ABSTRAKSI: Isu dakwah di Sabah, Malaysia adalah antara yang menarik perhatian ramai pengkaji. Sementara itu, secara hakikat, Sabah merupakan sebuah negeri yang amat terkenal dengan sikap toleransi masyarakatnya yang berbilang bangsa, budaya, dan agama. Di saat masyarakat Islam dan Kristian di Semenanjung Malaysia berselisih faham tentang penggunaan kalimah Allah, masyarakat di Sabah masih mampu bertenang dan menjalani kehidupan seperti biasa. Dalam diam, Sabah mendahului negeri-negeri lain di Malaysia dari segi bilangan orang yang memeluk Islam. Ironinya, kebanyakan mereka adalah dari penganut agama Kristian. Berdasarkan kepada dua fakta ini, tentunya hal berkaitan aktiviti dakwah di Sabah wajar untuk dikongsikan. Penelitian ini membincangkan tentang peranan yang dimainkan oleh agensi-agensi kerajaan yang berkaitan dengan agama Islam, seperti JHEAINS (Jabatan Hal Ehwal Agama Islam Negeri Sabah), MUIS (Majlis Ugama Islam Sabah), dan JAKIM (Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia) berkaitan aktiviti dakwah. Selain itu, perbincangan tentang cabaran dakwah juga disentuh secara sepintas lalu; diikuti dengan tinjauan tentang program-program peng-Islam-an yang dijalankan. Akhir sekali, penelitian ini membuat refleksi terhadap usaha dakwah yang telah dijalankan. Meskipun perbincangan dan hasil kajian yang dilakukan pada 2008, namun perkembangan terkini juga diambil perkiraan dalam penulisan ini. Kajian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif dan kuantitatif bagi mendapatkan gambaran yang lebih menyeluruh. KATA KUNCI: Islam; Dakwah; Mualaf; Sabah; Agensi Kerajaan Berasaskan Islam. ABSTRACT: âProselytization of Islam in Sabah, Malaysia: An Early Explorationâ. Proselytization issue in Sabah, Malaysia were among those attracted many researchers. Meanwhile, in fact, Sabah is a state well-known for its tolerant community that consists of diverse races, cultures, and religions. During the time when the Muslim and Christian communities in Malaysia Peninsula were in disagreement about the usage of the term Allah, the community in Sabah still managed to remain calm and carried on with their daily activities. However, Sabah has unobstrusively become one of the states in Malaysia that is leading in terms of Islamic conversion. Ironically, many of the converts were Christians. Based on these two facts, matters revolving the activity of Islamic proselytization in Sabah ought to be discussed. This paper examines the role of Islamic government agencies, such as JHEAINS (Sabah State Institution for Islamic Religious Affairs), MUIS (Islamic Religious Body of Sabah), and JAKIM (Islamic Development Institution of Malaysia) in the activities of proselytization. Furthermore, a discussion on the challenges in proselytization will also be addressed briefly; followed by a review on the programmes that are being implemented. Consequently, this paper reflects on the efforts of proselytization that have taken place. Eventhough the discussion in this paper is a result of a research conducted in 2008, however current development related to the issues are also taken into consideration. The research employs both the qualitative and quantitative approaches for a comprehensive view on the matter.KEY WORD: Islam; Proselytization; Convert; Sabah; Governmental Organization-Based Islam.    About the Authors: Dr. Abd Hakim Mohad ialah Pensyarah Kanan di Pusat Penataran Ilmu dan Bahasa UMS (Universiti Malaysia Sabah), 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. Prof. Datuk Dr. Kasim Mansur ialah Pensyarah di Fakulti Perniagaan, Ekonomi, dan Perakaunan UMS Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. Dr. Ros Aiza Mohd Mokhtar ialah Pensyarah Kanan di Pusat Penataran Ilmu dan Bahasa UMS Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. Bagi urusan sebarang akademik, penulis boleh dihubungi secara terus melalui emel di: abdhakim@ums.edu.my, kmansur@ums.edu.my, dan rosaiza@ums.edu.myHow to cite this article? Mohad, Abd Hakim, Kasim Mansur & Ros Aiza Mohd Mokhtar. (2016). âDakwah Islam di Sabah, Malaysia: Satu Eksplorasi Awalâ in INSANCITA: Journal of Islamic Studies in Indonesia and Southeast Asia, Vol.1(2), August, pp.151-166. Bandung, Indonesia: Minda Masagi Press, ISSN 2443-1776. Chronicle of the article: Accepted (March 30, 2016); Revised (June 25, 2016); and Published (August 30, 2016).