Story of Islam in Southeast Asia
 

South East Asia includes the regions that lie between the Indian subcontinent and southern China. Muslim merchants introduced Islam to these areas. Most Muslims in these countries suffered from Christian missionary campaigns and religious persecution, as well as occupation. Some Muslim kingdoms were established in Indonesia such as the Sultanate of Banten in western Java, and Aceh province in Northern Sumatra.

Portugal, the Netherlands, Britain and Japan, all occupied Indonesia and later the government of Indonesia was formed. Indonesia suffers from low rates of production and high rates of illiteracy and unemployment.

Ong Sum Ping, the ruler of Brunei, embraced Islam at the hands of Sultan Muhammad Shah of Malacca. Ong Sum Ping consolidated his power as the Bruneian Empire expanded its influence over the Solo Islands and the Philippines. Then, Brunei became a British protectorate and Japan invaded it and later withdrew from it. The Japanese emperor made an agreement with the British that their troops would withdraw from Brunei on condition that their civil administration would continue in Brunei.

Brunei did not join the Federation of Malaya, where Islam spread as the king of Malacca embraced Islam. Malacca became a Muslim country. Portugal and then the Netherlands conquered Brunei and continued their brutal policies of killing Muslims. Then, Brunei was occupied by Britain. Consequently, revolutions erupted in the Malay Archipelago, such as the revolution of Sheikh Al-Hadi, who was a student of Shaykh Muhammad ‘Abdu of Al-Azhar. Then, Brunei was occupied by Japan. The vandalism of Brunei continued until the Japanese defeat. The Federation of Malaya was established and the responsibilities were transferred to the Malayan Union. In the London Conference, the independence of the Federation of Malaya was decided.

Islam spread in Patani [Pattani or Sultanate of Pattani] through Malacca. Then, Patani was occupied by Portugal, the Netherlands, and then Thailand. A coup took place in Thailand which was supported by the people of Pattani.

The form of
government in Pattani changed from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy, and this marked the beginning of the military government in Thailand. Pattani was, then, occupied by the Japanese. The British strove to organize the Pattani resistance and the struggle against colonialism and persecution in Pattani began.

Islam was introduced to China through the Tang Dynasty, which was contemporary to the Ba‘thah of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, to proclaim the message of Islam. Islam spread in China through the Islamic conquests. The great Muslim leader As-Sayyidul-Ajjal, Shamsud-Deen ‘Umar Al-Bukhaari, became Yannan’s first provincial governor who was appointed by the central Chinese government (in this case, the Yan Empire). Islam flourished during his reign. Then, The Qing or Manchu Dynasty took control of China and persecuted the Muslims. Many Muslims had to hide their Islam out of fear for their lives.

Islam reached Turkistan via its king, the Uyghur Sultan Sotok Bogra Khan [he later changed his name to Sultan Abdul Kareem]. He converted to Islam before coming to the throne. Turkistan was occupied by China. The Chinese persecuted the Muslims and this gave rise to many revolutions.

The Muslim kingdom of Raja Sulayman was established in the Philippines.
The Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan began proselytizing Christianity in the Philippines. The governor of Mactan Island stood up for him. Then, the Philippines was occupied by Spain, with the exception of Moro Province. Spain held an agreement with the United States to leave the province to the latter country. Revolutions continued, and then the Philippines was occupied by Japan and later gained independence and became a republic with a presidential form of government. The Christians there called for applying the civil law to Muslims and this would give them the right to marry Muslim women. Thus, a war of extermination against Muslim Filipinos began.

As for Burma, its coasts were not fitting harbors where ships could ride at anchor. Muslims from China and India came to Burma and spread Islam there. It was occupied by England and the majority of Muslims gathered in Arakan [or Rakhine State of Burma] that became an independent Muslim country later on. Then, Arakan was occupied by England and it gained independence and was annexed to Burma. This was when the ethnic cleansing against Muslims began.

The state authorities banned the establishment of new mosques.
In Champa and Indochina, which include Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos, most people were following beliefs like Hinduism [also known as Brahmanism]. Islam reached the coast of the Annamese Kingdom [in Annam (Chinese province)] that was a fertile land for the spread of Islam. In Champa, Muslims are called "Hui Hui". There was a conflict between Champa on one hand and China and Cambodia on the other. Then, it was invaded by Vietnam. The Vietnamese waged a war of annihilation against Cham Muslims.

Most Muslims fled from the country to Cambodia. They were called "Khmer Islam", i.e. Cambodian Muslims. These countries were reeling under the evils of communism. The Muslims of these countries had fallen prey to their stark ignorance of their religion. Mosques were opened only on Fridays and the Imams were carrying out worship acts on behalf of the people! Poverty prevailed in the region; people could not afford shrouds for their dead. The poor Cham Muslims could not afford clothes to cover their bodies. At the same time, they refused to enroll their children in public schools, fearing that their faith would be distorted.