History and Understanding of Ahl Al-Sunnah Wa Al-Jama'ah in Malaysia

Abstract

The understanding of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah (ASWJ) constitutes the cornerstone of Islam, the official religion in Malaysia. This conviction has underpinned the religious life of the Malaysian Muslim community for an extended period. Entering the 21st century, this concept is not exempt from confronting different challenges, including the variability of cognitive patterns in interpreting ASWJ. Furthermore, there exists the perspective that this concept does not constitute the essence of Islam's development in Malaysia. Moreover, this conviction encounters numerous challenges both internationally and domestically. Consequently, to address the above-mentioned issues, this study concentrates on the principles of the Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah adherents in Malaysia. The study concentrates on (i) the historical background of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah adherents in Malaysia, and (ii) their comprehension of the notion of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah in Malaysia. This study is qualitative, utilizing approaches such as document analysis for data collecting. Simultaneously, the gathered data was examined utilizing the Inductive-Generative approach and NVivo15 Software. The study's findings indicate that the teachings of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah, adhered to by the majority of the Muslim community in Malaysia, including both the government and the populace, are founded on the al-Asya'irah school regarding creed, the Imam al-Syafie madhhab concerning jurisprudence, and the methodology of Imam al-Ghazali in sufism. The findings of this study indicate that ASWJ occupies a unique status in Malaysia, having been continually practiced for centuries up to the present day. Consequently, this conviction must be paramount and prioritized in endeavours to sustain Islam in Malaysia.