Journal of Multidisciplinary Islamic Studies
Vol 4 No 1 (2025): Al-Widad: Journal of Multidisciplinary Islamic Studies

Islamization in Malay Archipelago: A Study of the Historical Philosophy Analysis of Syed Muhammad Naquib Al-Attas

Mulyadi Mulyadi (IAIN Langsa, Aceh, Indonesia)



Article Info

Publish Date
07 Jun 2026

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to reveal the view of Syed Muhammad Naquib Al-Attas about the Islamization in Malay Archipelago. In this research, Al-Attas, as one of the world intellectuals of Malay Archipelago, tried to reconstruct the ideas of western scholars who tended to restrict the role of Islam and accentuate the significance of Hinduism and Buddhism in the Islamic history and culture in Malay Archipelago. The western scholars supported Hinduism and Buddhism as the most influential religions in Malay Archipelago instead of the influence of Islam. The argument was proved by the various relics of stone carvings, statues, and temples. The argument of the western scholars seemed to reduce the role of Islam as the largest religion embraced by people of Archipelago for centuries. Some of western scholars whose views would be clarified by Al-Attas were Van Leur, Schrike, Snouck Hurgronje, and Winstedt. Al-Attas provided an argument with facts and data that it was the role of Islam through Sufism metaphysics and Arabic language of Malay Archipelago that shaped, changed, and became the view of people’s life in Malay Archipelago. It should be emphasized here that Islamization was a theory initiated by Al-Attas to confirm the influence of Islam in Malay Archipelago through the concept of Sufism metaphysics.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

widad

Publisher

Subject

Description

Al Widad Journal of Multidisciplinary Islamic Studies aims to advance scholarly discourse in Islamic studies by publishing high quality, peer reviewed research that promotes interdisciplinary, theoretical, conceptual, and empirical approaches to understanding Islam in contemporary contexts. The ...