Islam
The Malay conversion to Islam took place in the 15th century. The religion arrived with Arab traders from the Middle East. For Muslims, the Koran contains the whole truth and nothing but the truth. More than divine recommendations, they are injunctions that have repercussions on their way of life. As a result, certain precepts of Islam are incorporated into the body of law. The practice of the religion revolves around 5 pillars: the declaration of faith, which consists in submitting to and obeying Allah; performing the 5 daily prayers; giving alms to the needy; fasting during the month of Ramadan; and visiting Mecca once in a lifetime. Sunni, the Malays follow the Shafi'i school of thought. This is one of the 4 main currents of Sunnism. It hierarchizes hadiths (a collection of the Prophet Mohamed's thoughts) to derive jurisprudence. Malaysia also has a National Council of Fatwas, which issues legal solutions to specific problems in accordance with the precepts of Islam. Sometimes complex situations arise, as in this case which made headlines in the courts between 2009 and 2015. A divorced Hindu man with two children decided to convert to Islam. He then forced his children to convert in order to obtain sole custody of them, as his ex-wife was considered incapable of raising Muslim children under Malaysian law. However, the man's case was dismissed. Non-Muslims are legally prohibited from uttering the name of Allah.
The practice. Muslims pray 5 times a day at set times. But sometimes less, depending on their schedule and religious fervor. Traditionally, it's the men who go to the mosque. They recite prayers, facing Mecca. The Friday prayer is the most important, and is also the occasion for the imam to deliver a sermon. This is delivered in Bahasa, while the rest of the service is in classical Arabic.
Buddhism
Present in Malaysia since the 3rd century, Buddhism was the first monotheistic religion to spread in the region. It is mainly followed by the Chinese community, but not exclusively. There are also Indians and people from Thailand, Myanmar and Sri Lanka. So many different origins, so many different sects. Buddhist practices differ from temple to temple. Ecumenical organizations have been set up to counter this problem and the disaffection of young people with religion. Their aim is to simplify the practice of religion by eliminating superstitions, and to bring together the different currents. Buddhism is followed by 19.8% of the faithful.
The practice. Even though Buddhism is perceived as a religion without a creator god, followers go to the temple to venerate Gautama Buddha. They burn incense, say prayers and make offerings, often of flowers. Incense has a very special significance. It creates a bridge between the earthly and spiritual worlds, and enables contact with the deities. When the stick is burned, prayers are considered to have been transmitted. If you visit a Buddhist temple, never point the soles of your feet in the direction of Buddha.
Christianity
Nearly two-thirds of Malaysia's Christians live in Borneo, and come from the indigenous population. They are followed by Chinese, non-national immigrants and Indians. Christians are divided into numerous churches: Anglican, Baptist, Evangelical, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist and Catholic. Christianity has been present in Malaysia for centuries. It arrived with the Arab Christians evangelized by St. Peter, St. Paul and St. Thomas. The various currents of Christianity developed with the arrival of European settlers accompanied by missionaries and the Chinese. Borneo was evangelized in the 19th century with the arrival of the English on the island. Although the Malaysian constitution grants the right to practice a religion other than Islam, the government ensures that other religions do not spread. This has made it very difficult to build new churches for worship. The church in Shah Alam, the capital of the state of Selangor, required more than 20 years of negotiation before construction could begin. The municipal authorities insisted that the building should not stand out in the urban landscape. It therefore resembles a factory, with no apparent religious symbols. It's not uncommon for worshippers who don't have access to a place of worship close to home to gather in backrooms, clandestinely.
The practice. Christians go to church on Sundays for the weekly mass. The priest or pastor reads the Gospel, delivers a sermon and the faithful pray together in song.
Hinduism
The fourth most widely practiced religion in Malaysia, the faithful are of Indian origin. As Hinduism is polytheistic, the country boasts numerous temples and shrines dedicated to different deities. Many of these temples are built in the Dravidian style typical of southern India. Temple facades and gopurams (high towers) are adorned with brightly painted statues. The vast majority of devotees follow the Shivaist movement, dedicated to the god Shiva. The most sacred site in Malaysian Hinduism is undoubtedly the Batu Caves, 13 km from Kuala Lumpur. Temple and sanctuary have taken possession of an immense natural cavity carved out of a karst cliff. It is necessary to climb 272 steps to reach the temple. The faithful see it as a representation of Mount Meru, an imaginary sacred place representing the axis of the world. The Thaipusam festival, arguably the country's most colorful and folkloric religious festival, is in full swing. Thousands of pilgrims flock here, the most fervent of whom pierce their bodies with hooks or assegais. This extraordinary spectacle also attracts tourists and curious onlookers in droves.
The practice. Hindus are expected to go to the temple every day, but they also have a small altar at home. At home, they place offerings at the foot of the idol and burn incense. At the temple, they have their offerings (flowers, money, food) blessed by the priest. The priest then applies colored powder to the faithful's foreheads.
