SOAS Research Online

Abstract

My thesis is divided into six chapters which include a general overview of the socio-political and economic background of the Malay Muslim society, a definition of the term Malay and Muslim and the various interpretations that arise from these definitions, the changes experienced by the Muslim society before and after Malaysia's Independence, the importance of Islam in the everyday life of the Muslims, the subsequent developments of the Malay textual tradition starting from the coming of Islam to Malaysia until the present day. Chapter two deals (briefly) with 'Sastra Kitab' and discuss the efforts to re-interprete the meaning of the term 'Islamic literature' as a result of the Islamic resurgence in Malaysia that began in the early 1970's. The textual analysis in Chapter Three is the main part of my study. It focuses only on Islamic books written in Malay from 1975 to the present day (1992) and includes discussion of works on Theology, 'Akida', Islamic law, 'Fikh', Islamic Jurisprudence, devotion services, 'ibadat', 'mu'amalat', marriage, 'munakahat', criminal 'jinayah' and moral, 'akhlak'. Controversial issues such as al-Arqam, anti Hadith, the position of women, marriage, Islamic rule and administration (Islamic democracy, Islamic politics, Syura system, Islamic state) and Sufism are discussed in detail in chapter four. Chapter five analyse critically the Islamic books in Malay, as mirrors of society particularly their approach, nature and academic standards within the terms of Islamic teaching generally. In conclusion, I present general view on the future role of Islamic writing in the context of the development of Muslims society in Malaysia.