater attention to islam and its adherents in this part of the world. Part i of voices of islam provides country overviews for all the ten nations of southeast asia. This paper examines the various factors that contributed to the spread of islam in southeast asia. Traditionally, the linkages among these groups were relatively weak, and most operated only in their own country or islands, focusing on domestic issues such as promoting the adoption of. Origins of islam in southeast asia islams roots in sea are debated.
Islam in southeast asia today islam is the state religion in malaysia and brunei it is the majority religion of indonesia 90% before the 20th c. This volume of selected readings on islam is a portrait of the southeast asian islamic mosaic, with emphasis on the contemporary period. The time frame for conversion to islam in southeast asia is also uncertain. The muslim communities of southeast asia are diverse, complex and increasingly influential in the broader islamic world. Dec 12, 2015 islam in east asia islam has spread to all parts of east asia, a region that features some of the worlds major centers of islamic influence. Most southeast asian muslims are sunni, and follow the shafii school of muslim jurisprudence. Apr 07, 2006 the pew forum interviewed anwar following a roundtable on islam in southeast asia cosponsored by the forum and the council on foreign relations. While muslims are found on all five inhabited continents, more than 60% of the global muslim population is in asia and about 20% in the middle east and north africa. Sharia law and western travelers in southeast asia. Finally, a fourth group of islamic studies is concerned with the political economy of southeast asia. Islam is a major religion in southeast asia, with indonesian muslims comprising the largest muslim population in the world. First, while islamist parties in indonesia and malaysia appear, prima facie, to be gaining popularity in terms of electoral. This event was the fourth roundtable in an 18month program on southeast asia in the twenty.
May 18, 2016 wahhabism as a factor in southeast asias isis conundrum. Terrorism in southeast asia congressional research service 2 southeast asia has been the home of indigenous islamic militant groups for decades. In fact many religions have their roots in the myths, originating from enchantment with gods and nature. In nailing down the growth of extremist tendencies within southeast asian islam to the institutionalization of islamism in the body politic, parlance and psyche of muslim political actors in the region, it is important not to bark up the wrong tree. Islam in southeast asia institute for south asia studies. With both secular and islamic governments, southeast asia is often portrayed as a representative model of progressive islam, while also suffering longstanding muslim separatist conflicts.