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مشاهدة النسخة كاملة : Malaysia: A story of struggle


aammar
21-01-2013, 07:09 AM
Malaysia is one of the major Muslim countries in Southeast Asia, which accommodates a large Muslim majority. The percentage of Muslims in Malaysia reaches 60% of the population. It is located in the Indian Ocean, bordered with Thailand to the north and Indonesia to the south.

Islam was introduced to Malaysia in the seventh century AH, but we can not determine the exact year when Islam reached it. The bonds between the Malayan Peninsula (Malaysia) and Sumatra Island in the west were solid. Islam reached Sumatra as well; as its northern parts are closer to the west coast where Muslim sailing ships travelled.

These Muslim ships controlled the trade routes in the Indian Ocean; its ports, bases, centers and seas. Muslim traders and callers to Allaah moved along the coast, carrying with their goods the refined Message of Islam which is indeed consistent with human nature. Their distinctive morals and conduct distinguished Muslim traders from the rest of the merchants. Their commendable conduct was a mere translation of their beliefs. Callers to Allaah often engaged in trade only as a means to communicate with the population and invite them to Islam.

In 676 AH, the king of Malacca Island, which is located in the west of the Malay Peninsula, embraced Islam at the hands of Muslim traders coming from Jeddah. He changed his name to "Muhammad Shah", and his people followed him in embracing Islam. Thus, the first Islamic state was established and strove to promote Islam in the neighboring islands. Within half a century, Malacca became a great Islamic center in the region, guiding the people of the neighboring islands out of the darkness of disbelief into the light of Islam. The island of Penang and the southern Malay Archipelago also embraced Islam.